EVERFI Drives New Awakening of African-American History

EverFi, Inc., the education technology company that teaches, assesses, and certifies students in critical skills has announced the launch of a new digital learning course that will transform the way that African-American history is taught in schools today. EverFi’s 306 – African American History™ course is being announced in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

From the Harlem artist collective “Group 306” to room number 306 at Memphis’s Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stayed and outside of which he was assassinated in 1968, the term “306” represents themes of creativity, strength, grit and determination that have characterized the African- American journey.

EverFi’s 306 learning course will further expose today’s young people to the empowering stories of the African-American community and help them draw inspiration from the grit and determination of these remarkable women and men. Through the use of EverFi’s technology and instructional design expertise, historical events will come to life using engaging digital media, personalized learning simulations, and robust assessment.

“Too often Martin Luther King Jr. Day and African-American History Month are simply a copied worksheet, a dated video, a school assembly, or a poster on the wall,” said EverFi CEO Tom Davidson. “We must do more. Through 306, we want to capture the imagination of a new generation of students – to inspire them with stories of grit, strength, intellect, and creativity that they can take with them on their own life journey.”

306 is being developed in collaboration with Dr. Clayborne Carson, Professor of History and Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. Dr. Carson is one of the foremost scholars and brings his peerless expertise to EverFi’s 306 project.

“Providing today’s students with a connection to the deep history of their past and the strength shown by inspirational civic leaders who faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles is critical,” said Dr. Clayborne Carson. “We must empower a new generation to embrace this history and use it as an impetus for their own personal motivation and success.”

306 is designed to address the skills and proficiencies outlined in the Common Core State Standards for writing and literacy in History and Social Studies, as well as individual states’ standards for US History. EverFi will bring this new digital initiative to its K-12 schools network beginning in January 2014 in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and continuing throughout African-American History Month and across each academic year.

Washington D.C. Event:
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington and to announce the new 306 experience, EverFi will host an event at the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue on Thursday evening, August 22nd that will feature important civic and business leaders. Those interested in attending the event should contact [email protected]