Key takeaways
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IBM SkillsBuild and Discovery Education provide free, self-paced professional development in AI and cybersecurity to help teachers turn tech curiosity into classroom confidence.
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The program offers industry-recognized Credly credentials and practical, "classroom-ready" microlearnings designed to fit into an educator's real-world schedule.
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By removing cost barriers to high-quality tech training, this collaboration promotes educational equity and prepares students for the future workforce regardless of their ZIP code.
Explore free PD & earn your first credential
Why Now: Turning Curiosity into Confidence
Emerging technologies are reshaping how students learn and how teachers teach. Yet for many educators, the biggest barrier isn’t interest—it’s access to clear, practical professional development that fits a real-world schedule. That’s exactly what IBM SkillsBuild, in collaboration with Discovery Education, delivers: free, self-paced PD in AI, cybersecurity, and digital literacy, complete with industry-recognized Credly credentials and classroom-ready applications you can use right away.
IBM SkillsBuild is designed to help you build confidence with emerging technologies without adding stress to your day. Each pathway blends microlearnings, real-world projects, and practical insights you can bring to your classroom.
What you’ll gain:
- Free, self-paced PD in AI, cybersecurity, and digital literacy
- Industry-recognized credentials via Credly
- Classroom-ready lesson ideas rooted in real world applications
- PD documentation aligned to your professional growth plans
Choose your pathway (or mix and match):
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Build foundational understanding, explore ethical and responsible use, and uncover classroom applications.
- Cybersecurity: Strengthen core concepts, digital safety, and critical thinking around risk and protection—skills students need for life and work.
- Digital Literacy: Deepen students’ capacity to evaluate information, navigate media, and use technology responsibly.
Community Impact Through Advocacy: Equity in Action
Access to quality PD is a key part of educational equity. By making these learning experiences free and flexible, IBM and Discovery Education are helping schools bridge the digital divide and expand opportunity—so students, regardless of ZIP code, can benefit from instruction that reflects the skills of today’s world.
“Educators need and want guidance, and that’s why this collaboration offers industry recognized credentials and practical insights. Together with IBM, we are creating a powerful bridge between transformative technologies and the daily realities of K–12 instruction.” — Catherine Dunlop, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, Discovery Education
This collaboration aims to support more than 100,000 educators over the next two years—multiplying impact from PD to classroom to community.
Innovation Meets Accessibility: PD That Fits Real Life
Short modules you can complete during planning periods, after school, or whenever time allows. Clear steps that help you go from learning to implementation. Digital credentials that recognize your growth.
Here’s how it works:
- Access the platform via Discovery Education
- Create your educator profile: Choose Educator when prompted.
- Verify your email: Enter the verification code to unlock content.
- Start learning: Begin with the Discovery Education Pathway or explore AI, cybersecurity, or digital skill courses in the catalog.
- Earn your Credly credential: Complete a learning path to receive your digital badge—perfect for PD documentation, evaluations, and career advancement.
“IBM SkillsBuild makes emerging technologies approachable and exciting, helping learners build confidence, creativity, and critical thinking through personalized, practical experiences.”
What Makes This Different: Practical, Portable, Proven
- Practical: Content developed with IBM professionals and grounded in real-world use cases, so it’s immediately relevant to your classroom.
- Portable: Credly badges travel with you—add them to your portfolio, evaluation artifacts, or resume.
- Proven: Built on a collaboration designed to scale access and equip educators with skills aligned to the future of work.
Ideas You Can Use Next Week
- AI Vocabulary Sprint: Introduce foundational AI terms using a 15-minute microlearning and a reflective prompt.
- Cyber Scenario Walkthrough: Facilitate a quick “spot the risk” activity and connect it to digital safety habits.
- Media Checkpoints: Use a digital literacy checkpoint to help students evaluate sources when researching.
Each example aligns with the classroom-ready mindset—small steps, big confidence.
Start Today: Free PD That Moves with You
Your time is valuable. If you’re looking for free PD that’s flexible, credentialed, and classroom-ready, IBM SkillsBuild is ready when you are.
