RAFT’s new product help educators become acquainted with Makerspaces quickly and easily

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – August 16, 2016 – RAFT – Resource Area For Teaching, the leading source to aid educators in the transformation of a child’s learning experience through hands-on education, announces their new product, Makerspace In-A-Box for anyone looking to bring design-thinking to students and programs beyond the classroom like after school programs, troop leaders, etc..

RAFT’s Makerspace In-A-Box promotes student-led learning around concepts based on design challenges for K-8th. The Makerspace In-A-Box is a collection of upcycled materials that has been curated to match new curriculum to stimulate open-ended student interaction.  Materials are aligned with projects specific to National curriculum standards.

For teachers ready to push the boundaries of systematic instruction, the Makerspace In-A-Box is a great place to start. RAFT’s Makerspace In-A-Box gives students opportunity to execute problem-solving and investigation skills. RAFT’s makerspace curriculum, along with our professional learning classes, provides educators with the support they need to spark a love for learning year round.

For schools seeking ideas for flexible instructional spaces, RAFT’s Makerspace solutions offer a host of benefits.  When schools partner with RAFT they receive:

  • Co-design your space to meet school specific needs
  • Curriculum per grade level based on the Stanford’s Design Thinking process
  • Year-round professional training for teachers
  • Year-round supply of upcycled materials.

Corporations utilize RAFT’s Makerspace In-A-Box for staff development challenges, volunteer fairs, and Take Your Child To Work Day events. By partnering with RAFT design-thinking extends past student groups, even to the workplace.

“I’ve never done anything like this before”- Child, Intel Take Your Kid to Work Day event

The Maker Movement Is Here To Stay
RAFT has always been a part of the maker-movement, believing that students learn best via hands on experiences. RAFT has developed a pedagogy that pushes the student forward.  RAFT makerspaces break away from the recipe module of learning and embrace the empathy mode of learning concepts and applying them to problem-solve to complete the design challenge.

RAFT’s Director of Learning, Jason Pittman states, “We want students to have hands-on learning experiences and to use the concepts to find creative solutions, rather than following a set of directions that tell you exactly how to do something.”

Makerspace In-A-Box are available online for $29.99 or at RAFT Bay Area locations, discounted for RAFT members at $20. Boxes are curated to match the curriculum and lesson plans you can find at raft.education.  Each box has a variety of creative materials and serves up to 20 students

For more information contact makerspaces@raft.729solutions.com

About RAFT – Resource Area For Teaching
RAFT – Resource Area For Teaching is a non-profit, resource solution to help educators transform a child’s learning experience through hands on education to one that inspires the joy and discovery of learning. Founded in 1994, RAFT focuses on providing educators of all types – classroom teachers, after school educators, homeschool educators, scout leaders, early care and education professionals – with effective, engaging, affordable hands-on learning resources aligned to national curriculum standards. RAFT, believes the best way to spark a love of learning for the next generation of thinkers, innovators, problem-solvers, and creators is through hands-on learning. RAFT supports over 10,000 educators each year who teach over 835,000 students. Find out more about RAFT and how to get involved athttp://www.raft.729solutions.com.

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