Registration Open for Summer Pathfinders 2025! Free Chibitronics Supplies & Hands-on PD for Teachers

Are you a US-based K-12 public or charter school teacher or librarian?

Start with Art: STEAM Learning with Chibitronics Paper Circuits

If you are a K-12 public or charter school educator or librarian based in the continental United States, we have an opportunity for you (or someone you may know)!

This summer, as part of Infosys Pathfinders Summer Institute 2025, we are excited to be once again teaching a virtual course, “Start with Art: STEAM Learning with Chibitronics Paper Circuits!”

Classroom-tested, our dynamic, ever-evolving curriculum introduces educators to paper circuits, STEAM, and novel ways of integrating them across subject areas.

Participating teachers will receive full scholarships for hands-on virtual professional development, and a FREE kit of supplies (valued at over $250), to learn with and take back to the classroom — all generously funded by Infosys Foundation USA.

Apply now as spots are limited!

Choose Dates & Times That Work For YOU!

Dates: July 7-July 25

Sessions are being offered multiple times throughout July to accommodate your schedule and provide flexibility. Please sign up for ONE session A, B, and C in consecutive order.

Note: Video make-ups will be made available if none of the times work for you.

Format:

Participants are required to attend three 3-hour live Zoom sessions (with flexible scheduling) and complete approximately 10 hours of asynchronous work on their own.

We’ll also hold live Zoom office hours sessions for debugging or diving deeper, as well as Friday special topics webinar sessions from mid-June through July.

Our final session will be a share-out of projects created during the course, to inspire you through your creative learning journey!

Applications due by: May 31st, 2025

Course Details:

Pre-requisites: No prerequisites.  All skill levels are welcome!

Facilitators:

• Shiela Lee, Head of Education & Associate Software Engineer, Chibitronics
• Jessica Frost-Ballas, Head of Craft & Creative Partnerships, Chibitronics
• Kathy Ceceri, Author & Educator
• Lindsay Balfour, Maker Educator & Designer
• Barbara Liedahl, Professional Development Specialist, BJLFELTCLAYMAKER, LLC

Grades: Geared toward 4th through 8th grade educators

Description:

Learn the basics of how electricity works, and apply this knowledge in developing creative projects for your students. Whether you’re a science teacher who is looking for new ways to help students engage with core concepts from your curriculum, an art teacher looking for accessible ways for students to express themselves with technology, or anywhere else across content areas, this course is for you!

Paper circuits make use of familiar craft materials such as tape, markers, and cardstock to build electronics projects that look and feel like paper, but can come to life through the power of electricity. Educators can use these materials as a friendly on-ramp into a new world of technological making, while empowering students to express themselves and tell their stories in exciting new interactive ways. 

In this workshop, you will learn to build expressive circuits on paper with easy to use Chibitronics components, conductive tapes, and craft materials. Together, we will create interactive switches and sensors, and explore circuit design intuitively while making works of art. We’ll introduce you to our new Chibitronics circuit design and simulation software, educator resources, and curriculum. You’ll have an opportunity to test out these activities yourself, reflect on your experiences, and customize curriculum for your students. Workshop participants will share ideas and feedback with fellow educators. You’ll walk away with the resources, skills, and all the support you need to facilitate paper circuit activities in your own classroom!

All participants will receive a FREE kit of LEARNER-FRIENDLY materials mailed to their home to learn from and use with your students.

We look forward to learning and creating with you this summer!

All participants will receive a FREE kit of supplies including:

• Educator Set of Chibitronics Supplies
• Classroom Set of Chibitronics Supplies (for up to 30 students)
• Preliminary access to our NEWEST product releases

What past participants have to say:

As a middle school literacy teacher, I am always looking for ways to incorporate hands-on activities into the curriculum.  Start with Art: STEAM Learning with Chibitronics Paper Circuits provided me with tools, materials, and the confidence to incorporate fun and meaningful STEAM activities into literacy.  I was inspired and had the space and opportunity to connect my content standards with skills and habits that all 21st century learners will need.  This class is not just for technology or STEAM teachers; educators in all areas and across many settings will benefit from taking it. I would highly recommend this class to any teacher looking for ways to help students light up their learning and really shine! 

Aubrey, 7-8th grade humanities teacher, Pathfinders 2024

This class opened up a whole new world of collaboration for me. I am building ideas about how to collaborate with tech, art, and language arts. It makes problem solving tactile and fun!

Liz, 8th grade math teacher, Pathfinders 2024

A bit about Infosys Foundation USA:

Infosys Foundation USA, committed to expanding access to computer science and maker education in K-12 public schools across the U.S., offers k-12 public school teachers across the US the ability to apply for their Pathfinders Institute twice each year. Special consideration will be given to teachers from high-needs schools and under-represented communities, those new to teaching CS and maker education, and to districts that demonstrate a commitment to sending multiple teachers to Pathfinders.

Please share this with any US-based public or charter school teachers and librarians that you think may be interested. We hope you will be able to join us this summer!

Start your registration here:

Applications due by: May 31st, 2025