Are you a teacher who wants to learn new digital skills you can use in your classroom? The Infosys Foundation’s free online computer science lessons, first introduced in early 2020 through its Pathfinders Online Institute, has recently been expanded under a new Springboard digital skills initiative. The program now includes free new computer science learning resources for K-12 educators who want to continue their education.

“We know that technology jobs are exploding across the US, however only 51% of US public high schools teach computer science,” Infosys Foundation USA Executive Director Kate Maloney stated in a press release to The Journal. “It is imperative that we all work together to start early, investing in the generations who will need digital skills to thrive in the 21st century economy. Infosys Foundation USA is all-in to support the commitment to bring lifelong digital skills across the U.S. so that all can fully participate in the technology opportunities of the future.”

What resources will you have access to?

The first part of the professional development program is designed for those with no or little computer science knowledge and consists of:

  • Live online lessons including “Introduction to Micro:bit and Project Trix,” in which you will learn how to use Micro:bit and Project Trix in your classroom,
  • Eight cross-curricular activities for grades 3–5 
  • Professional development content, video instruction, mini-lessons and instructional resources to use with students
  • Live demos and opportunities to ask questions

What content is offered?

Just a few examples of professional development content available through the program include:

  • Broadening Participation in Computer Science, from AspireIT, for teachers of grades K–12 
  • Programming Essentials in Scratch, from Raspberry Pi Foundation, for teachers of grades 4–8
  • Coding Music in Python, from Black Girls Code, for teachers of grades 6–12

The Pathfinder website also includes five streamable computer science lessons for grades K–5. These courses, which include quick guides for teachers, provide 10 lessons for a total of 20 hours of training, and require no background in computer science. It also includes computer science resources for students and their families. 

Learn more about the program at the Pathfinders Online Institute website. Learn more about Springboard initiatives at the Infosys website. 

Also explore more teacher resources available on IEEE TryEngineering.