According to a news release this week, the grant program provides STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) infrastructure, like hardware and technology, to partnering schools and professional development for teachers.
As part of the expansion, Apple is offering new how-to guides for educational activities tailored to different age groups, with a focus on creativity. The guides highlight how specific Apple products can help students engage in their learning. For example, one resource shows how to use a drawing tool in Keynote to illustrate a constellation. Another explains how drum patterns in the GarageBand app can help students understand math and poetry.
“Our new Creative Activities for early learners and students make learning easy and fun, and most importantly, give educators quick tools to engage learners of all ages,” Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of education and enterprise marketing, said in a public statement.
These activities are part of the Apple Education Community, a hub for educators using Apple products. It houses tutorials, lesson ideas and a forum for collaboration among peers. Apple recently expanded the forum’s features to 16 new countries and regions, and the number of educators in the community reached 1 million.
In addition to resources for students, Apple is building out Apple Learning Coach, a free professional development program where experts show teachers how to best use Apple products in the classroom. The program now offers lessons in eight languages across 15 countries.
The news release said Apple's efforts also extend to hands-on support for schools and nonprofits. The company has worked with the New York Public Library system since 2020, offering virtual and in-person tech training sessions with a focus on teaching adults how to use new technologies.
“The world is evolving so fast,” Brandy McNeil, New York Public Library’s deputy director of branch programs and services, said in a public statement. “One of the ways that we can help shape and ensure the future of libraries is to create spaces that are designed for collaborative, interactive learning.”
One of Apple’s newer partnerships reflects its global expansion: it works with CodeDoor, a German nonprofit that trains migrants and their families how to code, with the goal of addressing workforce demand in the country. The eight-month training program uses Apple educational materials and an Apple-developed application to teach participants how to design and pitch apps.
“CodeDoor was created from the idea that young people are curious and approach learning as a process of discovery, but need the right tools to feel empowered,” Karan Dehghani, founder of CodeDoor, said in a public statement. “With support from Apple, our Creators program teaches learners from migrant families how to identify and solve real-life problems through app development.”
