What if every student, teacher and school had free, unlimited access to professional 3D design software? Imagine how free, hands-on projects and courses to teach and inspire the next generation of designers would advance classrooms focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

The Autodesk Education team headed to Philadelphia this week to help make this a reality for more educators and students at The International Society for Technology in Education’s (ISTE®) annual conference.  

On Monday, the Autodesk team announced the availability of the new Autodesk Design Academy iTunes U course as an extension of last year’s commitment to offer students, teachers, and schools free access to our 3D design software and creativity applications. The iTunes U course includes learning materials to introduce students to design as well as gain experience using Autodesk Fusion 360. Autodesk also launched the Design Academy Multi-Touch book, which includes learning materials about Autodesk SketchBook Express.

“I had no idea Autodesk (software) was free—I’m so impressed,” said Rita Mortensen, educational technology coordinator, Verona Area High School in Verona, Wisconsin. “I just learned that there are free courses and content, not only in iTunes U, but using iBooks Author. This is the way to go.”

To help showcase the student possibilities using Fusion 360, Dr. Karen P. Kaun, founder of Makeosity Inc., and Robert Dudek, career and technology educator, Arlington Public Schools, demonstrated how their students used Fusion 360 to craft a kick-scooter that also charges mobile devices and a prosthetic device to help a disabled student, respectively.

With nearly 18,000 attendees at the world’s largest conference for secondary education, the Autodesk booth offered educators and media attending ISTE a hands-on preview of the Design Academy iTunes U course.

SketchBook artist Angie Jordan added some color to the event, drawing hundreds of attendee portraits.

To gain access to the Autodesk Design Academy, Autodesk Design Academy iTunes U course for Fusion 360 and Autodesk Design Academy iBook for SketchBook Express, visit academy.autodesk.com.