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By Steve Waddell February 3, 2026
On February 2, 2026, Adobe confirmed what many in the industry had long suspected: Adobe Animate is being discontinued. After more than 25 years of service—dating back to its origins as FutureSplash and the legendary Macromedia Flash—Adobe is officially pulling the plug on its signature 2D vector animation suite. The Timeline You Need to Know: March 1, 2026: Adobe Animate will be removed from sale. New downloads will cease for standard users. March 1, 2027: Support and file access for individual and small business accounts will end. March 1, 2029: A "Stay of Execution" for Enterprise and Education accounts ends, at which point all technical support and file cloud services will be fully deprecated. For Career and Technical Education (CTE) directors, this isn't just a software change; it's a programmatic disruption. If your high school or middle school pathways are built around Animate, your 2026-2027 planning needs to start now . Why Now? The Pivot to "AI Paradigms" Adobe’s justification for this move is a strategic shift toward Generative AI. The company has stated that Animate "no longer serves users' needs as it once did," pointing instead to tools like Adobe Express and the Puppet Tool in After Effects. However, professional animators are already pushing back. While Adobe Express offers "one-click" AI animation for social media and After Effects excels at cinematic motion graphics, neither provides the frame-by-frame, vector-based control or the interactive HTML5/Canvas export capabilities that made Animate unique. This leaves a "missing middle" in the classroom—a gap where true foundational animation skills used to live. The CTE Crisis: State Standards and IRCs Many state education departments specifically list "Adobe Animate" within their CTE frameworks. If the software is discontinued, districts face three major hurdles: Compliance: How do you meet state standards if the required software is no longer sold? Certification: Many Industry-Recognized Credentials (IRCs) are software-specific. If the tool dies, does the credential lose value? Hardware Incompatibility: Adobe’s replacement tools, particularly After Effects, require significant processing power and RAM. Most district-issued Chromebooks or older lab PCs simply cannot run these AI-heavy alternatives. The CTeLearning Solution: Stability in a Shifting Market At CTeLearning, we have always advocated for a "Software-Agnostic" approach to education. We believe that a student should be an Animator, not just an "Adobe User." Here is how we are helping our partners navigate this transition: CTEAnimator: The Chromebook-Ready Alternative We recognized the hardware and licensing barriers years ago. That’s why our turnkey Web Animation curriculum includes our CTEAnimator—a free, web-based creative suite that requires no installation. It runs perfectly on Chromebooks, Macs, and PCs, ensuring that your students can keep creating even as legacy software disappears. And there is no teacher knowledge or expertise required—we equip you to succeed starting on day one. Fundamentals Over Features Our curriculum is built on the 12 Principles of Animation. Whether a student eventually moves to AfterEffects, UnReal, Moho, or some future professional animation platforms, they will have the foundational understanding of squash-and-stretch, timing, and weight that makes them employable. We teach the science of movement, making your students "Future-Proof." Validated Industry Credentials We partner with Web Professionals Global to provide certifications that validate competency, not just software clicks. Our Certified Web Animator credential focuses on the ability to produce professional-grade animation for the modern web—a skill set that remains in high demand regardless of which software brand is currently on top. Strategic Steps for CTE Directors This Month If you are responsible for an animation or digital media pathway, here is your 2026 checklist: Inventory Your Files: Adobe has warned that after support ends, cloud-saved .FLA and .XFL files may be deleted. Start exporting critical student work to SVG or MP4 now. Update Your CLNA: Ensure your Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment reflects the need for modern, sustainable, and device-neutral animation tools. Consult Your Certification Partners: Ask if your current IRC providers have a transition plan for the post-Animate landscape. Let’s Build a Sustainable Pathway Together The end of Adobe Animate is an opportunity to move your program away from expensive, hardware-intensive software and toward a more equitable, professional, and sustainable model. At CTeLearning, we don't just sell curriculum; we provide a partnership with zero upfront hardware costs. We handle the technical shifts so you can focus on what matters most: your students’ "lightbulb moments." Contact the CTeLearning Team Today Don't let the Adobe transition leave your program in the dark. Reach out to our development team for a free consultation on modernizing your animation pathway for the 2026-2027 school year. Office: 913-764-4272 Toll-Free: 877-828-1216 Direct Email: hello@ctelearning.com Schedule a Demo: www.ctelearning.com/contact
student using web design curriculum
By Steve Waddell January 22, 2026
Solving the biggest challenges in teaching web design. Learn how CTeLearning’s turnkey curriculum overcomes the expertise gap, budget cuts, and IT hurdles.
By Steve Waddell January 2, 2026
Let's be honest: the classroom looks a lot different than it did even five years ago. Technology is advancing at breakneck speed, entire industries are being transformed, and the skills students need to succeed are evolving just as quickly. If you're a CTE teacher, you already know this better than anyone. You're on the front lines, preparing students not just for jobs that exist today, but for careers that are still being invented. So why does teaching CTE curriculum matter so much right now, in 2026? Let’s take a look at the state of career and technical education and how CTeLearning can help your school meet its goals. The Skills Gap Isn't Going Anywhere—It's Getting Wider We've all heard about the skills gap, and unfortunately, it's still very much a reality. In fact, it's arguably more pronounced now than ever before. Employers across industries—from healthcare to advanced manufacturing to information technology—are struggling to find qualified candidates. They're not just looking for people with degrees; they're looking for people who can actually do the work from day one. Walk into any industry conference, read any workforce development report, or talk to any hiring manager, and you'll hear the same refrain: "We need people with hands-on skills." Businesses are tired of spending months training new employees on basics that could have been covered in high school or a short post-secondary program. They want graduates who understand workplace expectations, who can troubleshoot problems, who know how to use industry-standard tools and technologies. That's where you come in. CTE programs provide hands-on, real-world training that bridges the gap between education and employment. When you teach web design, animation, game development, coding, robotics, or any other CTE pathway, you're not just teaching a subject. You're opening doors to viable, well-paying careers that students can start pursuing right after high school or through a certificate program at a community college. Your classroom is where theory meets practice. It's where students learn that work requires more than just knowing facts—it requires the ability to apply knowledge, adapt to challenges, and collaborate with others to solve real problems. Students Need Options Beyond the Four-Year Degree For decades, we pushed the narrative that everyone needs to go to a four-year college to be successful. We made students feel like anything less was settling. But the reality is that path isn't right for everyone—and that's not just okay, it's something we should celebrate. In fact, many of the fastest-growing, highest-paying jobs don't require a bachelor's degree at all. Web developers, UX designers, digital animators, game designers, software testers, mobile app developers—these careers offer excellent salaries, job security, and opportunities for advancement, all without requiring students to take on tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. Your CTE classroom offers students a different path, one that's just as valuable and often more practical for their individual circumstances and goals. You're showing them that success doesn't have to look the same for everyone. Some students will discover a passion for web animation, others for game development, and still others for artificial intelligence and robotics. By providing these options, you're empowering students to make informed choices about their futures based on their interests and strengths, not just societal expectations or pressure from well-meaning adults who assume college is the only path forward. Career Readiness Starts in Your Classroom One of the most powerful things about CTE is that it doesn't just teach technical skills—it teaches professional skills that transfer across any career path. Time management, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, attention to detail, taking constructive criticism, meeting deadlines—these are the soft skills that employers consistently say they value most, and they're woven into the fabric of quality CTE programs. When students work on projects in your classroom, they're not just learning content. They're learning how to show up on time, how to work with people who have different strengths and weaknesses, how to manage their time when juggling multiple responsibilities, and how to accept feedback and use it to improve their work. They're learning what it means to take pride in a job well done and to take responsibility when something doesn't go as planned. Think about it: when a student in your web design program debugs a complicated CSS layout issue, they're not just demonstrating technical knowledge. They're demonstrating critical thinking, systematic troubleshooting, and persistence through challenges. When animation students plan and execute a complete animated short, they're demonstrating project management, time management, and the ability to see a creative vision through from concept to completion. When coding students debug their JavaScript and get their mobile app working, they're demonstrating resilience, analytical thinking, and attention to detail. These are the work habits and professional mindset that students will need in any career, whether they end up in the field they studied in your classroom or pivot to something entirely different later in life. You're not just preparing them for a job; you're preparing them for the workplace itself and for the kind of continuous learning and adaptation that modern careers require. AI and Technology Integration Is Transforming CTE In 2026, we can't talk about CTE education without addressing the elephant in the room: artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. These tools aren't replacing CTE education—they're transforming it and making it more important than ever. The students in your classroom right now will enter a workforce where understanding how to work alongside AI and emerging technologies is just as important as understanding the fundamentals of their trade. The web designer who can leverage AI for rapid prototyping. The animator who understands how to use AI-assisted tools while maintaining their creative vision. The developer who knows how to implement machine learning features. These are the professionals who will thrive. But technology integration goes beyond AI. Think about cloud-based design platforms that enable collaboration and real-time feedback. Digital portfolio tools that help students showcase their work to potential employers and college admissions offices. Interactive coding environments where students can experiment and get immediate feedback. Online certification exams that provide students with industry-recognized credentials they can add to their resumes. These technologies allow students to practice skills, receive feedback, and refine their techniques in ways that simply weren't possible a decade ago. They make learning more engaging, more personalized, and more aligned with the actual tools and workflows students will encounter in professional settings. Industry Certifications Matter More Than Ever One of the most valuable things you can offer students is the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications while still in high school. These aren't just pieces of paper—they're credentials that employers recognize and value. They signal to hiring managers that a student has demonstrated competency in specific skills and knowledge areas according to standards set by industry professionals. These certifications can be transformative for students. Imagine a student bringing home their first industry-based certificate to show their family. For many students, especially those who haven't always excelled in traditional academic settings, this is a powerful moment of validation and pride. It's proof that they have real, marketable skills that employers care about. For students heading directly into the workforce after graduation, these certifications can be the difference between getting an entry-level job and being passed over for someone with more credentials. For students heading to college, these certifications can translate into course credits, saving them time and money on their degree. And for students who aren't sure what path they want to take, certifications provide options and open doors. You Deserve the Right Resources and Support Now here's the reality check we need to have: teaching CTE is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be exhausting and overwhelming. You're juggling so much: curriculum updates to keep pace with industry changes, safety protocols and equipment maintenance, certification requirements and testing schedules, managing supplies and budgets, coordinating with industry partners, and everything else that comes with running a hands-on, project-based program. On top of that, you're expected to stay current with emerging technologies, adapt your teaching to new standards and regulations, differentiate instruction for diverse learners, and somehow find time for your own professional development. It's a lot. More than a lot, actually. You shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel or figure everything out on your own. You need curriculum that's well-designed, aligned with industry standards, engaging for students, and actually works in real classrooms. You need resources that save you time rather than creating more work. You need support from people who understand what you're up against and respect the complexity of what you do. How CTeLearning Addresses These Teacher Needs This is where CTELearning makes a real difference. Since 2003, we've been focused on creating curriculum that works for teachers, not just students. Here's how we specifically address the challenges you face: You Don't Need to Be the Subject Matter Expert. Our courses feature extensive tutorial videos, professional interviews with industry experts, animations, clear content, and step-by-step instructions. This means students can work at their own pace while you're freed up to provide individualized support where it's needed most. Everything Works on Any Device. Our courses are web-based and run on PC, Mac, Chromebook, iPad, and smartphones. We've built and curated a set of free creative tools so there's no additional software cost to you or your district, and students can work whenever and wherever they need to. Ready-to-Use, Media-Rich Curriculum. Each course includes extensive syllabi to help with class prep and planning, so you're not spending your evenings and weekends creating materials from scratch. Industry Certifications Built In. Many of our courses enable students to earn industry-recognized certifications from our partner Web Professionals Global at no additional cost. You're not having to figure out how to align your curriculum with certification requirements—we've already done that work for you. Professional Development and Ongoing Support. When you work with CTeLearning, you're not buying a product and being left on your own. We offer customized educator training and ongoing technical support. When you have a question or run into an issue, you're connecting directly with members of our development team who created the curriculum you're using. Flexible for Any Learning Environment. Whether you're teaching in-person, hybrid, or fully remote, our self-paced courses adapt to your classroom model. Ready to Take Your CTE Program to the Next Level? We have been partnering with educators like you since 2003 to bring innovative career and technical education curriculum to schools across the U.S. and around the world. We create the curriculum you would develop yourself if you had the time—comprehensive, engaging, project-based courses that prepare students for industry certifications and real-world careers in fields like web design, animation, game development, biotechnology, personal finance, HTML5 standards, and more.  Let's talk about how we can support your program in 2026. Reach out to us today to learn more about our curriculum solutions, professional development opportunities, and educator resources. We'd love to schedule a free 20-minute demo so you can see our courses in action and explore whether they're a good fit for your students and your program. Email us at hello@ctelearning.com or call us at 913-764-4272 or 877-828-1216.
1:1 devce strategy
By Steve Waddell November 14, 2025
Stop letting hardware limit your STEM program. Discover how our cloud-native device strategy helps 1:1 districts deliver coding pathways on any Chromebook.
By Steve Waddell November 5, 2025
Move beyond the AI cheating debate. Learn how to prepare students for the 2026 workforce by focusing on ethical implementation and creative human-centric skills.
By Steve Waddell November 3, 2025
Landscape design and horticulture still offer bright future pathways for your students.
By Steve Waddell October 22, 2025
If you're a career and technical education (CTE) educator in Texas, you know the pressure is on to prepare students for life after high school. The Texas Education Agency's College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) accountability system has changed how we measure success, and districts across the state are working hard to boost their CCMR ratings. Our Web Design, Web Animation, and Web and Mobile App Development courses offer a proven pathway to help your students meet CCMR requirements while building real-world skills that employers actually want. The Power of Industry-Based Certifications Industry-based certifications (IBCs) carry significant weight in today's job market because they demonstrate that students have mastered specific, job-ready skills. Unlike traditional assessments that test memorization, IBCs validate that students can actually perform the tasks required in professional settings. Employers recognize these credentials because the certification standards are developed by industry professionals—many of whom are responsible for hiring at their own companies. The courses we will discuss in this article offer certification pathways from our association partner Web Professionals Global —the professional association for internet professionals across industries. For Texas schools, IBCs offer a practical, accessible pathway to CCMR success. Not every student is college-bound, and not every student thrives in dual credit courses or standardized testing environments. IBCs provide an alternative route that respects diverse learning styles and career goals while still meeting rigorous state standards. Additionally, all of our courses include the opportunity to earn the Ethics in the Workplace micro-credential from Web Professionals Global. This is just another way every one of your students can grow their CCMR portfolio. Web Design Our Web Design course is listed on the Texas Education Agency's 2025-2030 Industry-Based Certification List for Public School Accountability. This TEKS-aligned curriculum prepares students to earn the Certified Web Designer Associate (CWDSA) credential. What makes this course particularly valuable is its comprehensive approach to career preparation. Students don't just learn HTML5 and CSS3—they develop critical STEM skills, build professional portfolios, and gain hands-on experience through project-based learning. Our curriculum is designed to be turnkey, meaning teachers can confidently deliver it even without prior web design experience. This addresses one of the biggest challenges facing CTE programs: finding qualified instructors for rapidly evolving technical fields. The Web Design course uses a media-rich, highly interactive format with over 120 tutorial videos that guide students through coding HTML5 and CSS3. Expert videos provide additional coaching on broader web development concepts. Students work on real projects they can showcase to colleges and employers, building confidence as they create actual websites from scratch. Like the other courses mentioned in this article, the Web Design course works seamlessly across PC, Mac, and Chromebook devices, making implementation straightforward regardless of your technology setup. Web Animation Our Web Animation course represents another powerful CCMR opportunity for Texas schools. Listed as Web Animation IBC 967 on TEA's approved certification list, this course prepares students for the Certified Web Animator Associate (CWAA) credential from Web Professionals Global. With the global animation market projected to reach over $587 billion by 2030, this pathway offers students access to a booming industry with competitive salaries and diverse career opportunities. Animation careers extend far beyond entertainment. Today's animators work in gaming, digital marketing, education, healthcare, and corporate communications. The skills students develop—visual storytelling, technical proficiency with industry-standard tools, project management, and collaboration—transfer across multiple high-demand fields. The Web Animation curriculum takes students through the fundamentals, including the 12 Principles of Animation developed by Disney, ensuring they understand the theoretical foundations of professional animation work. Students learn both 2D animation using Weditor (a free web-based creative suite) or Adobe Animate, and 3D animation concepts using tools like Adobe After Effects. Our Virtual Internship Model engages students with interactive, story-based projects that simulate real-world career experiences. This approach helps them develop not just technical skills but also the soft skills—communication, problem-solving, time management—that employers consistently cite as critical for workplace success. Each student builds a college and career-ready portfolio throughout the course, ensuring they have tangible evidence of their capabilities when they graduate. Web and Mobile App Development Our Web and Mobile App Development course offers another opportunity for students. Listed as code 966 on the TEA approved certification list, the course prepares students to earn the Certified Web and Mobile App Developer Apprentice (CWMA) credential through Web Professionals Global. The course uses a media-rich, highly interactive, hands-on approach to guide students through the exciting process of creating their own web or mobile apps using JavaScript. Students build actual working applications they can demonstrate to colleges, employers, or even publish in app stores. Throughout the coursework, students develop critical STEM skills, build confidence through successful project completion, and create a college and career-ready portfolio that showcases their abilities. Students experience everything from environment configuration and design through implementation, debugging, and deployment of web and mobile applications. They learn JavaScript programming fundamentals, understand the design process and web application life cycles, and gain practical experience with user interface and user experience concepts. Our curriculum weaves together technical skills with essential professional competencies like project management, ethics in the workplace, legal issues around intellectual property, and even entrepreneurship basics for students interested in starting their own development ventures. Why We Work Well with Texas CCMR Programs Several factors make our courses particularly well-suited for Texas districts working to improve CCMR outcomes: Alignment with State Standards : All three courses are TEKS-aligned and approved by TEA for the 2025-2030 certification list. This removes uncertainty about whether students will receive CCMR credit for their work. You can implement these courses with confidence that they meet state requirements. Accessibility for All Students : The turnkey design means you don't need specialized faculty or expensive equipment. Students and teachers can start with no prior experience in web design, animation or mobile app development. This democratizes access to high-quality CTE pathways, allowing more students to benefit regardless of your campus's resources or location. Portfolio Development : Both courses emphasize building professional portfolios. Students create projects they can show to college admissions offices, potential employers, or use as the foundation for freelance work. This practical output reinforces learning and provides students with immediate value beyond the certification itself. Industry Recognition : The certifications from Web Professionals Global carry weight because they're developed and recognized by actual industry professionals. Students aren't just earning a piece of paper—they're demonstrating competencies that employers actively seek. Bonus Industry Recognized Micro-Credentials: Boost student CCMR with additional micro-credentials in soft skills companies are looking for. Flexibility in Delivery : The courses work across multiple devices and support both blended learning and fully online instruction. This flexibility proved invaluable during recent years and continues to benefit schools serving students with diverse needs and schedules. Competition Opportunities : We partner with SkillsUSA, providing students opportunities to compete at regional, state, and national levels in Web Design and Development competitions. These experiences build confidence, create memorable milestones, and add impressive credentials to college applications. The Financial Impact on Your District Under House Bill 3, TEA awards CCMR Outcomes Bonus funding to districts based on the number of graduates who demonstrate college, career, or military readiness above certain thresholds. These bonuses apply to three cohorts: economically disadvantaged students, non-economically disadvantaged students, and special education students. By expanding access to industry-based certifications through our courses, you increase the number of students who meet CCMR indicators. This directly impacts your district's funding allocation while simultaneously improving your accountability ratings. It's a win-win situation where doing right by students also benefits your campus financially. Moreover, the relatively low barrier to implementation means you can scale these programs efficiently. You're not building expensive facilities or hiring highly specialized staff. You're providing students with internet-connected devices they likely already have and curriculum that's ready to deploy. Preparing Students for Multiple Pathways One of the most valuable aspects of our courses is how they serve students pursuing different post-secondary paths. For college-bound students, the certifications enhance applications and demonstrate initiative in developing technical skills. The portfolios provide concrete examples of their work during admissions interviews. Some universities even grant credit for industry certifications. For students entering the workforce directly after graduation, the certifications provide immediate employability credentials. Web designers and animators can find entry-level positions or start freelancing while continuing their education part-time. The skills are in demand across industries, not just in traditional tech companies. For students considering military service, the technical competencies developed through these courses align well with many military occupational specialties in communications, intelligence, and technical fields. Implementation Support and Professional Development We understand that adopting new curriculum can feel daunting, which is why we provide comprehensive support throughout implementation. When you reach out for a demo, you're not just seeing a product presentation—you're beginning a partnership with a team committed to your success. We offer professional development for teachers, ensuring you feel confident delivering the material even if you're new to web design, animation or mobile app development. Our curriculum includes detailed instructor guides, and the platform itself provides scaffolded support for students, reducing the instructional burden while maintaining high-quality learning experiences.  Technical support is readily available when you need it, and we actively work with partner schools to gather feedback and continuously improve our offerings. This responsive approach means your voice matters and your students benefit from ongoing enhancements. Looking Toward the Future The world of work continues to evolve rapidly, with digital skills becoming essential across virtually every industry. Web design, animation and mobile app development aren't just creative pursuits—they're fundamental communications tools in our increasingly digital economy. By offering these pathways now, you're positioning your students to adapt and thrive regardless of how their career interests develop. The skills students learn extend beyond the specific technical knowledge. They develop computational thinking, creative problem-solving, the ability to receive and implement feedback, and persistence through challenging projects. These meta-skills serve students well in any field they ultimately pursue. As artificial intelligence and automation reshape many traditional jobs, the creative and technical synthesis required in web design and animation becomes more valuable, not less. Students learn to work alongside technology, leveraging tools to amplify their creative vision—exactly the kind of human-machine collaboration that defines modern work. Contact Us Today Ready to learn more about how our Web Design, Web Animation and Mobile App Development courses can enhance your CCMR program? Reach out to us at hello@ctelearning.com or 913-764-4272 to schedule your free demo and discover how you can help your Texas students earn industry-recognized certifications, build impressive portfolios, and meet CCMR requirements while developing skills that will serve them throughout their careers. Your students' futures are waiting—let's build them together.
By Steve Waddell October 6, 2025
In recent months, the team at CTeLearning has been hard at work revising our popular Ethics in the Workplace curriculum and certification. Designed in partnership with Web Professionals Global , the professional association for all web careers, this micro-credential is a valuable opportunity for students to build a well-rounded professional profile that combines technical skills and a professional portfolio with essential workplace ethics knowledge. The curriculum is designed with real-world application in mind, preparing students for the ethical challenges they'll face in professional environments. We ensure learners are well-prepared to navigate both the technical and professional aspects of modern workplaces, making them more attractive candidates to employers who value both competency and integrity. Students who work through the curriculum earn the certification after completing all required coursework. Warren Buffett has stated that he looks for three qualities when hiring: integrity, intelligence, and energy. He noted that without integrity, the other two traits "will kill you," underscoring the foundational importance of ethical behavior. Let’s take a look at the Ethics in the Workplace certification and the key changes we have made for 2025-2026. Background on the Certification Over a decade ago, we developed the first version of the Ethics in the Workplace curriculum. This came after years of our teachers struggling with teaching ethics in their classrooms. Since everything we do is wrapped up in the context of a career experience, we knew that we could deliver ethics in a practical and direct manner. We decided to dive even deeper into this idea when two new hires straight out of college came to work for us. No need to go into detail, but let’s just say we saw firsthand what happens when you have people who you assume understand the basics of ethical behavior. I (Steve) can still remember the conversation when my head of development came into my office and sat down with me to tell me a story of what she had discovered. In short, we had to fire the new employees and clean up the mess they left. However, this gave us the extra boost to develop our first ethics module. This internal training became the basis for what we dropped into every career pathway course we delivered to teachers and students. A few years later, we partnered with Web Professionals Global to have this micro-credential endorsed, and the rest is history. New Features for 2025-2026 As all our clients know, we are constantly updating our content. All areas of career and technical education (CTE) are always changing, so we keep adapting as part of our commitment to our teachers. In recent years, we had conversations with teachers who do not teach CTE pathways like web design, web game design, or animation but still wanted to teach ethics to their students. They asked us to deliver the Ethics in the Workplace certification as a standalone course, which makes sense considering it is important to be ethical in the workplace across all career pathways. As a result, our course can now be utilized in any class. It is designed to work with PC, Mac and Chromebooks. It is incredibly easy to facilitate with plenty of touch points teachers may choose to use to expand the learning experience and customize it to suit their students’ needs. AI has dramatically affected ethics in professional settings, and our most recent version includes a new section to teach students about the reality of AI and its use in the workplace. This topic also is good for students to understand as the same ethical approach to using AI in the workplace should be applied to using AI as it relates to school. We also revamped the certification so that it is now available to schools in Spanish as well as English. This allows our schools to reach more learners and integrate the curriculum into English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Language Learner (ELL) programs. Teachers and students can easily switch back and forth between English and Spanish. In the future, based on needs and requests, we will add other languages to the list. Get Started Today Ethics should be a part of every school experience. Students who work through the course and earn the certification are better prepared than peers to work in professional environments in an ethical manner. Imagine your learners being able to take home their certifications and show their family what might be their first industry-based certificate. We see this as another path to building a student's workplace confidence in addition to the technical skills and other soft skills our courses teach. For more information about the certification or any of our other courses , contact us today at 913-764-4272 or hello@ctelearning.com . We would be happy to give you a 30-minute demo of any of our courses and show how we can help your school meet STEM education goals.
animation cte career pathway
By Steve Waddell September 16, 2025
Is animation a viable career for your students? Discover the 2026 outlook for the industry and how industry-recognized certifications (IRC) bridge the skills gap.
By Steve Waddell August 21, 2025
This summer, CTeLearning was proud to once again contribute to the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, GA at the Georgia World Congress Center from June 23-27. Our professional association partner Web Professionals Global ran the Web Design and Development competition for the 22nd year in a row, providing students from a number of states with the opportunity to participate.  Our founder and lead developer, Steve Waddell, has been helping to run SkillsUSA competitions since 2005. Additionally, this past spring, CTeLearning and Web Professionals Global helped to facilitate the SkillsUSA Web Design and Development state competitions, the winners of which were invited to the national competition. Let’s hear a recap from Mark Dubois, Executive Director of Web Professionals Global, who spent the week in Atlanta. Week Recap June 23 (Monday) - After arriving late Sunday night, Mark arrived at the registration desk very early in the morning. He met our colleague Tammy Finch (Web services, Inc). Once Mark checked in for the event and received the packets of information and badges, he and Tammy were off to Courtesy Corps to arrange for their assistance in setting up the competition area. Mark had previously requested their help and needed to confirm all details once on site. He also worked with SkillsUSA personnel to get the wifi router installed and configured. Shortly after noon, both he and Tammy participated in the Technical Chair meeting. This event is held just prior to the competition to communicate last minute information (such as the current dispatch phone number and emergency procedures in the event of severe weather or other disruptions). Mark also picked up a plaque honoring our long time co-chair, Steve Waddell, for his numerous years of service to this competition. Once the meeting concluded, both Mark and Tammy returned to the competition area to verify the wifi was working. Although there was no easy way to stress test the environment, all appeared to be working once the router received a software update. Many thanks to SkillsUSA for their help in getting this set up and working. June 24 (Tuesday) - We began the day once again testing the network and confirming all was working for the competition. At noon, we held a written test for competitors in room B-311. This was the room we also used for competition debriefing and training during the week. The test covered various aspects of web design and development including fundamentals every competitor should know as well as a few more advanced questions. When completed, competitors had a moment to grab some lunch prior to our mandatory training session (which started at 2 p.m.). We covered the use of our online coding environment as part of our training and explained how the competition would be run along with providing a written overview. We also provided links to videos explaining the coding environment. Mark also reviewed some potential pitfalls which could happen when using the environment. He also reviewed why it is important to preview your work in the browser periodically. Once questions were addressed, Tammy and David Jackson (Tekki Systems) [long time member of our on site technical team] provided an overview of what it is like to work in the industry today. After a brief discussion, they answered many questions from competitors. We hold these sessions concurrently for both the secondary (high school) and post-secondary (college) competitors. Each state was represented with a team of two competitors who had to work together to complete a series of specific tasks. More information about that can be found below (Wednesday). The session ran a bit over as there were many keen questions from those who aspire to work in our industry. Before we left the room, we reviewed the test scores of all competing teams and confirmed that their answers were properly recorded in our system. These scores are later input into a large spreadsheet for calculating the winners (gold, silver, and bronze) for both secondary and post-secondary competitions. We mentioned to all competitors that we were throwing a wrinkle into the process this year. We have a practicing web professional who spent the same amount of time and used the same work order and assets to create a website. Since we are a global organization, we were able to ask someone from another time zone to do this. We decided that we would be reviewing their work as part of the competition debriefing. Everyone seemed intrigued by this new approach. They also got to meet this individual at the end of the training session (obviously via a Zoom meeting). June 25 (Wednesday) - On this day we focused on the secondary teams. Roughly two dozen states were represented by teams of two. In order to compete in Atlanta, each team had to win first place in their respective state. We were honored to be able to work with many states in their respective state web design and development competitions. We provide the coding environment, assets, rubrics, and judging criteria. We ask each state to provide on-site personnel and judges. Dan Dao (our SkillsUSA .NET [National Education Team] member was able to join us again this year. This is his second year and we greatly appreciated his help. The competition began with a briefing and a client interview. In this case, David Jackson served in the role of client. He spent some time explaining what he needed as a client and was asked a number of questions by competitors about his business. Many of the questions were quite insightful and showed competitors wanted to understand his business to provide the best experience for his clients who would be visiting his website. Once the client interview was finished, competitors returned to their workstations and spent about an hour drafting a low fidelity wireframe (some also did a site map and a few did a mood board/ stylesheet). We supplied the paper for use in this part of the process. Once they were finished with their version of the wireframe, they flagged down a team member who had them secure their work and the team was then handed a medium fidelity wireframe developed by a practicing professional. This is what each team used as they developed the website. We have used this approach for a number of years and it vastly helps with judging as all judges are examining and comparing similar work (for example, they expect mobile versions to display images in a certain spot that is different from the desktop version). Competitors worked as a team and had until 3 p.m. to complete their work and validate it was working properly in our online coding environment. While each team was working, they were called up for a team interview. In addition to addressing why their team should be considered for future work with clients, we also asked detailed questions about their individual wireframes. Those wireframes were left with the interviewers. At 3 p.m. the competition concluded and competitors were able to leave the venue. Judges then began reviewing competitor work (each team had one submitted spot). We use our custom online tool as it has a judge view. In that view, judges can move from one team to another effortlessly. Judges are able to view the source code, validate it, and test in various mobile device settings. However, judges are not able to make any changes to the code itself (they are operating in a read only mode). We have been doing this for over 20 years (and a few of our judges have been with us for almost the entire time). June 26 (Thursday) - The post-secondary teams competed on this day. We had roughly a dozen post-secondary teams. We have noted that there are often fewer post-secondary teams than secondary teams. This is part of the reason we have the high school teams compete on Wednesday as judges can spend Wednesday evening as well as most of the day Thursday evaluating the work of the secondary competitors. As with the Wednesday competition, all teams met with the client and had the chance to ask many questions about his business. They then began to develop their own low fidelity wireframes. After an hour, they notified team members who secured their wireframes and provided competitors with a medium fidelity wireframe they could use to develop the website. As before, the competition ended at 3 p.m. We then held a debriefing session in B-311. We reviewed the work of our volunteer web professional and showed his work in the judge's view (so competitors got a behind the scenes look similar to what judges use - although it was in a different but similar coding environment). We then opened the floor for questions and comments by the competitors. Mark took notes as these comments will be reviewed and incorporated into next year’s event. Those notes have been shared with all team members and we are starting to make modifications already. Once the debriefing session concluded, a number of competitors accompanied us back to the competition venue as we had to dismantle the tables and chairs and stack all for the move out happening on Friday. Thanks to those who helped. You made a big difference. We then returned to our respective hotel rooms. Mark reviewed the score sheets provided by judges for the secondary competition and entered those scores into the SkillsUSA judges data store while the work of the post-secondary teams was being evaluated. Judges got all completed and the final scores were all recorded before the 9 p.m. deadline set by SkillsUSA. They need the time to then develop the materials for the awards ceremony on Friday. June 27 (Friday) - This was the first year that we knew when we would be handing out the awards (to the minute). We arrived at State Farm Arena and navigated our way backstage. Tammy and David placed the medals on the winning teams (gold, silver, and bronze) for both secondary and post-secondary teams. We went with the teams for official back state photos after the event. Congratulations to all who participated. Although there can only be one first place team in each event, you are all winners because you stepped up and tested your knowledge, skills, and abilities on a national stage. In a number of states, competitor teams had to win a regional competition, proceed to the state competition, and then on to the national competition (winning first in each to qualify for our competition in Atlanta). Well done and congratulations to all! Get in Touch CTeLearning is proud of its work over the years with SkillsUSA. Reach out to us today for information on our collaboration with SkillsUSA and course offerings.
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