An education franchise is coming to Scottsdale with a grand opening event on August 19 at 10 a.m., at 13910 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, Suite 100.

iCode is a STEM education campus where kids can learn about everything from coding, to programming drones and robotics, to digital arts, according to a press release.

Technology has changed our daily lives and we’ve heard of innovations to come, but who will build and maintain this technological infrastructure? There is a growing demand for trained technical workers.

Traditional school systems across the U.S. struggle to offer courses on these in-demand topics for many reasons. From a shortage of teachers trained in these areas, to the expensive hardware that must be updated or replaced with each new technological advance, to developing curriculum which also must be regularly updated, there are many obstacles that hinder schools in offering these subjects. This is where STEM schools like iCode can fill in the gaps.

“iCode is at the forefront of teaching skills for the future. We don’t just teach kids to code but also help them develop soft skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, public speaking, and teamwork.” Abid Abedi, iCode School Founder and CEO, said in the release.

iCode offers their proprietary curriculum at their own campuses as well as partnering with local schools to provide STEM education at their facilities through after-school programs and camps.

Through gamified learning and hands-on projects, children stay engaged with each concept and better retain each lesson.

In addition to technical skills, iCode’s curriculum also weaves in vital soft skills such as collaboration and project management to help build students’ confidence and prepare them for their futures.