01.
What Problem Are We Tackling?
High school students today are surrounded by choices: what classes to take, clubs to join, or whether to prepare for college or a job. But even the most motivated students often feel overwhelmed, unsure how their choices connect to a future they care about.
Students are not lacking options, they're lacking direction.
02.
Why Does This Matter?
Students want to explore, but with pressure to "check the right boxes," it often feels safer to stay on a familiar path. Without the tools to reflect and plan meaningfully, many miss out on opportunities that could shape their future.
Students today are motivated but often feel overwhelmed by choices.
Many students feel stuck in rigid academic tracks that don't reflect their passions or goals.
03.
Who's Affected By This Problem?
"I want to try new things but don't know where to start." - 10th Grade Student, South Fayette High School
✦ Students want personalized guidance that connects their interests to meaningful opportunities.
"Knowing students' interests lets me shape better lessons." - Teacher, South Fayette High School
✦ Teachers need tools to design relevant learning and understand each student's motivations.
"I know what motivated my child. I could support them better." - Parent of South Fayette Student
✦ Parents want visibility into their child's passions and a way to offer support without overstepping.
"We have limited time per student. It's hard to build deep connections." - Guidance Counselor, South Fayette High School
✦ Guidance counselors need efficient ways to provide deeper, more personalized guidance.
04.
Reimagining the Learning Journey
Traditional learning pathways assume a linear route from school to college to career. But students today crave flexibility, agency, and relevance. South Fayette challenged us to imagine a new model, one where students can "stack" meaningful experiences based on their interests and evolving goals.
What if students could build their future one experience at a time?
05.
What We've Learned So Far
✦ Key insights from our research that shaped how we approached the Stack system.
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