Microsoft Joins Hands with RAFT to Improve Education in Silicon Valley

Computer technology giant Microsoft (News - Alert) has reportedly teamed up with non-profit organization Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) as part of its goal to intensify educational and community service in the Silicon Valley.

RAFT is said to be one among several NGOs that the technology giant joined hands with to improve learning for local children.

The Seattle-based tech company has reportedly offered RAFT a substantial grant in technology resources, valued at up to $350,000.

Founded in 1994 in California, RAFT says it main focus is to inspire, engage and educate children through the power of what it calls ‘hands-on’ teaching. “If kids don't learn the way we teach, then we have to teach them the way they learn,” RAFT stated.

Jeremy Champlin, RAFT IT Specialist says, “Microsoft's support of RAFT will allow us to offer new workshops for educators focused on the latest versions of Microsoft's productivity software.”

The non-profit organization will hold similar workshops elsewhere in the country including Sacramento, Denver and Colorado. With partners like Microsoft, RAFT works to help educators turn a child's learning experience into a joyful exercise.

“Hands-on“ education translates abstract and complex subjects by incorporating activities that help children learn by doing. This ignites their interest, nurtures their natural curiosity, and also helps maintain a lifelong love of learning.

RAFT works with some 10,000 educators, who teach both inside and outside the classroom. RAFT claims that it service benefits over 825,000 young people each year.

To provide kits and materials at low cost, the organization has developed an innovative supply chain process that converts commonly found or discarded materials from the business community into “hands-on” project kits, all built with the help of thousands of volunteers.

In other news, Rockman Et Al, a respected education research firm, has just concluded a study demonstrating that RAFT's hands-on teaching materials help students gain subject knowledge, apply that knowledge to solve “real world” problems and improve their academic performance.

The study was conducted in 17 Bay Area 5th and 6th grade classrooms comprised of students from diverse socio-economic, ethnic and language backgrounds. RAFT materials used in the study focused on important math concepts and are representative of RAFT hands-on education kits in general.