GreenState Credit Union Establishes Founding Partnership with Junior Achievement’s New Instructional Learning Model
Media Release
March 25, 2024
Contact: Kristi Brown
Email: kbrown@jaeasterniowa.org
Phone: (319) 862-1100
GreenState Credit Union Establishes Founding Partnership with Junior Achievement’s New Instructional Learning Model
(Cedar Rapids, IA)- GreenState Credit Union has pledged over $200,000 to Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa to serve as the Founding Partner for its new instructional learning model, 3 Dimensions of Education™ (3DE™). 3DE™ schools are incubators of innovation located within existing high schools. It re-engineers education to create engaging learning environments that reflect the world in which we live, through partnerships with local and national businesses. Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa will launch the first 3DE™ class during the 2024-2025 school year. Seventy-five students enrolled in the Alburnett Community School District and 150 students in the College Community School District will participate. A new group of ninth grade students will be onboarded in consecutive years at each district.
3DE™ uses real-world case studies sourced directly from local and national companies to help students develop competencies related to 21st Century Skills and strengthen core academic learning through guided exploration. Teachers work directly with the 3DE™ national team to help integrate the cases into their coursework. The model leverages networks, resources, and expertise to create a cost-effective and scalable solution to empowering students with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to unlock greater economic opportunity to live choice-filled lives.
“GreenState is thrilled to be first to support the 3DE learning model and bring this empowering learning opportunity to the Corridor region,” states Tara Wachendorf, VP/Public Relations for GreenState Credit Union. “As a financial cooperative, we see the value in this curriculum and believe that it will accelerate academic outcomes and further prepare students for their careers ahead.”
The 3DE™ model integrates 17 real-world challenges facing today’s high-growth industries. A total of six 21st Century Skills made of 24 observational behaviors anchor curriculum design and student developmental objectives. The six foundational competencies are:
- SELF-DIRECTION
- EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION
- CRITICAL & ANALYTICAL THINKING
- CULTURAL AGILITY
- ENGAGING COMMUNICATION
- CREATIVITY & INNOVATION
During their launch class, students work in small groups to discuss, dissect, and make decisions around the cases that the businesses have identified. Companies provide employees to act as coaches, listening and guiding students during their case. Outside of their launch class, students will encounter aspects of their case, e.g. case competency, and will be challenged to apply it to their core subjects. Students will work together on each case for five weeks.
3DE™ positions learners for choice-filled lives by developing key behaviors and competencies through interactive practice and demonstration. These transferrable behaviors make students competitive regardless of their chosen path after high school.
“3DE is designed to be accessed by every learner and help them to become intentional, empowered graduates. This is an exciting opportunity that all students deserve to be a part of,” said Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa 3DE Director, Dr. Dominique Brooks.
About 3DE™ National
3DE™ by Junior Achievement is dedicated to expanding economic opportunity and economic mobility by re-engineering high school education to improve student engagement, accelerate academic outcomes, and develop competencies to excel in the future of work. 3DE™ schools are developed and sustained through joint venture partnerships with school districts, 3DE™ by Junior Achievement and the broader business community. 3DE™ launched in Atlanta in 2015 and by 2024 aims to expand to 55 schools serving nearly 20,000 students.
About Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI)
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa envisions a world in which young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. By advocating for experiential learning in every school in the world, and by nurturing partnerships with schools and other like-minded organizations, we envision a world in which no young person is left behind.
JAEI is dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in the global economy through work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy educational programs. JAEI’s programs are delivered by 1,384 local volunteers that can provide students with real-world examples of how obstacles can be overcome, and success achieved. JAEI provides its programs to 45,257 students throughout Eastern Iowa which includes Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Fayette, Delaware, Grundy, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Tama counties. For more information, visit www.JAEasternIowa.org.
About GreenState Credit Union
GreenState Credit Union is Iowa’s largest credit union and one of the top financial institutions in the United States for returning profits to members in the form of better rates and lower fees. GreenState serves over 447,000 members with 33 branch locations. Membership is open to anyone living or working in Iowa as well as select counties in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and South Dakota. For more information or to become a member, visit www.greenstate.org. The credit union actively supports various local initiatives, including financial literacy programs, scholarships, and community development projects, investing nearly $10 million in charitable giving over the past three years.