Vision

Infosys Foundation USA believes that all K-12 students must have the opportunity to create the solutions, technologies and products that address important challenges to make their communities- and the world- a better place. To achieve this, K-12 students need to develop 21st century skills that allow them to thrive in the digital economy. Computer science is one such essential skill. However, we know that access to computer science is not equitable and many underserved and underrepresented students in STEM fields find computer science inaccessible and irrelevant. By contrast, maker education provides multiple pathways for all students to engage in hands-on computer science in ways that are personally meaningful, culturally relevant, and inclusive.

Guiding Principles for Supporting Maker Education

Infosys Foundation USA supports maker education initiatives which meet all of the following criteria:

  • Supports underserved and underrepresented students and/or educators in STEM. This includes girls and women, individuals who are African American or Latino, Native American, neurodiverse and differently abled.
  • Engages students in one or more fundamental concepts of computer science.
  • Provides opportunities for students to address real-world problems.
  • Creates new partnerships which help expand the capacity for an organization to provide maker education long-term.
  • Seeds new maker education programs, initiatives and resources in communities that need them or expands and scales innovative approaches to maker education.

Infosys Foundation USA-supported projects and programs that reflect the proposed approach:

The Maker Planning Summit

The Maker Planning Summit convened in Austin for three days during December of 2018 focused on expanding participation in UTeach Maker, including rural areas of Idaho and West Virginia. UTeach Maker is an innovative micro-credentialing program that helps UTeach pre-service teachers bring project-based maker practices into their STEM classrooms and makerspace environments.

Elementary Institute of Science

Elementary Institute of Science supports intensive robotics and STEM career exploration programs for female and low-income middle and high school students through its Future Innovators in Robotics and Engineering (F.I.R.E.) program. This includes the only drone pilot certification program in the U.S. specifically for girls and young women.

Maker Ed’s Learning in the Making

Maker Ed’s Learning in the Making is an online video series that can be found on the Foundation’s Pathfinders Online Institute that is designed to support educators and families with accessible hands-on learning experiences. Maker Ed produced 5 videos focused on computer science for grades 5-8. Each video is accompanied by project guides in both English and Spanish.