Add as a preferred source on Google


IBM Open P-TECH Offers Skills, Badges in Current Tech

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 04/07/20
Open P-Tech badges

IBM has launched Open P-TECH, to help young people and educators learn the basics in topics including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and cloud computing, as well as soft skills. Up until now, the P-TECH program has been provided as a model affiliated with schools. Now students who are 16 and older can register and participate on their own.

The digital coursework includes videos, readings and classroom activities (some of which require registering on external sites). There's a "recommended learning" display that provides collections or "channels" of activities that have been curated by learning professionals, other users and IBM's own Watson, based on the student's profile, job role or other factors. Students can subscribe to the channels, which cover professional skills, career paths and learning concepts such as design thinking.

As students complete lessons, they have an option of pursuing digital badges, which can be added to their social profiles and used in résumés. The program provides a student progress dashboard to monitor progress and get new assignments.

Partners in the program include Khan Academy, Codecademy, OpenClassrooms, LinkedIn and Duolingo.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • laptop with digital productivity and calendar symbols

    September 2025 Tech Tactics in Education Conference Agenda Announced

    Registration is free for this fully virtual Sept. 25 event, focused on "Overcoming Roadblocks to Innovation" in K-12 and higher education.

  • hand holding globe and environmental icons in front of a green background

    CoSN, SETDA, UDT Release Guidelines for Environmentally Responsible Technology Purchasing

    CoSN and SETDA, in partnership with IT and telecommunications solution provider UDT, recently released a set of Sustainability Procurement Guidelines designed to help K-12 school and district leaders, procurement officers, and technology directors make purchasing decisions that are both environmentally responsible and operationally effective.

  • tutor and student working together at a laptop

    You've Paid for Tutoring. Here's How to Make Sure It Works.

    As districts and states nationwide invest in tutoring, it remains one of the best tools in our educational toolkit, yielding positive impacts on student learning at scale. But to maximize return on investment, both financially and academically, we must focus on improving implementation.