Autodesk EducationAutodesk announced the company’s 2013 comprehensive offering of software, cloud services and curriculum for secondary, postsecondary and vocational educational institutions. The 2013 offering includes access to the latest design and creation software suites and curricula, including specific suites for education, which help instructors teach design concepts as well as established industry processes such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Digital Entertainment Creation, Digital Prototyping, and Sustainable Design.

In addition, the new suites connect educational institutions to the power of cloud computing with access to Autodesk 360, a platform that enables teachers and students to access their designs anytime, anywhere, by providing the ability to store, edit and share their designs and access the virtually infinite computing power of the cloud.

“The cloud computing aspect to Autodesk’s design software is very exciting,” said Brian Stevenson, a pre-engineering instructor at Cheyenne Central High School. “With the power of cloud computing and Autodesk’s vision for putting more its design technology into the cloud, my students will be able to learn at home and in the classroom on any device they choose.”

To promote a more engaging educational experience, Autodesk provides instructors with project-based learning materials to help them incorporate design technology into the classroom. The postsecondary suites are supported by curricula that include the newly developed BIM and Simulation workshops as well as the award-winning Sustainability Workshop. The Digital STEAM Workshop, which recently was awarded a Seal of Alignment from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), includes professionally developed instructional videos and interactive lessons with 3D models for secondary teachers. All curricula are available for free download through the Autodesk Education Community.

With Autodesk Educational Suite software licenses on Subscription, educational institutions can benefit from 25GB of Autodesk 360 cloud-based storage per seat. This helps enable teachers and students to increase mobility and simplify collaboration, and can provide access to cloud-based design analysis tools such as Autodesk Green Building Studio and Energy Analysis. These cloud-based offerings extend students’ design capabilities beyond the desktop and helps give them a competitive edge while preparing for professional careers.

“From Sketchbook Pro and the 123D family to the 2013 design and entertainment creation suites, Autodesk software is helping millions of students worldwide unlock their creativity,” said Chris Bradshaw, Autodesk senior vice president of reputation, consumer and education.

Autodesk 2013 Design and Creation Suites for Academic Institutions

The 2013 Design and Creation Suites for Education offer “Ultimate” versions of the commercially available suites, are now available on USB media, improving the installation process for educators and IT professionals.

The new portfolio of postsecondary design suites includes: AutoCAD Design Suite; Autodesk Building Design Suite; Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite; Autodesk Education Master Suite; Autodesk Factory Design Suite; Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite; Autodesk Plant Design Suite; Autodesk Product Design Suite for Education; Suites for secondary institutions include: Autodesk Design Academy; Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite.

Individual Product Offerings & Availability

In addition to the suites, Autodesk has individual software products available for classroom use, offering faculty greater purchasing flexibility. For teachers and students who choose to benefit from product ownership, individual licenses of select suites and products are also available. All of Autodesk’s educational software licenses are sold at a reduced price compared to their commercial counterparts. For additional information about purchasing Autodesk’s educational software, please visit www.autodesk.com/purchaseoptions. Product availability varies by country.

Autodesk Education Community

In addition to its offerings for educational institutions, Autodesk provides individual students with free access to the latest 3D design software for personal, non-commercial use. With the latest release of Autodesk 2013 Design Suites, there are now more than 35 software titles available to them through the Autodesk Education Community. Through this online community, students can also download learning resources, search for internships and jobs, showcase their designs and discuss design topics with peers. In addition, educators can download software, curricula, and exchange best practices within the secured site. Since its launch in 2006, the community has expanded to more than four million members representing students and educators at more than 150,000 schools in over 200 countries.