TechStart aims to impact not just the technical ability, but also the teamwork, critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving skills of our future workforce by providing programs in four key areas:

Educator Professional Development

TechStart provides professional development, such as SuperQuest, for technology teachers and teachers interested in integrating technology into their curriculum. Students become excited and engaged in new interests, aptitudes and careers when they have guided access to computer science, digital media and specialized technology curriculum. Our goal is to educate and train teachers today to ensure that the benefits of technology education will reach students for generations to come.

Advanced Technology Student Enrichment

TechStart hosts two annual programming challenges: the Oregon Game Project Challenge and the Willamette University-TechStart Programming Contest, which are designed to deepen computer science knowledge.  Each year, we recognize one high school senior with the Oregon Student Technologist of the Year award, which includes scholarship funding to enroll in a college computer science program of the student’s choosing.

Direct Program Support

By offering direct funding for teachers to implement specialized technology programs, TechStart is able to engage more students in technology learning. Past initiatives include providing Lego robotics kits for teachers to use in their classrooms.  Most recently we offered equity in the classroom mini-grants to K-12 educators to promote diversity in computer science and engineering.

Ecosystem Development

TechStart creates a supportive ecosystem for technology education by recognizing teaching excellence with the Oregon Technology Educator of the Year award, researching technology education gaps and creating partnerships to fill these gaps.