#United States #New York #Digital Divide #AT&T #Scratch Foundation

Collaboration for Digital Equity

The Scratch Foundation has announced an exciting partnership with AT&T to tackle the digital divide through creative learning experiences. This collaboration marks a significant step in providing educators across the United States with the resources they need to foster creativity and digital skills among their students.

A generous contribution of $250,000 from AT&T will facilitate the creation of six engaging workshops that incorporate materials from The Achievery, AT&T's innovative digital learning platform. The workshops aim to enhance educators’ abilities to teach coding and digital literacy effectively, thereby promoting equity in education.

Reaching Educators Nationwide

This initiative is designed to benefit a vast network of educators. Approximately 1,200 teachers will partake in live sessions, while an astounding 1.9 million will access the workshops asynchronously through Scratch's Creative Learning Library and YouTube channel. This broad reach will ensure that teachers from various backgrounds have the opportunity to improve their digital skills and classroom practices.

Margaret Honey, President and CEO of the Scratch Foundation, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "We're thrilled to team up with AT&T to make creative computing more accessible to teachers, students, and families everywhere. This collaboration underscores our mutual commitment to digital equity and creative learning."

Workshop Content and Pedagogy

The workshops will introduce educators to Scratch's playful coding pedagogy, combined with rich media content from The Achievery. This blend is designed to inspire teachers to incorporate computational thinking into their lesson plans effectively. The workshops will provide hands-on experiences, enabling educators to explore innovative ways to engage their students in STEM education.

"Every student deserves the chance to unlock their potential through quality STEM education," stated Sandro Mesquita, AVP of Corporate Responsibility at AT&T. "With The Achievery, we aim to provide innovative and accessible learning experiences for students and teachers everywhere, free of charge."

Empowering the Next Generation

AT&T's commitment to educational initiatives is part of its broader strategy to bridge the digital divide. Since 2021, the company has pledged $5 billion toward programs enhancing connectivity and digital literacy. The collaboration with the Scratch Foundation is one of many efforts aimed at equipping the next generation with vital skills needed for success in both academic and professional realms.

About Scratch Foundation

The Scratch Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports Scratch, the world’s largest coding community for children. Its mission is to provide free access to creative coding resources and platforms, enabling millions of young individuals from diverse backgrounds to explore, express, and develop essential skills through storytelling, game creation, and animations.

By ensuring that educators have the necessary tools and resources, the Scratch Foundation and AT&T believe they can empower students to reach their full potential, preparing them for a future where digital skills are paramount.

Through this partnership, both organizations are making strides in fostering a more equitable educational landscape, demonstrating the transformative power of creativity and technology in learning.