TCS’Ignite My Future in School (IMFIS), launched in 2017 in partnership with Discovery Education, is a pioneering initiative that aims to transform the way students learn. The program ignites the spark of curiosity and problem solving through computational thinking, a foundational skill for successful careers in every sector.
IMFIS enables educators, administrators, and school districts to become ambassadors of a transdisciplinary approach and introduce computational thinking within the context of core subjects such as English, mathematics, social studies, science, and the arts. These free resources were created to equip teachers with relevant professional development and resources to prepare their students for successful careers in the 21st Century.
The program offers several ways in which teachers can engage:
In-Person or Virtual professional development and learning sessions
On-demand e-learning modules
Transdisciplinary lesson plans aligned to Common Core and CSTA K-12 Framework
Master Class Teacher Video Series
Family Activities, and more!
Teachers are also able to extend their learning journey through the Learning Leaders Community, a global network of educators who champion STEM learning in their classrooms, schools, and communities. They are the changemakers who help power this computational thinking movement. Now more than ever educators need to be connected to one another. Teachers that opt into this community can learn from one another, exchange ideas, and celebrate successes.
With teachers from across the U.S. and Canada, this teacher community and movement quickly grew to include over 225 educators from other parts of the world. Today, our Learning Leaders continue to grow and reflect diversity in the classroom and our world. Current Learning Leaders are from United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, India, and Wales.
To encourage collaboration and innovation among teachers and their students we created the Global Innovations Project. This idea, originally sparked by members of the Learning Leader community, has students solve real-world problems using computational thinking.
This project is a six-week-long guided program for students and teachers around the world to collaborate and connect with peers around the world on a safe, monitored platform. Project participants are supported by TCS associates, a.k.a, “Ignite Consultants”, who are using their special skill sets to offer advice, guidance, and encouragement as the students design their solutions. This fall teachers and students from five countries - Canada, Chile, Mexico, the US, and the UK - are using computational thinking to tackle sustainability for large-scale events, like the TCS NYC Marathon.
TCS’ mission is to build greater futures by connecting people to opportunities in the digital economy. Through innovation and collective knowledge, we will create equitable, inclusive pathways for all, especially women, youth, and marginalized groups. As part of this vision, TCS continues to empower communities globally through its strategic programs - by prioritizing education, skilling, employment, and entrepreneurship with a focus to bridge the opportunity gap. IMFIS is a key pillar in this value creation model, one that is unparalleled in reach and design.
To learn more about how you can get involved in Ignite My Future In School visit https://www.ignitemyfutureinschool.org/ or email imf.global@tcs.com.