About Bedrock Computing Institute
Twenty years ago, a middle schooler in rural Indiana started doing a little bit of IT support for the insurance office on Main Street. That kid didn't know he was getting a tech education. He just knew Freda's printer was jammed again, and she trusted him enough to let him figure it out. One thing led to another - websites for local businesses, actual paying work at the computer repair shop a couple towns over, and relationships that have lasted decades.
Today, that same dynamic is rare. When Main Street needs tech help, they're pushed toward cookie-cutter website building tools, massive software applications that miss the mark, or distant contractors who treat them like just another support ticket. The personalized, trusted help that comes from actual relationships in your community? That's increasingly hard to find.
And the kids? Whether they want tech careers or not, they're growing up in a world where understanding technology is increasingly essential. But they're often told their only options are expensive bootcamps, four-year degrees, or leaving their communities entirely for the coasts. Even the talented, motivated ones right in your community.
How We're Different
We start with the fundamentals, not the flashy stuff.
A lot of computing education programs out there are all flash and little substance. We take a different approach: we start with the fundamentals and build up from there.
Why? Because you can't build robust solutions on top of systems you don't understand. When students know what's actually happening under the hood - how data moves across networks, where things break, how components fit together - they become far more effective problem-solvers. They don't just follow tutorials and hope for the best; they understand their tools well enough to adapt them to whatever problem they're facing.
This is the same reason a good mechanic learns how engines work before specializing in diagnostics, and why the best carpenters understand wood grain and joinery before they start designing furniture.
And, as it turns out, it's also way more fun. The spark that keeps kids excited and engaged comes from understanding how things work and being able to tinker, not the fancy surface-level stuff.
We focus on solving real problems, not passing tests.
Our students work on actual problems - fixing printer jams, maintaining real websites for local organizations, building tools that their neighbors will use, and understanding systems they encounter in daily life. Whether they're headed for tech careers or just becoming more capable people, they learn to deal with messy reality.
This means they learn to deal with incomplete requirements, legacy systems, users who don't speak tech, and problems that don't match textbook examples. They learn to communicate with clients, manage their time, and take ownership of work that matters to someone other than themselves. These capabilities serve them well wherever they go.
We believe in apprenticeship, not just instruction.
There's a difference between completing a course and actually knowing how to do the work. Our model pairs students with experienced mentors who guide them through real projects, provide feedback, and help them develop judgment - not just skills.
This is how people learned trades for centuries, and it's still the most effective way to develop genuine capability. You can't learn to be a good technologist just by watching videos and doing exercises. You need to work alongside someone who knows what good work looks like and can help you develop your craft.
We keep the skills and money in the community.
When Main Street sends their tech work to distant corporations or offshore contractors, money leaves the community and local capacity doesn't grow. When we train young people to solve technology problems for their neighbors, we're building lasting relationships, keeping resources local, and ensuring that the next generation has both the skills and the connections to stay and thrive in their communities.
We're not trying to produce the next generation of Silicon Valley engineers - although this is great prep work for that, too. We're building Main Street's technology capacity from the inside out.
Our Mission
We help young people build real technology capability - teaching them how systems work, how to solve actual problems, and how to leverage technology effectively in whatever they choose to do. Through hands-on workshops and apprenticeship-style work on projects that matter to their communities, they gain the kind of deep understanding that makes them valuable contributors - whether they're headed for tech careers, supporting their workplace's technology needs, or just navigating an increasingly digital world.
This isn't about preparing kids for Silicon Valley (although it is great for kids heading in that direction, too). It's about building technology fluency that benefits everyone - making individuals more capable, organizations more effective, and ensuring communities have the local expertise they need to thrive.
Want to Learn More?
Explore our programs or reach out to get started.