Communication and Digital Learning

Apps For Good: Empowering Educators to Bridge The Digital Divide

How can young people tackle problems like climate change, healthy eating and mental health regardless of access to resources? Apps for Good help young people to tackle the big issues
A winning entry from India in this year's Apps for Good on the theme of recycling

Too many young people don’t have access to the skills they need to succeed in life. Over the course of the past year we’ve seen divides grow and deepen between the most deprived and privileged students. Those that don’t have access to technology, a quiet space to work, or the internet are still falling behind even if schools have reopened.

At Apps for Good we want to close this gap, we want to ensure a fairer and more equal society. We support and empower educators to teach students everything they need to create a brighter future for themselves and for their community.

Empowering young people with technology

Since 2010 we’ve worked with teachers to unlock the potential of over 200,000 students around the UK, and beyond, with our free technology courses. Our courses encourage students to think about the world around them and solve the problems that they find by creating apps and products with machine learning and IoT.

Students have the freedom to tackle issues that matter to them, from food poverty, climate change and mental health issues. We partner with large global organisations that students admire, such as LEGO, Spotify and Deutsche Bank, to enhance their learning experience. This provides opportunities for students to get direct access to people working in the technology industry and get real-world experience on how to develop their tech products.

Industry interactions can bring to life the skills students are learning through our courses and how to apply these skills in the workplace. Volunteers can also show young people the many different careers they might be able to pursue with digital skills, and the many different routes to success.

Delivering digital courses during a pandemic

“Luton sometimes receives very undeserved negative press coverage. It’s been wonderful to have an inspirational programme that proves to all of our pupils, regardless of age or ability, that they can achieve whatever they want, as long as they believe it.”

Emma Darcy, Director Of Technology For Learning at The Chiltern Learning Trust, Denbigh High School

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