Staying ahead of technological advancements and industry trends is crucial. Online classes for future engineers offer an accessible and flexible way to achieve this, providing young, aspiring engineers with the tools to excel in their careers. Whether you're an elementary student that loves playing with LEGO, a middle schooler that loves dreaming up websites to design, or a high school student keen on robotics, the digital classroom brings world-class education right to your doorstep. So today we'll reveal some of the best online classes for building your student's skills, confidence, and resilience!

Check out upcoming free computer science events for kids led by tech experts: past events have featured guests from Pixar, NASA, Intel, and more.

Join Online Classes for Future Engineers

Let's explore online classes that are preparing the next generation of engineers to meet the demands of a dynamic global economy.

Enjoy Create & Learn's Classes for Young Engineers

Create & Learn's award-winning live online coding classes offer a tailored educational experience that sets a solid foundation for young aspiring engineers. Designed to ignite curiosity and foster problem-solving skills, these classes are developed by experts from top companies and universities such as Google, Apple, and Harvard. As children learn to code through engaging, project-based courses covering everything from Scratch to Python and even Artificial Intelligence, they not only acquire critical digital skills but also develop a deeper understanding of how technology can be used to innovate and solve real-world problems. This hands-on approach ensures that children stay captivated and motivated, turning their screen time into a productive investment in their future. Create & Learn represents a perfect blend of fun and education (you can even learn quantum physics or all about NASA and outer space), making it an excellent pathway for budding engineers. Follow the curriculum for your student: grades K-2 | grades 2-4 | grades 4-6 | grades 6-9 | grades 9-12 and explore popular classes:

1. Scratch Ninja/Scratch Jr

For students who’ve never coded before, Scratch is a fantastic starting point. Students will utilize a block-coding language to create custom games and animations. The course is broken into four units, each composed of four fifty-five minute classes. Expert instructors will guide students through the fundamentals of programming, including variables, loops, conditional logic, events, and more. If your student wants to try it out with no commitment, there is a free intro course available for Scratch Ninja. Students in kindergarten through first grade should likely try Scratch Junior; older students should start with Accelerated Scratch.

2. Minecraft Modding Quest

For all the gamers out there in grades 3-6, Minecraft Modding Quest is a great way to combine creative skills with STEM education. This course, featured by Minecraft Education, utilizes Minecraft: Education Edition to help kids learn important coding concepts. Kids will start by coding agents to solve puzzles, then advance to code that can break and build blocks, spawn animals, and more! The course is structured into three units of four fifty-five minute classes, all of which are led by friendly instructors.

3. Junior Robotics

This is a great course for beginners who might grow up to be hardware engineers or who want to work in robotics! Students in grades 2-4 learn how to command robots to move, sense, and interact within a simulated virtual environment in this class. TheVex VR takes the widely-popular Vex robotics system and puts it into a digital world, where students use block-code to help a robot move around and interact with its environment. This is a great opportunity for students to combine their interests in robotics and coding! Plus, the Vex VR tool is free to use.

4. Smart Devices: Arduino for Kids

For students in grades 4-9 interested in electronics and hardware, the Arduino course is a great choice. Students will be working with an Arduino simulator to learn about circuits and how they can apply to different sensors, lights, and more. Kids who like to work with their hands also have the option of purchasing a physical Arduino Starter Kit if they feel so inclined. Plus, the course includes a progression from block-based coding to the text-based language Python! It’s a fun way to show students how different STEM fields relate to each other in real-life applications.

5. Beginner Roblox Game Coding

This is a great course for future game developers. Many kids have played Roblox at some point in their lives, but did you know that your child can become a Roblox game creator? This course introduces students in grades 3 to 8, to text-based coding using the language Luau, allowing them to make their own obbies, avalanche games, and more! This course is more advanced, and it is expected that students will have prior experience with block-based coding languages (up to Scratch 4 of the Create & Learn curriculum). Begin with the free Roblox lesson.

6. Create with ChatGPT

This course offers a dynamic and interactive introduction to the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence through the lens of OpenAI's ChatGPT. This course is designed to equip students in grades 4 to 8 with a foundational understanding of ChatGPT, enhancing their ability to use this AI tool effectively while fostering critical thinking, creativity, and key executive functions. Students will engage in a variety of projects including planning activities, coding with Scratch, creative writing, and even developing their own ChatBot. These activities not only demonstrate the practical uses of ChatGPT but also delve into its operational mechanics and the ethical considerations of AI technology.

7. Python for AI

Python is a high-level programming language used by companies such as Netflix and Google, and it’s popular for web development, game development, app development, machine learning, and more. This class is designed to help students in grades 5-12 transition from block-based programming to text-based programming, with a focus on the elements of Python most useful to the field of artificial intelligence. It is recommended that students come in with experience with block-based programming systems, although motivated students can make it as long as they’re willing to put in a little extra practice time! Try the free Python class to get started.

8. Mobile Coding for Apps and Games

This is a great course for future mobile app developers. Kids interact with mobile apps every day, so why not let them learn to make their own app? Students in grades 4-9 will use the block-based coding system Thunkable to build their UI, interact with phone sensors, use the camera, and more. Students will even get to interact with cloud technologies such as Google Firebase as they advance! This course has a prerequisite of completing at least Scratch 2. Mobile devices are not required for creating the apps; however, students may want a phone to test the app on a real device.

9. Unity Game Development

Game development is always a popular subject, and Unity is one of the most popular platforms in the world for making video games! It uses the C# programming language alongside a powerful editor to create both 2D and 3D games. In this class, students in grades 6-12 begin by learning how to make a 2D platform game, and work toward building a 3D first person game. Be sure to take the free introductory class to get Unity set up and get familiarized with the interface. It is recommended that incoming students have a basic knowledge of text-based coding languages, such as Python or Java.

10. Intro to Java Programming (AP CSA Aligned)

Java is an extremely flexible object-oriented programming language used by professional software engineers all over the world. This class for students in grades 6-12 covers a broad range of Java topics, including designing solutions to problems, using data structures to organize large amounts of data, developing and implementing algorithms to process that data, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems. The class will also thoroughly prepare students for the AP CSA exams offered by the College Board. Incoming students must have a good understanding of text-based programming languages like Python.

Additional Resources for Future Engineers

Try Code.org's Hour of Code Tutorials

Code.org is an excellent free resource for kids who aspire to become engineers, offering a gateway to the fundamentals of computer science and engineering principles through self-guided tutorials. Future engineers can start with the basics by exploring the "Hour of Code" tutorials, which are age-appropriate and engaging, introducing concepts like loops, variables, and conditional logic through fun activities. After mastering these initial skills, students can progress to more structured courses such as CS Fundamentals for younger students, and later, CS Discoveries and CS Principles, which delve deeper into programming, data, algorithms, and internet workings. For those specifically interested in the hardware side of engineering, Code.org provides projects and lessons that integrate coding with physical computing, allowing students to see the real-world applications of their coding efforts as well. By utilizing these resources, young learners can not only grasp essential coding skills but also develop problem-solving and logical thinking abilities crucial for any engineering discipline.

Explore W3School's Interactive Exercises

W3Schools.com is a valuable educational platform for kids (because it's self-guided learning and more complex programming languages, it's best for high schoolers) interested in becoming future engineers, particularly those inclined towards software and web development. This site offers a straightforward, user-friendly approach to learning programming languages that are essential in many engineering fields, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python. Young learners can start with HTML to understand the basics of web structures, then advance to CSS for styling, and JavaScript for interactive elements, which are fundamental skills for any software engineer focusing on web technologies. For those interested in more complex programming or software engineering, diving into Python tutorials on W3Schools can provide a solid foundation in a language known for its use in everything from web applications to artificial intelligence. Each tutorial on W3Schools is structured with examples and exercises, making it an interactive and practical learning experience that encourages problem-solving and logical thinking—key skills for any engineer.

Enjoy Online Classes for Future Engineers

From data science jobs to biotech jobs and even teaching computer science, there are tons of possible careers for future engineers. With the help of live experts in online classes that are designed for kids and are up-to-date with modern technology and real -world applications, your student's passion for computer science will be supported and fostered. Enroll today to build their creativity and resilience!