March Madness Syllabus Challenge

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Unlock the excitement of the NCAA March Madness tournament and embark on an engaging journey towards understanding sports culture, teamwork, and creativity. In “March Madness Syllabus Challenge,” teachers and their students will delve into the pivotal aspects of the tournament and discover the power of sportsmanship and collaboration.

The March Madness Syllabus Challenge, a FREE 30-day online learning experience for teachers, program directors, and students. This dynamic challenge blends the excitement of the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament with the 5th-grade curriculum, making it relevant for students in grades 4 through 8. Running from March 3 to March 28, 2025, the challenge offers interactive learning paths aligned with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and Career & College Exploration.

The March Madness Syllabus Challenge aims to create an interdisciplinary learning experience that combines academic rigor with the thrill of the NCAA March Madness® basketball tournament. It encourages students to explore various subjects while celebrating the inspiring significance of the tournament. By participating, students will enhance their academic skills, gain valuable career insights, and learn the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship.

For more details and to sign-up, visit  March Madness Syllabus Challenge.

Course Prerequisites

No prerequisites needed. To succeed in the FieldXperience Career Readiness Badge course, a learner needs an open mind, willingness to embrace change, and commitment to applying the course's principles to their daily life for career success.

Here is the course outline with more details and learning outcomes for each module

Course Outline

Journey Architecture

The online program is available 24x7x365 via any web browser or mobile device with access to your own personal teaching assistant AI Genie and includes (4) learning paths, (15) lessons, and (5) hours of optional learning material.

This learning journey offers comprehensive benefits by teaching participants how to understand the bracket system, appreciate Cinderella stories, and recognize the importance of sportsmanship. Additionally, it provides strategies for teamwork, communication in sports broadcasting, and the application of science and math in sports. The course also explores creativity through mascot design and the role of music in different regions, fostering a deeper understanding of sports culture and personal growth.

Skills and Resources

Highlights of the Online Challenge:

1. Four Exciting Challenges:

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Bracket Challenge (Math)

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Mascot Challenge (Visual Arts)

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Sustainability Challenge (STEM)

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Careers On the Road to the Final Four (Career Exploration)

2. Prizes and Recognition:

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Win Pizza Hut vouchers and tickets to the Final Four Fan Fest.

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Earn a customized NCAA March Madness Skills Challenge Digital Badge and Certificate upon completion.

3. Flexible Scheduling:

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Designed to fit your schedule with options of 3-15 minute lessons or activities, whether in one day or multiple days.

4. Generative AI Support:

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Meet Syl, the challenge's mascot and generative AI mentor, available 24x7 to answer your class’s queries about the NCAA, the tournament, the Final Four, NCAA student-athlete eligibility, and more in a fun conversational way.

5. 30-min Teacher Development:

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Live and recorded sessions to empower you in topics ranging from:

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Expert tips on how 5th grade math can help create a winning March Madness Bracket.

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Learn tips on how to talk with AI Syl to enhance your class’s challenge experience and generate winning AI art for the Mascot Challenge.

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How to talk to 5th graders about the importance of starting to think about NCAA Student Athlete Eligibility.

Digital Credential

Teachers and their students who have successfully completed the challenge will receive a completion badge which requires uploading at least one challenge submission.