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Autodesk Education’s Design the Future program, Today

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8.65 million! That’s the size of the predicted STEAM (science, technology, engineering, digital arts, math) workforce in 2018 thanks to an ever-evolving demand for STEAM-related jobs in the U.S.  So, how do we prep today’s students for careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and math?

In order to support this daunting number, we must start by reimagining how STEAM subjects are taught in our classrooms. We need to arm our teachers with engaging technology and resources that will inspire students to participate, study and, ultimately, pursue careers in these industries.

Autodesk is contributing to the mission with the launch of Design the Future, a new initiative that will grant free access to the latest Autodesk design software, curricula, training, and certification to support secondary schools in the state of California. All California public and private high schools and middle schools are eligible!

Here’s what the Design the Future program offers:

  • Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite Ultimate
    • This suite provides a streamlined solution for teaching 3D modeling, digital sculpting, texture painting, animation, effects and rendering. This suite offers access to popular tools such as Autodesk Maya, SketchBook, 3ds Max and more to help unleash the inner artist in students.
  • Autodesk Design Academy
    • The Autodesk Design Academy offers a comprehensive set of design, visualization, and simulation capabilities that enable students to easily move between 2D and 3D design environments, and fully experience their creative ideas digitally. Classrooms will have access to software such as AutoCAD Architecture, Inventor and Vault to name a few.

Both offerings are supported by the Autodesk Digital STEAM Workshop, which features online learning content that offers educators a new way of teaching technology. In addition to this free curriculum, California secondary educators will also receive free eTraining, practice tests and certification from Certiport, Autodesk’s exclusive provider of the Autodesk Certified User program.

We believe there’s no better way to inspire a lifelong love of STEAM than by providing students, teachers, and entire school districts with access to tools that help them design their future and explore what’s possible. The Design the Future program will do just that.

“With increased access to technology, we can extend the four walls of the classroom and introduce students to real-world experiences, problems and scenarios,” said Brian Donnelly, Ed.D. Teacher, Davis Joint Unified School District and UC Davis. “This exposure and experience will enable students and teachers to achieve the college and career readiness goals included within the Common Core Standards.”

To learn more about Autodesk Education’s Design the Future program, please visit: http://www.autodesk.com/designthefutureus. The deadline to apply for the program is December 20, 2013.