Behind the Scenes: How KnoPro Develops Its Challenges

NAF’s KnoPro is committed to providing students with the opportunity to solve real-world problems. Our Challenges engage students in meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for future careers by working through issues that matter. But how do we develop these Challenges? Let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at the process.

Partnering with Recognizable Companies

KnoPro collaborates with well-known companies to identify real Challenges that require innovative solutions. These companies are eager to see the creative approaches young minds can bring to industry problems. By engaging with students, these organizations not only contribute to education but also benefit from new perspectives on their business challenges.

Our corporate partners span multiple industries, including technology, healthcare, sustainability, and business. These partnerships ensure that our Challenges address real-world needs and provide students with exposure to a variety of career paths. Whether it’s designing an eco-friendly product, streamlining business operations, or developing a new marketing campaign, the problems students tackle link to real industry priorities.

Developing Meaningful Challenges

Our team works closely with company representatives to develop Challenges that address specific problems within their industries. We ensure that each Challenge is both valuable to the company and engaging for students. By aligning real business needs with student learning opportunities, we create a win-win scenario where students gain invaluable experience while companies receive actionable solutions.

Each Challenge is crafted to be realistic, but achievable, within a structured learning environment. We work to balance complexity with accessibility, ensuring that students from all backgrounds and experience levels can participate meaningfully. Our Challenges provide students with thorough background information, data, and guidance, so they can tackle the problem effectively and creatively.

Crafting Challenges with Pedagogical Experts

We collaborate with pedagogical experts to design structured, Project-based learning experiences. Our experts ensure that students can systematically work through the problem while developing essential Future Ready Skills, such as critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving.

We also incorporate various instructional strategies to support students through their problem-solving journeys. These include scaffolded tasks, step-by-step guides, and interactive resources. Our goal is to help students build confidence, as they develop their ideas and refine their solutions.

Student Access to Industry Professionals

Throughout the Challenge, students have the unique opportunity to interact with professionals from the sponsoring company. These experts provide guidance, answer questions, and offer insights into the industry, helping students refine their solutions and understand real-world applications of their work. This mentorship component enriches the learning experience and strengthens students’ professional connections.

Reviewing Submissions and Selecting Winners

Once students submit their solutions, the sponsoring company works alongside KnoPro to evaluate the entries. Each submission is assessed based on creativity, viability, and presentation.

Many students use these Challenges to build their portfolios, demonstrating their problem-solving abilities in college applications or job interviews.

Conclusion

KnoPro helps to bridge the gap between education and industry, by giving students the chance to tackle real-world business challenges. Through collaboration with top companies, expert-driven instructional design, and access to industry professionals, we provide students with a meaningful learning experience that enhances their skills and prepares them for future careers.

Every Challenge is an opportunity for students to think critically, innovate, and make an impact. Interested in exploring our Challenges? Check out KnoPro’s current Challenges to see how we’re transforming education through Project-based learning!