Lead user experiential learning -'learn-by-doing' pathway to financial self-sufficiency

Abstract

The employment needs of the STEM workforce have been steadily increasing over the past decade. Many opportunities exist for properly trained students to contribute in the STEM areas. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that 100% of STEM occupations will see an increase in jobs in the next decade. As a result, retention of students in engineering, technology, and technical schools is important to future productivity (GDP) across all sectors. A model is proposed where Kolb Experiential Learning Cycle fundamentals in conjunction with development of student 'lead user' abilities would have a significant effect on academic metrics associated with student outcomes such as student retention as well as professional metrics in the areas of placement and career development. The proposed model would supply the impetus for a Value Mitosis Initiative (VMI) at any college/university where the learning model would lead to increased equity and GDP in the university/college community and affiliated communities. Proper development of the lead user experiential learning model should cause improvement in academic and professional metrics associated with accreditation such as student outcomes and institutional support while providing the foundation for financial self-sufficiency within the school and in communities associated with the school. This same lead user idea development process can be implemented within any community, taking conceptual ideas of talented people from within that community whose abilities may be underestimated, undervalued, and marginalized and developing their ideas into products, thereby providing employment opportunities in addition to equity for that given community. The Corporation for Economic Development launched The Racial Wealth Divide Initiative in September 2013 in New Orleans and Miami and has expanded into Baltimore and Chicago in 2017. Their mission is focused on United States wealth inequality statistics. In 2013, United States wealth inequality statistics (reported in Table 1) illustrate the extent to which race currently affects finances.