🎙️ Penda Featured on LinkedUp Podcast: Driving Future Success
We’re excited to share that Penda Learning was recently featured on the LinkedUp Podcast, hosted by Jerri Kemble and Jamie Saponaro from ClassLink. In this special episode, Driving Future Success, our CEO Brad Baird and neuroscientist Dr. Steve Miller discuss how science education plays a critical role in preparing students for the future economy, and how Penda Learning is helping schools transform science mastery.
Science as a Driver of the Future Economy
In the conversation, Brad and Dr. Miller emphasize that science is not just another subject — it’s a key to thriving in tomorrow’s workforce. With the increasing demand for STEM skills, high-quality science instruction ensures students are not only test-ready but future-ready.
Efficacy Studies Validate Penda’s Impact
Dr. Miller, who recently completed efficacy studies on Penda Learning, shares compelling findings: schools using Penda as a science intervention resource see measurable improvements in student mastery of standards. These studies demonstrate that Penda is more than an engaging platform — it’s a proven tool for closing learning gaps and boosting achievement in science. Students using Penda gain, on average, the equivalent of two years of growth with one year of instruction. Effect sizes greater than .20 are considered large according to a study by Kraft on education intervention resources. Penda's effect size on a recent study was .56.
Gamified, Accessible, and Standards-Aligned
One of the highlights of the discussion is how Penda’s 3-dimensional, phenomena-based activities and assessments bring science to life. By blending gamification with standards, Penda motivates students while providing teachers with actionable data to guide instruction. Penda is designed to make science accessible to al learners, with the ability to translate into 100+ languages and read-aloud.
This accessibility ensures that every student, regardless of background or learning style, can engage meaningfully with science content.
As podcast co-host Jamie Saponaro put it:
“There are so many connections that science makes."
Listen to the Full Episode
The LinkedUp Podcast: Driving Future Success is available now! Tune in to hear the full conversation about how science education is evolving and how Penda is leading the way.
