Collaboration will provide millions of students and teachers access to computer science education
INDIANAPOLIS – Project Lead The Way (PLTW) today announced, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), AWS Educate as a PLTW “Transformative Partner” with the two organizations working together to strengthen the workforce pipeline of tomorrow and provide millions of students across the nation computer science curriculum access. AWS Educate is Amazon’s global initiative to provide students and educators with the resources needed to accelerate cloud-related learning. As demand for cybersecurity professionals increases, PLTW and AWS Educate identify the need to bring this curriculum to more students.
“To compete in our rapidly evolving world and be positioned for enduring careers, our students must have a learning experience in the classroom that is absolutely relevant to what is happening in the real world,” said Dr. Vince Bertram, President and Chief Executive Officer of PLTW. “PLTW is proud to partner with AWS Educate, one of our nation’s leading technology companies, to provide integrated career learning opportunities for our students and teachers across the nation."
PLTW and AWS Educate are focused on ensuring all students have access to learning by creating the tools for low-tech schools to access apps streams. PLTW teachers and students aged 14 and older will receive free access to the AWS Educate Portal, and PLTW students will receive the additional benefit of receiving access to the AWS Educate job board when they turn 18 years old. PLTW students will also have the ability to complete industry badges to prepare them for a future career in technology, a field that is in high demand.
The collaboration will also impact the PLTW classroom experience, as cloud technology concepts will be integrated into PLTW courses with the goal of preparing students for additional post-secondary cloud computing studies and careers. PLTW and AWS Educate will collaborate in the development of student activities and map the course outcomes to bridge students into post-secondary and career opportunities.
“Working with organizations like Project Lead the Way enables us to extend the benefits of cloud computing to students across the United States, while creating on-ramps to future careers in the cloud,” said Ken Eisner, Director, Worldwide Education Programs, AWS and Head of AWS Educate. “The integration of AWS Educate into PLTW’s hands-on courses will help give students opportunities to discover, learn, and apply cloud computing in the classroom. We applaud PLTW for innovating on behalf of their educators and students.”
About PLTW
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a mission-driven organization that is transforming the learning experience for millions of PreK-12 students and thousands of teachers across the U.S. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW’s teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning. Approximately 12,200 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.
About AWS Educate
AWS Educate is Amazon’s global initiative to provide students with comprehensive resources for building cloud technology skills. With a focus on real-world, applied learning experiences, AWS Educate offers learners access to self-paced content designed to introduce cloud computing technologies driving innovation in fields such as artificial intelligence, voice and facial recognition, gaming, medical advancements, and more. Additionally, AWS Educate provides access to the AWS Educate Job Board, a feature allowing students to search and apply for thousands of cloud jobs and internship opportunities from Amazon as well as other companies around the world.
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Media Contact:
Lauren McConnell
PLTW Director of Media Relations
lmcconnell@pltw.org
317-694-9123