We have recently received a $330k Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation.

With this new grant funding, we are now able to offer more innovative, video game-inspired computer science curriculum to students around the world by moving the curriculum from classes with students in San Diego to online as well.

Our mission has always been to find every student interested in understanding how computer programming works and teach them in a context they can understand

There will also be a push to develop a completely new computer science curriculum designed to meet the interests of a broader population of video game-playing students worldwide.

Our mission has always been to find every student interested in understanding how computer programming works and teach them in a context they can understand. So far, we have taught 7,000 students in San Diego and over 100,000 students online. Our co-founder, Lindsey Handley, Ph.D., says: “Thanks to the NSF, we are now going to be able to reach more students in different countries with different interests. The same experience students have had in our classrooms, will soon be available online to both students… and adults. We’re really interested in sharing our educational tools with more adults so they can help us reach more kids!”

Thanks to the NSF, we are now going to be able to reach more students in different countries with different interests.

Our current plans are to establish an online course platform where students, parents, and teachers can login to access all of of our coding courses in one place. We hope to run courses with large groups of students learning together, as well as courses which are available for individual students to work at their own pace.

ThoughtSTEM’s CEO, Stephen Foster, Ph.D., says: “This grant is allowing us to accelerate our development of computer science educational products for students who we are looking for new ways to interact with their favorite video games. Our students in San Diego have really enjoyed our approach, and we are excited to now be able to share it with other areas.”

We cannot wait to see where this grant takes us! What we are most grateful for is our family of students and parents who have been with us along this journey, and we want to thank you for being a part of this amazing experience. We are excited to be a part of this together and hope you will continue with us as we press forward!

“This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1632539” and a disclaimer that states “Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.”