This past weekend Tata Consultancy Services ( TCS) brought its innovative computational thinking program, Ignite My Future in School (IMFIS), to Carl Hankey International Baccalaureate Academy in Mission Viejo, CA. Teachers from the Capistrano Unified School District participated in a hands-on curriculum training as part of the initiative’s Day of Discovery Techademy. While there, educators learned how schools across the country are implementing the program’s problem-solving approach by tailoring them to issues affecting their local communities. IMFIS expert, Dacia Jones explained how she’s witnessed students create solutions to combat cyberbullying through the program’s curriculum. Other highlighted lessons included Trouble in the Lab and Recycle and Reuse which involve decoding and finding patterns.
Sherry Lin 5th grade teacher Elementary School Teacher in Rosemead CA says, “Today I learned creative strategies to engage students, project-based learning and how to tie-in standards to real-world problems that would get students curious and wanting to learn. In the beginning, I know it will take work incorporating it into the curriculum, but once I get it going it will be worth it!”
“I see this program as very beneficial for kids and their future careers because it’s exactly what is needed in the future. It takes into account all of the C’s – Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration and also problem-solving where they need to work together. “
Tata Consultancy Services, (TCS), (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) a leading IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital education content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, launched Ignite My Future in School Day of Discovery within the Capistrano Unified School District at Carl Hankey International Baccalaureate Academy in Mission Viejo, California on Saturday, Oct. 27. This professional training event connected local educators with Discovery Education experts to learn about Ignite My Future in School and to understand its purpose and receive hands-on curriculum training.
“As technology becomes more and more prevalent in our everyday lives, teaching future generations computer science skills becomes more and more important. I applaud Orange County’s Capistrano Unified School District for their efforts to educate our children in innovative disciplines,” said Congresswoman Marian Elaine “Mimi” Walters, R-Ca. “‘Ignite My Future in School’ empowers teachers with the tools they need to ensure students have the skills they need to compete in the 21st Century economy.”
Ignite My Future in School offers educators curriculum support through free instructional resources with computational thinking strategies embedded into subjects such as math, sciences, arts, and social studies, housed on a digital platform and offers year-round assistance. This interdisciplinary approach enables students to obtain critical thinking skills that will be required for 21st-century careers across all industries.
“This initiative helps educators, schools, and communities build foundational skills that provide today’s students with the opportunity to embark on careers which will impact the new digital economy. Ignite My Future in School solidifies the core of our mission, empowering students in Orange County and across America,” said Balaji Ganapathy, Head of Workforce Effectiveness, TCS.
Recent studies show California graduates less than 5,000 computer science majors each year. Yet, startup activity has been accelerating throughout California. Last year, Orange County tallied $2 billion in startup funding investments. Ignite My Future in School will only add to the region’s burgeoning technology community.
On a national level, Ignite My Future in School aims to engage 20,000 teachers and one million U.S. students by 2021. As a first step towards this objective, TCS and Discovery Education have already partnered with U.S. school districts in Metro Washington, D.C., Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and California to launch this innovative program. Since debuting in 2017, IMFIS has provided training materials valued at more than $2 million and engaged over 185,000 students and 3,300 educators in all 50 states.
About Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS):
Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for the last fifty years. TCS offers a consulting-led, cognitive powered, integrated portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions. This is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.
A part of the Tata group, India’s largest multinational business group, TCS has over 411,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 46 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $19.09 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, and is listed on the BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) and the NSE (National Stock Exchange) in India. TCS’ proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit us at www.tcs.com.
To stay up-to-date on TCS news in North America, follow @TCS_NA.
For TCS global news, follow @TCS_News.
About Discovery Education:
As the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional learning, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries around the globe. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com. Stay connected with Discovery Education on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @DiscoveryEd.
Photo Credit: Tata Consultancy Services and Carl Hankey International Baccalaureate Academy
