San Rafael, Calif., - Autodesk, Inc., provider of 2D and 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, announced it is entering into a five-year agreement with Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a provider of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs for K-12 schools, to provide Autodesk design software products for PLTW’s engineering curriculum.
PLTW’s curriculum engages hundreds of thousands of middle-school and high-school students through hands-on activities while providing a proven path to academic and professional success in STEM fields. Students can apply what they learn in math and science classes to real-world problems across multiple disciplines, including architectural design, civil and mechanical engineering, and animation. The organization’s project-based learning program emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and innovative reasoning, while fostering a love of learning. The program has been lauded for its innovative curriculum, teacher training and connection to college course credits.
As a part of the collaboration, Autodesk and PLTW agreed to lower the cost of the software by more than 20 percent for schools implementing a PLTW program. Since entering into a relationship with PLTW in 2006, Autodesk has provided more than $8.4 million in in-kind value of software to PLTW schools and the students they serve. The new arrangement increases this amount to an anticipated $16.2 million over the term of the agreement. Autodesk and PLTW deliver this value through significant discounts on software to participating PLTW schools.