8 top Microsoft resources for teachers
"At Microsoft, we create products with teachers in mind and they tell us that products like OneNote, Sway, Minecraft and Skype help them bring new creativity and engagement to the classroom. We are inspired by what’s possible when teachers meet students where they’re at, help them to learn at their own pace, and then propel them to reach new heights in their learning. There’s no better place to use technology – and its promise to change lives – than in the hands of great teachers!"
- Anthony Salcito (Microsoft Vice President, Worldwide Education)
With the right technology platform and training, teachers around the world are finding inspiring new ways to use personalized approaches to impart 21st century skills to their students.
Today, we'd like to provide you with 8 fantastic resources to help enable individualised teaching and learning:
1. Office 365 Education
New and no-cost features to Office 365 Education, along with the recent launch of Windows 10, are offering huge improvements for educators and students.We have simplified our education lineup, moving to a single, free plan for all academic institutions and adding several new features to help schools meet their security and compliance requirements. We’ve also made it easier for teachers and students to sign up and start using free Office tools. Anyone with a valid school email address can sign up! Simply visit Office in Education to get started.
2. OneNote
OneNote Class Notebook & Staff Notebook are now available globally for all Office 365 Education customers. In a recent IDC research study, OneNote has been shown to address the top 10 activities teachers describe as “time sinks.” For more information and helpful guides on how OneNote can help teachers deliver effective lessons and cut down on administration tasks, visit onenoteforteachers.com
3. Skype in the Classroom
New Skype in the classroom field trips are ready! Teachers can take their students on an adventure in their own classroom by signing up for a virtual field trip with Skype.
4. Sway
Sway – a digital storytelling app in the Office portfolio – recently moved from preview to general availability. Teachers have been using Sway to reimagine class lessons, recap class projects, provide supplemental material for parents, provide new accessible storytelling tools to their students, and more. Sway has also helped students breathe new life into school projects, class reports, and even personal portfolios.
5. Snip
Snip is a new screen capture tool that lets you tell your story in your own voice while you ink on an image, a photo that you take with your webcam, or a digital whiteboard. And you can share that story by copying your snip to the clipboard, sending it in an email, and embedding it on a website. Educators are using Snip to provide personalized feedback to students and students are using Snip to express their creativity and to collaborate with teachers and classmates.
6. Coding for Students
In addition to learning how to use technology, we see the growing interest from students to learn how to create technology. Teachers can help their students understand and learn more about creating technology with these new resources:
- Microsoft YouthSpark Hub has various resources and programs to learn digital skills and computer science, for students to prepare for the jobs of the future or even to start their own business.
- Microsoft Imagine tools and resources are available to teachers at no cost to help their students learn the fundamentals of coding while engaging in fun projects. Take it to the next level by leveraging contests through the Imagine Cup competition hub to help your students use those fundamentals to become creators of technology. New for this school year, Imagine Cup Earth leverages a partnership with NASA that teaches earth sciences and programming at the same time. Inspire your students to build their skills and bring their ideas to life and possibly win prizes! And, if you are interested in creating a coding club, our Coding Club Starter Kit will help get you started.
- Microsoft Virtual Academy is offering even more no cost computer science courses for students at all levels, coupled with resources to help teachers better integrate technology into their curriculum.
- Creative Coding Through Games And Apps, a new computer science curriculum designed to spark interest in teens for computer programming and for teachers with little or no background in the field, launched today and is free to teachers.
7. "Liberating Genius, The First 20 Days"
With Angela Maiers and Choose2Matter, Inc. we’re providing teachers with a free, customisable and interactive e-book: “Liberating Genius, The First 20 Days.” This free e-book guides teachers through the introduction of Genius Hour.
8. Microsoft Educator Network
Receive free professional development and training via the Microsoft Educator Network. View a range of resources, tutorials, and professional development courses to help teachers make the most of technology in the classroom.
We hope you can make use of some of these fantastic resources in your classroom!