Every June, we celebrate Pride Month in the United States (and elsewhere), and many of us reflect on the moments that have shaped the struggle for civil rights in the LGBTQIA+ community. It has been a journey with moments of heartbreak, celebration, social change, and cultural revolution. As I make my way from Grand Central to our offices in lower Manhattan, my first thoughts mark another anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising (1969), of how Greenwich Village became the stage for daily protests in response to an early morning police raid on the Stonewall Inn that ignited a global movement for LGBTQIA+ rights. The Stonewall Uprising became a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, symbolizing courage, resilience, and an enduring struggle for equality.  I also have in mind a Saturday in June 2011. I had spent a few hours that morning at our New York office near Madison Square Park when I decided to leave the office to head across the park to see the parade coming down Broadway. In the days preceding the NYC Pride Parade in 2011, the governor of New York had signed into law the Marriage Equality Act, legally recognizing same sex marriage in the state.  As I watched the crowds on the streets, the parade marchers advancing down Broadway, equality flags waving in the air – the simple yet powerful design: blue field framing a yellow equal sign – I was struck by a feeling. This moment, and other moments like this one, is what struggle can look like when it turns into joy. Equality, measured not just by the passing of a law, but in the faces and expressions of those passing by, some perhaps feeling it for the first time.  Reflecting on these events invites us to reaffirm our commitment to championing equal rights, and value diversity and inclusion within our workforce and through our business practices. It compels us to ensure that we are actively fostering a more equitable society. As a learning company, we are anchored in the belief of the transformative power of learning. This commitment and responsibility lives in our mission: to inspire what’s possible for every learner. We work with intention to create educational products that resonate with the diverse populations of students we serve. The intrinsic benefits of diverse and inclusive educational environments inspire our research, product development, and pedagogical strategies. We are unwavering in our commitment to developing materials where every student feels represented and supported, irrespective of their background or identity. We understand that student success is intricately linked to a sense of belonging. When students see themselves reflected in their learning materials, they are more likely to engage deeply and thrive academically. Representation matters; it fosters a learning environment where students feel validated and empowered to reach their full potential. No student should have to adopt a specific political or cultural point of view to succeed in the classroom, but every learner deserves an education that respects and acknowledges their identity. Inclusion drives innovation and creativity, qualities that are essential for educational excellence. Our commitment to diverse learners and inclusive learning environments is not just a corporate value—it is a guidepost critical to who we are and what we strive to achieve. Despite significant progress, discrimination and inequality persist. We see this in various forms, including attempts to silence marginalized communities through censorship.  As we celebrate Pride Month, we stand alongside all of our employees, customers, and partners—no matter their gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Inclusion is a choice we make every day. Macmillan Learning remains dedicated to creating a world where every learner feels seen, supported, and inspired. We envision a world in which every learner succeeds and we believe we play an important role in making that possibility a reality.  ... View more

To learn is to change. Learning literally changes the networks in our brains. It transforms the way we see our world and our relationship to it. Learning is why those of us who commit our careers to education–whether teachers, designers, researchers, developers, technologists, or writers–do what we do. It’s a mission. We got hooked on that lightbulb moment, that epiphany of connecting ideas and capabilities that help build the next bridge. Of course, learning is sometimes bewildering, prompting us to ask, “What if I don’t get it? Where does that leave me?” I sometimes hear that wariness, and even fear, in discussions about generative AI and the important questions it raises about assessing learning. There are risks, such as the many outstanding questions about the efficacy of gen AI detection and the inherent bias against English language learners whose work may be falsely identified as being AI generated. But what if, as we learn, we turn in a more courageous direction? When we approach changes before us with interest, curiosity and even awe, we open ourselves up to different lessons and new opportunities to perhaps find a way to do better. At Macmillan Learning, our exploration of the potential applications of AI tools focuses on careful design and implementation, bringing forward its best uses, just as we’ve done with other new technologies and teaching practices before it. The foundation of our work as a learning company is based on being open to change, building on successful practices that improve learning, and also respecting (and protecting) the humans in the process. Importantly, that commitment is what led to Macmillan Learning creating a new team that I’m honored to lead—the Pedagogical Design Group (PDG).  Translating Theory into Practice: Inclusion, Accessibility, and Course Design Bringing together three interconnected areas–course design, inclusive pedagogy, and accessibility–into one Pedagogical Design Group ensures an integrated approach in our early  planning and development and enables us to share best practices across all disciplines at Macmillan Learning. These efforts are a part of our journey from being simply a textbook publisher to flourishing as a digital learning company.  Working with Macmillan Learning’s learning science team and the experts within our disciplines, the PDG serves as a bridge, translating research into practices implemented across our products in a way that is impactful and scalable. Our work begins with ensuring that students feel like they belong and culminates in learning that helps them succeed in the classroom and beyond. It’s critical that our resources reflect the diversity of learners who use them. Designing for inclusion goes beyond attending to representation. While Macmillan Learning has historically invested in pedagogically-focused products and services developed through the lens of inclusive teaching, our new team is focused on deepening our impact by designing equitable and accessible learning experiences for more learners.  We aim to create a learning environment where every student can thrive, and do this by creating best-in-class materials that support diverse learners and needs. That includes raising the bar on our accessibility journey so that all learners have the same opportunities for success. Because we were the first higher education company to become “Global Certified Accessible” by Benetech for our digital native course materials, we know how critical it is to continue to partner with thought leaders and make ongoing investments in our materials.  Our team is committed to developing learning materials that are not only compliant with accessibility standards but are also engaging and effective for all learners. This is more than just a legal requirement to us–it is a moral imperative. Listening: The Key to Creating Responsive and Responsible Resources Listening to our customers about what matters most to them allows us to be as responsive and responsible as possible, and our new team is dedicated to ensuring our products do just that. Approaches to teaching and learning vary across contexts, and no two instructors, classes or disciplines have the same needs. Active learning and critical thinking are just empty buzzwords if we aren’t attentive to the values and content knowledge within each discipline. The PDG knows how essential it is to carefully design products that support developing skills in ways that respect these differences.  A recent Macmillan Learning survey, conducted in collaboration with our learning science and marketing colleagues, revealed enthusiasm among instructors across disciplines for adopting new evidence-based teaching practices by incorporating discrete new elements, like activities that support a sense of belonging, gradually into their resources, rather than making a wholesale shift. Being responsible means understanding when change is needed as much as how. We understand the need to balance enthusiasm and optimism about the future with meaningful change. Listening to students talk about how they’re using new AI-infused tools has been instructive. While many are exploring them to engage more critically with information and to foster curiosity, others are a bit more wary, protective of their own distinct writing voice and ideas. The best learning materials are adaptive, meeting students where they are and providing the support they need to succeed. Generative AI is just one of the many tools we can use to support student learning, the heart of our work. To learn is to change, and by bridging student and instructor needs with our company’s mission to inspire what’s possible for every learner, we are well-equipped to embrace it. ... View more

Accessibility is fundamentally important to students’ learning journeys. By removing barriers to education, accessibility in both digital and physical spaces helps foster an inclusive environment where every student can fully participate and engage. Importantly, having learning materials and experiences that are accessible helps to ensure that all students, regardless of their abilities, have the same kinds of opportunities to succeed and thrive. At Macmillan Learning, we understand the importance of integrating accessibility into the design of our courseware and content. We established a board of expert advisors to help us better understand how accessibility is being addressed on different campuses, and what we can do to help foster an even more inclusive learning environment. We discussed with them some of the challenges that they’re seeing most on campus as well as solutions that they recommend to ensure that all students have equal opportunities to succeed. Here are some recommendations from the advisors that can help you on your accessibility journey. Develop Greater Understanding: Addressing accessibility requires a fundamental shift in perspective to recognize and embrace the diverse needs of all students. Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at Our Lady of the Lake University, Stacy Ybarra Evans, elaborated on this, noting: "One of the greatest challenges instructors face is the lack of awareness and understanding of accessibility guidelines and best practices. Many instructors may not know where to start or how to incorporate accessibility into their course design without additional support and training." Read on for some ideas on how to start the process. Conduct Accessibility Audits: Ybarra Evans suggests an audit should be a first step when working towards creating a more accessible learning environment. An audit involves assessing your content for accessibility issues. A common accessibility standard that is used to help identify areas that need improvement is the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The audits will help you locate where you need to revise image descriptions, add captions to videos, or redesign interactive elements to be more user-friendly. “Once you have identified potential barriers, you can start implementing solutions to make your course more accessible," she said. On the Macmillan Learning Accessibility catalog page, you can download some quick checklists for auditing your documents and presentation decks.  Ybarra Evans shared some resources that could be helpful for educators: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): The international standard for web accessibility. Use the WCAG checklist to evaluate your digital content. WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool: A free browser extension that helps identify accessibility issues on web pages. Accessibility Insights: A free tool from Microsoft for testing websites and Windows applications for accessibility. AChecker: An online tool that checks single HTML pages for conformance with accessibility standards. Start Small and Make Incremental Changes. It can be daunting trying to overhaul an entire course to make it accessible, so beginning with small, manageable steps is a practical approach. There are some quick wins that instructors can easily accomplish. "Begin by incorporating basic accessibility practices such as providing alternative text for images and captions for videos,” Ybarra Evans said. She also encourages instructors to gradually explore and implement more advanced techniques as they become more familiar with accessibility guidelines. For some ideas on how to get started, check out Reading Rockets: Accessibility Tools and Resources, a guide to getting started with accessibility, including information on audits, technology, and professional development. Rethink Your Materials: Instructors may find it more convenient to make incremental adjustments rather than starting from scratch. However, this approach could result in a patchwork of modifications that may resolve only a few accessibility needs. Senior Digital Accessibility Specialist at the University of North Texas, Danae Harris, elaborated on this challenge, explaining: "One frequent challenge I encounter in digital accessibility within higher education is the faculty's preference for remediation over recreation. Faculty often find it easier to modify their existing content rather than create new content with accessibility in mind from the start. However, this approach can diminish the overall learning experience for all students." Ensure Digital Spaces Are Accessible. Digital educational content and platforms can be complex, incorporating multimedia elements like videos, interactive quizzes, and simulations. Ensuring that all these elements are accessible requires detailed knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices. Samm Nelson, Coordinator of UMass Amherst’s Assistive Technology Center, ensures faculty, students, and staff have equitable access to digital spaces. They help the institution keep up with digital advancements and meet accessibility standards through training, auditing, and remediation. UDL is one way to accomplish this, which is explained in more detail below.  Implement Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Harris calls UDL "The most important strategy for faculty.” This critical framework enhances learning experiences by catering to the diverse needs of students. It provides learners with various ways to engage with course material. Harris continued that University of North Texas “faculty are encouraged to provide learners with multiple means of engagement, multiple means of representation of information and multiple ways for students to express themselves," which are the three core principles of UDL. It’s an effective best practice that minimizes barriers for students with disabilities, “though it may not meet the needs of every individual student it is still a beneficial method of creating an inclusive learning experience,” Harris added. Ybarra Evans shared the official guidelines from the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), the pioneers of UDL.  Nelson shared that “UDL is the best practice, but it will never be a substitute for listening to our disabled community and directly addressing accommodations.” They noted the importance of asking if anyone needs accommodations and listening to what is shared because access needs can conflict between students with various disabilities. “When I am in a virtual meeting with a colleague who speech reads it is important to share my screen as little as possible so my deaf colleague can see my face with ease. When I'm in a virtual meeting with a student with ADHD sharing my screen can help with focus and understanding. When I am in a meeting with both of them together I need to best accommodate both their needs. Often that means sharing meeting materials prior to meeting so we all can follow along and see each other's faces,” Nelson said. Leverage Student Input: Involving students with disabilities in shaping accessibility policies and practices is crucial. Harris emphasizes the importance of hiring Accessibility Testers who are current or former students and expert assistive technology users. Their input is invaluable in creating and advocating for accessible content. Accessible materials not only help level the playing field for students with disabilities, they enhance learning, support a more diverse student body, and encourage continuous improvement. Ultimately, making education accessible is not just about meeting legal requirements, but about upholding the moral imperative to provide an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all.     Stacy Ybarra Evans, Ed.D., is the Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at Our Lady of the Lake University. She collaborates with faculty to design accessible course materials and provides professional development on incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles into their teaching practices. Samm Nelson, CPACC is the IT Digital Accessibility and Assistive Technology Specialist at UMass Amherst. They are responsible for ensuring faculty, students, and staff have equitable access to digital spaces on campus.  Danae Harris is the Senior Digital Accessibility Specialist at the University of North Texas. In addition to reviewing online courses to help faculty create accessible content, she also works with third-party representatives, including publishers and e-learning software providers, to address accessibility concerns and shares best practices and tools for making digital content accessible. ... View more

Jewish American Heritage Month this May offers us an opportunity to reflect on the rich history and contributions of Jewish Americans. This year, Macmillan Learning was privileged to host a webinar featuring Holocaust survivor, Gary Eichenwald, who shared an experience that was both a reminder of the dark chapters in history and a testament to the resilience, compassion and humanity that can emerge even in the face of unimaginable adversity. Here are some of the things we learned from him during the moving hour-long discussion. The Power of Resilience: One of the most striking aspects of the story of Gary and his family was their incredible resilience. Despite facing the horrors of the Holocaust, they managed to find strength within themselves to survive and rebuild their lives. From escaping Germany to seeking refuge in the Netherlands and living in hiding, his ability to maintain strength and dignity serves as a powerful reminder of the human spirit's capacity to overcome adversity. Gary and his family hid with a Dutch farmer, Hendrick Bloem, who had nine children. Initially, they worked on the farm, posing as cousins. However, when the danger increased, they moved to a shack in the woods. Their journey is a powerful reminder of the human ability to endure even the most devastating circumstances. Compassion in Crisis: Throughout the webinar, Gary shared instances of compassion and kindness that he experienced, even in the darkest times. Gary recounted stories of small acts of kindness that provided immense comfort and hope. For instance, when his family was hiding with the Bloem family, they were treated with great care and respect and provided two meals a day. These moments of compassion not only provided immediate relief but also restored faith in humanity. The Courage to be Brave: When we think of bravery during the Holocaust, we think of the many Jewish victims who were forced to make life or death decisions -- from whether to send their children away, to who they should trust and where they should go. Yet it’s also important to remember and honor those who were not Jewish, but made hard and courageous choices that ultimately saved lives. While Oskar Schindler may be one of the most well-known, there were many others whose bravery deserves recognition. Among them are Polish social worker Irena Sendler, who saved about 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto; Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who issued protective passports and sheltered Jews in buildings designated as Swedish territory; and Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania, who issued thousands of transit visas to Jewish refugees, allowing them to escape through Japan. These and many other persons just like Hendrick Bloem are among the 27,000 recognized as “Righteous Among the Nations” and have their names enshrined in Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Center, for their bravery throughout the Holocaust, risking not just their own lives but the lives of their families. The Importance of Memory: Gary emphasized the critical importance of remembering and sharing stories like his, as well as the history of the Holocaust. His detailed recollections of Kristallnacht, when Nazi soldiers and thugs broke into and vandalized his grandmother's textile store and severely beat his grandfather, were reminders that the Holocaust didn’t begin with concentration camps. Rather, it began by making an “other” of the Jewish community. His and his family's experiences during the war highlight the importance of remembrance and the need to educate future generations to prevent such atrocities from happening again. By keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive, we honor those who perished and ensure that the lessons learned from this dark period are not forgotten. This act of remembrance is a call to action to stand against hatred and bigotry in all forms. It’s common to hear “never forget” within the Jewish community, and for good reason. Giving memory to these tragic events helps ensure they are not forgotten. Hope and Renewal Amidst the stories of suffering, there were also stories of hope and renewal. Gary spoke about rebuilding his life after the Holocaust, and the importance of finding meaning and purpose. His journey from a war-torn Europe to starting a new life in the United States is a testament to the possibility of renewal and growth even after profound trauma. This resilience and hope are crucial for moving forward and building a better future. The insights gained from Gary’s story are not just historical; they offer valuable lessons for our present and future. In a world still grappling with hatred and division, the experiences of Holocaust survivors like Gary teach us the importance of empathy, understanding and standing up against injustice. Sadly, antisemitism is not a relic of the past; it remains a significant issue in many parts of the world. This speaks to the ongoing importance of individuals and communities standing up against all forms of bigotry and speaking out against hate speech. By remembering the past and educating future generations, we can foster a more compassionate and understanding world. As we commemorate Jewish American Heritage Month, we should not forget the lessons from Gary, and should strive to build a world where our humanity triumphs. You can read more about Gary’s story and the Bloem family. ... View more

As today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), I want to draw attention to our company’s vision statement: at Macmillan Learning, we envision a world in which every learner succeeds. As a learning company, this means we’re working tirelessly to ensure that, regardless of demographics or ability, each learner has the best possible opportunity to flourish in their educational experience. An important part of getting that right is developing course materials that are accessible, and I’m pleased to share some of our recent progress on our accessibility journey as it evolves with the needs of both students and instructors.  For the fifth consecutive year, Macmillan Learning was recognized as Global Certified Accessible by Benetech. This means that we provide “born accessible” digital learning options that ensure that every student, no matter their ability, has the same access to information. Benetech certified our conformance to the accessible EPUB creation guidelines, which are based on WCAG 2.2 AA+ standards put in place by the international standards organizations and the publishing community.  While I am proud of our recognition, we understand that accessibility is not only about checking boxes or fulfilling requirements; rather to us, it is an ongoing journey of creating a world in which every learner succeeds. Our product and engineering teams have been busy at work trying to do just that with ongoing updates to Achieve, our digital learning platform, to make it more friendly for users with disabilities. Their work included experiments with tools and workflows that integrated accessibility testing and resolution earlier in their development process. Recognizing that accessibility is a journey we are on together, our teams wouldn’t be able to make these improvements to our products without a firm understanding of accessibility themselves. This is why we continue to focus on accessibility internally as well, offering training opportunities for all employees to become better allies to the students and instructors we support. This commitment to our employees is also a reason that we scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index, which ranks companies on their use of best practices that support disability inclusion, for the third consecutive year. Lastly, I would like to take the opportunity to shine a spotlight on one of our Employee Resource Groups, AVID (Awareness of Visible and Invisible Disabilities), for their partnership in helping  increase awareness of disabilities. Throughout the year, they’ve worked with individual employees to share blogs, stories, and informational posts about their experiences with disabilities, demonstrating to all of us that improving accessibility is helpful to everyone, not just those with disabilities.  Everything we do is in service to our common goal with educators—to see students succeed and inspire what’s possible. Accessibility will always be an important part of that journey.   Want to learn more? Read more about where to start when designing an accessible course and what it means to have “accessible” course materials. ... View more

Accessibility may be hard to spell, but it shouldn’t feel like it’s hard to achieve. Accessibility is the extent and ease with which a person with a disability can perceive, navigate, interact with, and contribute to a product, service, or environment. It’s also commonly abbreviated as a11y, a numeronym where the number 11 represents the eleven letters between the first 'a' and the last 'y' in the word "accessibility."  Disabilities vary broadly and can impact a student's vision, hearing, movement, speech, and cognition. Each disability category encompasses a range of experiences; for example, visual disabilities can range from color blindness to total blindness. The goal of accessibility is to remove barriers and provide equal access and opportunity for students with disabilities.  Accessibility in education is not just about compliance or meeting legal requirements; rather, it's about creating an inclusive learning environment where all students feel like they belong and have the resources to succeed. By prioritizing accessibility, educational institutions and instructors can significantly impact students' learning experiences, outcomes, and overall well-being. Here are four quick tips for instructors who want to design an accessible course but don’t know where to start: Designing an Accessible Course  Build a relationship with your disability/accessibility offices to learn about the assistive technologies and services available to students with disabilities. By establishing a strong relationship with these offices, you can tap into a wealth of expertise and resources, including up-to-date information on assistive tools and best practices for accessibility. Some examples of assistive technologies include text-to-speech tools for textbooks, notetaking browser extensions, alternative keyboards, etc. Offer various ways to interact with course content, such as providing printable and digital formats. This course adjustment would support not only students with disabilities but also students with diverse learning styles and students studying in different environments. Offering multiple ways to interact with content can lead to increased engagement and even improved learning outcomes. Some things to keep in mind when creating course content: Digital formats should include readable text, meaning that the content is not an image. This allows students to use their text-to-speech or screen reader technologies.  Images that convey meaning, such as a mitochondria cell in a Biology handout should include alternative text (alt text) which offers a way for students who are blind or have low vision to perceive the content.  Materials should have appropriate color contrast. WebAIM offers a free Contrast Checker which can help determine if your foreground and background colors are compliant. Color should not be the only way to convey meaning. For example, if a bar graph only uses color to differentiate the values, students who are colorblind may not be able to perceive the information. Instead, try combining two elements like a color and a pattern.  Audio/video files should be captioned and include a transcript. If your video generator provides automated captions, review the output for accuracy.  To support students who are blind or have low vision, provide audio descriptions for videos that describe the visuals without interpreting them. Audio descriptions can be integrated into your usual audio recording process. Include an accessibility statement in your syllabus that encourages students to reach out to you with access needs. Adding this language signals to students that you are willing to discuss their individual needs and emphasizes your commitment to inclusion. Importantly, it encourages students who may be hesitant to request accommodations to know that they won’t be penalized for doing so. You can work with your disability services office for language and assistance. Label course materials with an intuitive naming convention. This practice removes unnecessary barriers for students using screen readers and other assistive technologies, as clear and predictable file names are essential for navigating course content efficiently. For example: Week 1 - Introduction to Psychology, Week 2 - Child Development, etc.  Additional Resources for Getting Started For instructors who use Macmillan Learning’s digital courseware, Achieve, this support documentation shares tips for how to create an accessible Achieve course. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) shares tips for how to get started with accessible design, writing, and development. W3C also shares user journeys of how people with disabilities use the web.  WebAIM shares articles on topics from standards and laws to document accessibility.  Deque, whose mission is centered around digital equality, published a beginner’s guide to accessibility.   Tetralogical, an accessibility consultancy firm, shares 10 simple accessibility tests that can be completed without specialty knowledge or tools.    Macmillan Learning’s accessibility team is here for you. If you have any questions about the accessibility of Macmillan Learning’s products or services, please contact webaccessibility@macmillan.com.   ... View more

They are represented on posters, songs, and films, and run over five million deep as a symbol of strength and feminism. They are the real-life war effort leading ladies. When the United States called for all hands on deck during World War II, traditional gender roles experienced a societal shift as women heeded the call to join the workforce. This created generational shockwaves and unmasked the untapped potential of women in the United States' war efforts. In 2017, the US Senate passed a national day of observance on March 21st to commemorate all these red-blooded riveters. And their names? Well, you can just call them Rosie. Rosie, the Poster Here’s a bandana twist: the image we have all come to associate with Rosie the Riveter was a prototype! The imagecreated by Norman Rockwell for The Saturday Evening Post's May 1943 issue was seen by millions at the time of release and was the most common image of Rosie during the war. Today, we collectively recall the image titled  “We Can Do It” by J. Howard Miller. Comparatively, at the time, this image was seen by very few, as it was used for a production campaign for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. “We Can Do It” was not popularized until the 1980s, when feminists looked for images and symbols from the past to advance women's empowerment further. It was only then that the charming yet tough persona of the Rosie the Riveter image we know today took center stage.  Rosie, the Song With war looming and encouragement needed more than ever, composers and lyricists Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb released the 1942 patriotic tune “Rosie the Riveter”, which became a national hit and was popularized by the group The Four Vagabonds. This song was known to have inspired the Norman Rockwell magazine cover of Rosie.  Rosie, the Film “Rosie” became such an icon that there was a 1944 film adaptation with the eponymous title, starring Jane Frazee as Rosalind “Rosie” Warren in the musical comedy. Many years later, a 1980 war documentary titled “The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter” was produced that told the true stories of five real-life Rosies from across the United States.  Rosie, the Origin Story There is a lot of speculation as to who the “real” Rosie the Riveter was. By doing a simple web search you will find several articles, videos, and obituaries claiming a different woman as the “real” Rosie. After researching records, articles, and videos of information, the conclusion came to this – they are ALL the real Rosies. Here are some of the women who inspired the spirit of Rosie the Riveter.  Naomi Parker Fraley, a California waitress who had worked in a Navy machine shop during World War II is said to likely be known as the inspiration for the “We Can Do It” poster so famously known today.  Rosina Bonavita, the daughter of Italian Immigrants who worked as a riveter in New York and “set a speed record in building a Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber.”  Rose Will Monroe, a Michigan native who had a chance encounter with actor Walter Pidgeon while riveting at an airplane factory, and ended up starring in a film depicting Rosie the Riveter as being a real “Rosie” herself. Rosalind “Roz” P. Walter, famously known as the inspiration for the Rosie the Riveter song, was born into wealth but answered the call to help during the war effort instead of going to college immediately. She also became the main benefactor of PBS.  Mary Doyle Keefe, the original model for the famous Norman Rockwell painting. At the time she was a young telephone operator and happened to be Rockwell’s neighbor. Behind the Flex “Rosie the Riveter” was not one sole woman, race, or age. These mothers, daughters, and sisters worked on tanks, planes, ships, and other important materials needed for the war. Serving both in and out of uniform, these women answered the call to action and proved that jobs previously reserved for men could indeed be done effectively and efficiently by women as well.  Today, we honor all the Rosies who served their nation and contributed to not just a national victory, but the charge of women’s rights movements in the decades that followed. The daughters and sons of these women are lovingly called rosebuds and rivets. As the rosebuds and rivets (or grand-rosebuds/rivets) of today, how will YOU embrace the spirit of Rosie the Riveter today, and beyond?  This blog post is part of a month-long celebration of Women’s History Month organized by WOMEN@ML (Women of Macmillan Empowering and Networking), Macmillan Learning’s employee resource group for all employees who identify as women. During the month of March, WOMEN@ML celebrated and recognized an important historical woman each day of the month, drawing attention to their accomplishments and contributions to the world we live in today.  ... View more

Today, the fifteenth of February, marks the middle of Black History Month in the United States and Canada. Though the roots of this affinity month date back to the 1920s with the recognition of “Negro History Week” by the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), a month-long affinity period was first proposed in 1969 by educators and students at Kent State University, followed by their first celebration of Black History Month in 1970.  Historically, both educators and students have played a pivotal role in changing culture; for it is often their firm belief that education and knowledge lead to the empowerment of marginalized groups. To them, classrooms have served as places where ideas are fostered, engaged with, and critiqued; students should leave them feeling equipped to enter the world as positive change-makers, sharing with others the history that they have learned and tools they’ve acquired to become the difference they want in the world.  However, classrooms have not always been accessible and inclusive to all students, as education was once–and too often remains–a symbol of status and privilege. Where and when education has been made equitable and accessible to underserved populations, the most significant cultural change occurs.  Going back in history, we recognize time and time again the impact that education has made in advancing the rights and freedoms of marginalized peoples in the United States and elsewhere. For Black History Month this year, we’re recognizing seven Black leaders who understood the power of education to inspire what’s possible for the generations that followed.  Septima Poinsette Clark (1898 - 1987) Referred to as “The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement” by Martin Luther King Jr., Septima Poinsette Clark was an educator and civil rights activist best known for organizing citizenship schools for African Americans. The schools were developed with the goal of improving literacy among African Americans in the Deep South, which, Clark hoped, would also empower these communities to learn about citizenship rights and become active in the fight for voting rights.  Mary McLeod Bethune (1875 - 1955) Founder of the Daytona Literary and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls in 1904, Mary McLeod Bethune spent decades of her life developing and improving educational opportunities for Black youth. Her school eventually merged with the boy’s Cookman Institute in 1931 to become the Bethune-Cookman College, of which she became president. In 1935, Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW); she earned a full-time staff position at the National Youth Administration (NYA) in 1936, where she was quickly appointed to Director of the Division of Negro Affairs; and in 1938, after befriending Eleanor and Franklin Rooselvelt, Bethune formed the Federal Council of Negro Affairs, which served as an advisory board to President Roosevelt.  Anna Julia Cooper (1858 - 1964) One of the first African American women to earn a doctoral degree, Anna Julia Cooper emphasized the importance of education for Black women and is considered one of the most significant contributors to the field of African American women’s studies through her scholarly work. Her first book, A Voice from the South: By a Black Woman of the South, is considered her most important work and is recognized as one of the earliest books about Black feminism. In 1930, she became the president of Frelinghuysen University, where she was dedicated to increasing literacy among unskilled Black workers.  William Leo Hansberry (1894 - 1965) William Leo Hansberry, a pioneering scholar in African history and studies at Howard University, was the first to teach African history at a university in the United States. During his more-than-forty-year tenure at Howard University, Hansberry mentored many African and African American students, including Kwame Nkrumah, who would later become the first prime minister and president of Ghana, and Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was a driving force in the movement for Nigerian independence and became the country’s first president.  Marva Collins (1936 - 2015)  Dedicated to providing high-quality education to low-income African American students, Marva Collins founded the Westside Preparatory School in Chicago in 1975. With decades of teaching experience in the inner-city Chicago Public School system, Collins developed innovative teaching methods that instilled confidence and a love for learning in her students, achieving academic success with children that were mislabeled by the Chicago Public School system as being learning disabled. Together with her daughter, Collins ran the school for more than 30 years.  Carter Godwin Woodson (1875 - 1950)  Often referred to as the “Father of Black History”, Carter Godwin Woodson was an educator and historian who devoted his life to promoting the study of African American history. In 1915, Woodson founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, which created Negro History Week in 1926. Woodson elected to celebrate Black history in the middle of February each year because the time coincides with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14). While Woodson did not live to experience Negro History Week becoming Black History Month, he is one of the most important driving forces behind the February designation.  Johnnetta Betsch Cole (1936 - )  The first female African American president of Spelman College, Johnnetta Betsch Cole is a prominent advocate for diversity and inclusion in education. While at Spelman College, Cole established innovative programs aimed at empowering African American women and promoting academic excellence and social responsibility. Cole also served as the Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art, became the 7th president for the National Council of Negro Women (2018 - 2022), and was once considered for the cabinet post of Secretary of Education. ... View more

This time last year, Macmillan Learning updated our mission, vision and values. We remain committed to our mission: to inspire what’s possible for every learner. At the core of this mission is our unwavering belief in the enduring value of education. We believe that an investment in education is an investment in human potential. Whether that means a more prosperous future or by providing a stepping-stone to personal and societal growth, we know we have a role to play.  Over the past year, there have been concerns about AI in education leading to its overuse, students’ diminished critical thinking skills, or a reduction in students' investment in their own learning. But I believe that those of us who intimately know what makes learning successful understand that an education is more than just accumulating facts or mastering skills; rather, it's an exploration of self and world and the genesis of lifelong curiosity and learning. This is a new era for education – one that embraces the dynamics of a digital age. But also one that acknowledges the timeless value of human connection and the importance of learning from each other. As we navigate this rapidly changing landscape, our mission remains our anchor, guiding our endeavors and fueling our passion. AI doesn't change this. We believe all  technology enables the human-centric experience of learning. In a world marked by political turbulence, the role of education becomes even more critical. We remain steadfast in adhering to our values and mission and believe that classrooms must be places where ideas are fostered, engaged with, and critiqued – not removed or banned. Which brings me to another thing that hasn’t changed for us in 2024: our dedication towards diversity and inclusion.  We understand how access to our course materials and technology can help transform 'what’s possible' into reality and carry this responsibility with a deep sense of purpose and optimism. Importantly, we take pride in creating products that reflect the rich diversity of the student populations we serve and strengthen the inclusive value of educational environments. It’s through such commitments we envision neutralizing persistent gaps in outcomes reflective of racial, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, and cultural lines. We believe that educators and students should feel represented in our learning materials, and that no student should be expected to adopt any particular political or cultural point-of-view in order to succeed in the classroom. As we proceed in this new year, expect to see us further embolden our commitment to our mission. Expect us to stand firm in our belief in the value of education, and steadfast in our dedication to inspiring possibilities – to fostering curiosity and enabling success for every student. Our ultimate goal? To make a difference in learners' lives – to not just educate, but inspire what’s possible. And we envision a world in which every learner succeeds. Through our content, services and tools we aim to make that a reality. We invite you to join us on this journey, as it will surely be an interesting and exciting one in 2024. ... View more

There are two experiences that have always been important to the history and legacy of struggle and perseverance in the lives of Black people. Sunday morning in the Black church represents a coming together once a week, under song and sermon, to express the pain of the past, the possibilities of the moment, and the hopes of dreams deferred. We come together, under the watchful eye of God, to seek what the world could not offer us–the divine validation to keep living. However, another experience presents a different moment of expression: birthdays.  Like so many aspects of Black life in America, birthdays are often an opportunity to celebrate not only the individual milestones in a person’s life, but also the collective joy, love, and victories experienced by the family and even the entire community. For as long as I can remember, in every Black family that I was ever connected with, including my own, I witnessed this sense of freedom and liberated expression that came out most prominently during a birthday celebration. Children clothed in untamed innocence, dignified and decorated members of the community, and elders worn with wisdom all took center stage on their birthday. In front of the whole family, in the presence of beloved friends, neighborhood buddies, sister circles of Black women together again–there is a rare and beautiful moment in the Black experience where you are a king, a queen, a conqueror, a celebrity, and a showman for an audience all your own.    The birthday celebration, no matter the length of time or the location, becomes this transformative moment where you can transcend your vocation, rise above your station, live larger and broader than your title allows, and totally immerse yourself in the full embodiment of freedom. Through the centuries of celebrations, Black people have always found a way to celebrate each other, collectively, under the backdrop of a world, a society, a community not willing to acknowledge the whole beauty of our identity. So, the birthday celebration has become this right that we give ourselves to say, among ourselves and to ourselves, we are spectacular and born with purpose.  Now I grew up in the eighties, and by that time, the birthday celebration in Black life had shifted to take on an even greater meaning. Since the 1970s, many Americans had been campaigning for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday to become a national holiday. Several states enacted holidays on his birthday in the 70’s, including Illinois, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, but Congress stopped short of passing a national day into law. In November 1979, despite the endorsement of President Carter, the King Holiday Bill was defeated by five votes. But then something incredible happened that changed everything. The superstar Stevie Wonder stepped in and changed the national consciousness about the importance of Dr. King to the American legacy of freedom, and in the process, added an important element for Black people to channel into our birthday celebrations.  After the 1979 defeat of the bill, Wonder wrote “Happy Birthday” and included it on his “Hotter Than July” album of 1980. He held the Rally for Peace press conference in 1981, when the song was released as a single. His song became the anthem for the movement to make Dr. King’s birthday a national holiday and, in late 1983, President Ronald Reagan approved the holiday, to be observed on the third Monday in January each year. The campaign to get the holiday federally acknowledged seemed to be doomed as the decade changed. It looked as if the American sense of justice and freedom was too bruised and tattered from the riots and uprisings in American cities following the assassination of Dr. King on April 4, 1968. That’s when Stevie Wonder did something “wondrous", as his stage name implies–he took the best of the atoning hope of Sunday morning in the Black church and fused it with the lively love of a Black birthday party, fit for a “king”.  Stevie Wonder gave us an anthem to celebrate, not only Dr. King’s beauty and his spirit, but the singer/songwriter gave Black America another conduit to collectively celebrate ourselves each year on our own birthdays. We had permission to fully clothe ourselves in the dignity of Dr. King’s dream. Even if we were not there and we were born too late to remember his image on television or his voice on the radio, we could march with him, laugh with him, cry with him, dance with him, and sing with him in a moment that we owned in the presence of others who valued freedom. And so as the ritual goes, ever since I was a boy, the normal American birthday tradition would start at some point during the birthday celebration–seated or standing, with close family and friends, someone would come from behind the veil of a kitchen with a birthday cake lit and ready to be presented to the birthday celebrant. Everyone would gather around huddled closely, quietly singing the traditional Happy Birthday tune in unison. But at some point in the ritual, whether towards the end of the traditional song or after the candled wishes are made, everyone would break out in an explosive roar of Stevie Wonder’s tune, singing: “Happy Birthday to Ya! Happy Birthday to Ya! Happy Birth-Day!” Clapping and dancing, chanting and shouting, the space would be filled with the lyrics to Stevie’s song.  You could fully recognize a shift in the energy and a shift between the two moods, and the two songs. The shift is always purposely done, as if to say that we as Black people live in two worlds and shift between consciousness–one consciousness that we’ve learned to understand and another higher consciousness where we are understood. And it is in that higher consciousness, at the height of song and dance, love and laughter, redemption and reflection that we embody on our birthdays, the last words spoken by Dr. King in his “I Have A Dream'' speech: “Free at Last, Free at Last…Thank God O’ Mighty, I’m free at Last!”    ... View more

For the second year, Macmillan Learning welcomed externs to the company with the goal of offering project-based experience to diverse and non-traditional workers interested in educational publishing and technology. The Communications team tasked our extern, Charlinda Banks, to help us create a mechanism that helps us better share our company’s stories with our employees. We also offered her the opportunity to share her experience during her month at the company. Here's what she said that she learned as an extern: What an extern actually does. An extern is a contract position that acts as a short-term project-based internship. Since Macmillan Learning has educational equity at its core, the externship program is designed to equip young people with skills specific to their fields of interest from People & Culture to Humanities textbook publishing; every extern leaves with a new project in their portfolio. Since externships at Macmillan Learning are largely project-based, this not only allows for a schedule that acclimates to your needs and lifestyle—like juggling college and work—but it also leaves plenty of time to discover the company’s learning resources, including Macmillan Learning University, affectionately known as MLU.  Macmillan Learning uses the intranet—an internal communications network that connects ML’s nearly 800 employees that live not only all over the U.S. but also across the globe. Learning to navigate and build on this platform was definitely an acquired skill, as every time you head to edit the platform, you discover something new.  There are so many different career avenues in publishing. Prior to my externship with Macmillan Learning, I thought of publishing as a solely editorial entity. However, with a company as large as Macmillan Learning, there are hundreds of different roles and many distinct departments that work together to fulfill the company’s vision as an educational publisher. From communications and marketing to content development and editorial, there is likely a role that speaks to you.  There’s a busy season. Although it might seem obvious to some, others might not realize that September and October are some of Macmillan Learning’s busiest periods! With Back-to-School plastered all over Target walls, the floodgates are open at the company.  Macmillan Learning encourages employees to foster community through ERGs. What are ERGs? The acronym stands for Employee Resource Group—ERGs are affinity groups for company members to feel connected to others who share their identities and lived experiences. From PROUD for the LGBTQ+ community to BLACC and VIVA for Black and Latinx staff, there is a place to celebrate and advocate for Macmillan Learning’s diverse communities.  ... View more

  The next business we want to highlight is Packback. I’ve gotten to know Packback CEO Kelsey Behringer and CPO & Co-Founder Jessica Tenuta over the past few months and seen their passion for student success firsthand, as our companies announced a partnership that pairs Packback's AI-powered technology with the hundreds of course materials found within Macmillan Learning’s Achieve digital learning platforms Packback and Macmillan Learning are both committed to creating learning science-backed products that help students develop critical thinking skills as well as a lifelong love of learning, which is why the partnership works.   Packback’s flagship, their inquiry-driven discussion platform, Packback Questions, was inspired by their mission to harness the power of AI to help educators increase engagement in their classrooms and help students find their unique voice. This form of active learning encourages students to achieve higher levels of critical thinking and discover real-life applications of course material via discussion questions in and out of class. Their AI-enabled platform can help students build and master foundational skills like critical thinking, writing, and research.  Here’s how it would work for, say, a psychology class: students would be assigned course materials and assessments via the Achieve platform and then be asked to respond to a prompt either provided by Packback or to create one of their own. Prompts could include questions like: Why would NASA suggest the strategy “follow the water” when searching for life on other planets and What kind of conversation would cells have if they communicated like humans? The AI supports the students through the writing process, offering suggestions and feedback on both content and grammar. You can learn more about the partnership here. -- Macmillan Learning is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where women entrepreneurs not only have a seat at the table but also thrive. We believe that by supporting and collaborating with women-owned businesses, we contribute to a more equitable and prosperous future for all. Read about other Womin in Business Week profiles: Work Simplr,  In the Room, and Wright Consulting. ... View more

Amber Jones, founder of The Wright Consulting Group, has been an invaluable partner to our business over the past five years. Her company has directly contributed to more than $5M in business for state and district bids for our organization. Amber is reliable, never missing a deadline - no matter how tight a turnaround time required. Her work is always stellar and of the utmost quality. Bringing more than 20 years of professional experience as an educator, K-12 administrator, and educational consulting and program management, Amber’s deep knowledge of curriculum and instruction are immediately obvious in every project her company undertakes. Working with Amber feels like working with a trusted friend, who understands the needs of educators, district and state administrators, and more importantly student learners. I cannot think of a more deserving company to celebrate during this year’s Women in Business Week, than Amber Jones and The Wright Consulting Group. I highly recommend anyone looking for editorial or educational services support reach out to The Wright Consulting Group at http://askthewrightgroup.com --- Macmillan Learning is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where women entrepreneurs not only have a seat at the table but also thrive. We believe that by supporting and collaborating with women-owned businesses, we contribute to a more equitable and prosperous future for all. Read about Monday's Spotlight on Work Simplr here and Tuesday's Spotlight on In the Room here. ... View more

I'm excited to highlight In the Room for Women in Business Week. It has been a pleasure working with the In the Room team, led by CEO and Co-founder Sarah Coward. In partnership, we have worked to deliver an interactive experience that enables people to connect with peer consultants, authors, and our own team members as though they were meeting them in real life  Using voice recognition and machine learning, this conversational technology provides its audiences the opportunity to have a dynamic interaction that is informative and authentic. The platform allows users to ask questions and receive personalized responses. The experience helps to break down barriers and create a sense of shared presence, offering an unparalleled and meaningful experience that goes beyond traditional methods of storytelling or learning A brief view of the In the Room website demonstrates this. Here you can speak with Sarah herself in an In the Room experience and learn about her company and her team. Speaking of her team, they are so easy to work with. They support, project manage, and advise every step of the way - from initial idea to storyboarding, and quality assurance. We can’t wait to share the In the Room Experience that we’re working on now. --- Macmillan Learning is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where women entrepreneurs not only have a seat at the table but also thrive. We believe that by supporting and collaborating with women-owned businesses, we contribute to a more equitable and prosperous future for all. Read about Monday's Spotlight on Work Simplr here. ... View more

Welcome to ​the first of Macmillan Learning's Women in Business Week Spotlight​s, where each day we will be highlighting  some of the many women-owned and operated businesses we have the pleasure to work with. In recent years, there has been a surge of  entrepreneurship​, with The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), ​reporting that women-owned businesses account for nearly 40% of all U.S. businesses. That they generate trillions of dollars in revenue and create millions of jobs is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and determination of women.​ At​ Macmillan Learning, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where women entrepreneurs not only have a seat at the table but also thrive. We believe that by supporting and collaborating with women-owned businesses, we contribute to a more equitable and prosperous future for all. I am thrilled to share the exceptional experience we've had working with WorkSimplr. I have personally used them for a couple of different projects. Launching the projects was incredibly easy, and the fact that Work Simplr manages all of the administrative work of payment is invaluable. The students assigned to the projects were conscientious, completing the work well and on time.  Owned by Leah Jewell and Jodi McPherson, both of whom have proven passion for and experience in workforce readiness the Work Simplr team is highly responsive, collaborative, and consistently delivers exceptional results. The passionate, informed approach used makes all the difference in how they source, train and support student employees. Their deep understanding of educational publishing and workforce readiness is evident in everything they do.  If you have any projects where you are looking for reliable and vetted talent, you should definitely check out Work Simplr: https://worksimplr.com/ ... View more