In a market of established competitors, Microsoft needed the creative depth and easy usability of its suite of Web design tools to engage new users right from the beginning. They turned to veteran educator Pat Philips to create teaching resources that go beyond “how to use” instruction and spark the imagination of educators and students.

Pat started by going to the experts. She developed a pilot curriculum with the help of a community of 12 hand-picked Web design, art, computer science, and application educators. Together they collaborated, experimented, and brainstormed new ideas—testing and refining what worked.

From those efforts, the team, led by Pat, created learning modules teachers can integrate as part of a class and curriculum for a full design process, challenging students to assume the role of professional Web designers, including interviewing clients, creating wireframes and storyboards, and building a compelling, usable Web sites.

Through partnerships with businesses and community organizations as diverse as NASA and MESA California, Pat also has overseen the bliink web design contest for students, helping students use Microsoft Expression Studio to build real-world job skills using cutting-edge technology. So far, the program has achieved in-person training with more than 300 teachers and curriculum adoption in more than 1,000 schools, with enthusiastic reviews.