Autodesk Tinkercad and Certiport IC3 Global Standard 5 Certification Program earn Seal of Alignment for Readiness

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 28, 2016 - The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) today announced that Autodesk Tinkercad and Certiport IC3 Global Standard 5 Certification Program are the first to earn the Seal of Alignment for Readiness to the 2016 ISTE Standards for Students. Unveiled in June at the ISTE Annual Conference & Expo, the 2016 ISTE Standards for Students are a blueprint by and for innovative educators worldwide to guide education transformation and meaningful, future-ready learning. They are not about devices or using technology; they are about giving voice to learners the world over and ensuring that learning is a student-driven process of creation and critical thinking.

Products and programs that are aligned to the refreshed 2016 ISTE Standards for Students help educators empower their students to learn in a technology-infused learning environment. As the first to achieve this important designation against the new standards, Tinkercad and the Certiport IC3 Global Standard 5 Certification Program are robust resources for creating future-ready learning environments.

Autodesk Tinkercad is a free, easy, browser-based 3D design and modeling tool used by designers, hobbyists, teachers and kids to make toys, prototypes, home decor, Minecraft models, jewelry and more. Educators use Tinkercad to bring design and maker-based learning into their classrooms or to support efforts around 3D printing. It comes with more than 100 step-by-step lessons and tutorials, as well as teacher tools to help approve student access.

The ISTE Review Panel said, "The Tinkercad tool is easy-to-use, versatile and powerful. It lends itself to the creation of models, and the ability to use designs as input to 3D printers."

The Certiport IC3 Global Standard 5 Certification Program consists of three timed exams: "Computing Fundamentals," "Living Online" and "Key Applications." Exams include both multiple choice and performance-based tasks. The performance tasks simulate various software environments appropriate to the questions in each of the three subject areas. These simulations have an authentic look and feel and allow multiple paths for completion of a task (e.g. menu options, keyboard shortcuts). Upon completion of the three IC3 exams, students receive a certificate that demonstrates achievement in learning over the three subject areas.

Commenting the ISTE Review Panel said, "The IC3 exams cover a broad range of technology skills that are foundational to the acquisition of the knowledge and skills described by the 2016 ISTE Standards for Students. The exams are carefully designed to test the knowledge and skills sets in not only considerable breadth but also in significant depth."

Products and resources submitted to the ISTE Seal of Alignment program undergo a rigorous review by a panel of subject matter experts who have a deep understanding of the ISTE Standards. Resources and solutions seeking the ISTE Seal of Alignment are evaluated based on their pedagogical value and the extent to which they build the skills embodied in the standards. The Seal of Alignment for Readiness recognizes resources that focus on learning to use technology and that help build the foundational technology skills needed to support the ISTE Standards.

For more information, visit https://www.iste.org/standards/standards-in-action/seal-of-alignment.

About ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the premier nonprofit membership organization serving educators and education leaders committed to empowering connected learners in a connected world. ISTE serves more than 100,000 education stakeholders throughout the world.

Innovative offerings include the widely adopted ISTE Standards for learning, teaching and leading in the digital age - as well as the ISTE Conference & Expo-the world's most comprehensive ed tech event. The organization's robust suite of professional learning resources feature online courses, consulting services for schools and districts, books, and peer-reviewed journals and publications. For more information, visit iste.org. Connect with ISTE on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Autodesk, the Autodesk logo and Tinkercad are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries.

For more information, media only:
Lisa Wolfe, L. Wolfe Communications,
773-278-2800, lwolfe@lwolfe.com