Investing in the future

​Microsoft is stepping up its education game, announcing a $15 million investment in "next-generation" learning models and resources for students and teachers.

 

Did we mention they're creating classroom Achievements? Well, not exactly. But that's what we're calling them.

 

Find out how Microsoft hopes to shape the future of education after the break.

 

Microsoft's Vice President of Worldwide Education, Anthony Salcito, announced through a recent blog post that MS would soon meet with many of the nation's leaders to discuss education reform in the United States.

 

"We are hopeful that gatherings such as this will continue to elevate the conversation and remind us all that providing every child a quality educational experience must be a right of this country, not a privilege," Salcito said. "Continued investment in education is the key ingredient in creating a skilled workforce that will grow and sustain our national economy."

 

We're willing to bet the $15M check Microsoft is talking about writing will be a hot item of discussion at this meeting. According to Salcito, funds will be distributed into three main focuses including increasing engagement, managing information and supporting educators.

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The first prong of this investment is to support the research and development in "understanding and creating learning environments that integrate the characteristics of gaming that kids are passionate about."

 

Salcito brings up the interesting point that failure in the classroom frequently leads to a child shutting down in that particular area. When it comes to video games, though, they'll try and try again until they succeed. This portion of the investment will work to recreate that drive to succeed in the classroom setting.

 

The next portion of the investment will go toward the development of a digital learning archive where learning achievements and progress data can be easily stored and shared as a learning record throughout a student's educational career. Is it just us, or does that sound an awful lot like Achievements? Microsoft, you brilliant bastards. You've found a way to 'Chievo the educational system.

 

Finally, since funding within the classroom always seems to be taking a hit, the third facet of Microsoft's educational investment will go into providing tools and resources for U.S. educators. Salcito breaks it down, saying that a three-year process will see Microsoft committed to training more than 150,000 educators in the field of technology and providing access to "new professional learning communities, best practices and training...through a new Partners in Learning Network."

 

Money, meet the place where Microsoft's mouth is.