Discover how our accessibility tools, along with Microsoft Copilot, can help you create a learning environment where everyone feels included and has the tools and resources they need to succeed.

Boost equitable education

Educators play an important role in cultivating learning environments where all students can participate. Microsoft provides built-in accessibility tools to foster independence, boost confidence, and promote participation in an encouraging way. Dive into the accessibility tools in Microsoft 365 Education to create inclusive and empowering learning environments for both students and educators. Explore accessibility and inclusivity courses in the Microsoft Learn Educator Center.

Empower student autonomy

Learn how built-in, inclusive technology in Microsoft 365 empowers students to personalize their learning experience, removing barriers and reducing stigma.

Immersive Reader

Available in Microsoft products like Reading Coach and Microsoft Edge, Immersive Reader helps students improve reading comprehension, stay engaged, and build confidence, while also supporting learning differences. Students can use line focus to concentrate on one part of the text at a time. They can break words into syllables, adjust font size, and increase line, word, and letter spacing to reduce visual crowding to improve readability. Immersive Reader can also be used to increase text size, adjust colors for better contrast, and read text aloud to support comprehension.

Speech-to-text with dictation

Dictation lets students use voice-to-text instead of typing. For learners with sensory processing difficulties, chronic pain, or fatigue, dictation offers an alternative to typing that reduces physical and cognitive strain. For students with dysgraphia or disabilities for which writing may be challenging, dictation allows them to express their thoughts and ideas verbally instead of relying on writing skills.

Microsoft Translator

Translator provides visual access to spoken content to help learners, like those who are deaf or have a hearing disability, follow conversations to enhance participation. Likewise, while multilingual differences are not a specific disability, they can often create a barrier to learning. For multilingual learners, Translator provides immediate access to translated text, supporting comprehension to help learners keep pace with classroom activities.

Live captions

Available in Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, Windows 11, and Copilot+ PCs, live captions convert speech to text in real-time. For students with hearing disabilities or auditory processing disorders, this tool provides visual reinforcement of spoken content, providing better access to lectures, discussions, and most auditory information. Plus, it fully supports multiple languages, making it accessible for multilingual speakers too.

Empowering all students to reach their potential

Additionally, Copilot can help educators meet the diverse needs of all students. From adapting teaching strategies to providing tailored resources, Copilot enables educators to create learning experiences that empower every student to succeed.

The Northern Ireland Education Authority provides a powerful example of how Copilot can promote equity in the classroom. Educators use Copilot prompts, based on student input, to help them express their creativity to create original art and design pieces that showcase their unique talents.

Play the video to see the transformative power of Copilot in action and discover how it opens new possibilities for every student.

Personalize learning experiences using Copilot

Whether you’re a classroom educator, a paraeducator, or lead special education, getting started with Copilot can help you support the needs of all learners. Try using and customizing the following prompts in Copilot. Be sure to log in with your school account for enterprise data protection to ensure the safety of sensitive student information. And, remember to use the attachment feature to add lesson or unit plans, relevant documents, and images for more targeted responses.

• Based on this lesson plan, generate strategies for accommodations for specific areas of my lesson in my [grade level] classroom to support students with [specific need such as ADHD, dyslexia, or anxiety].
• Draft goals and action steps for a student with [specific need such as autism or executive functioning challenges]. The student [met or did not meet] their previous goal to [goal from last IEP such as improve time management skills by completing in-class assignments within the given time frame].
• Provide step-by-step guidance for teaching [skill needed such as social skills or communication skills] to a student with [specific need such as anxiety or a speech disorder] in a non-stigmatizing way.
• Using the information I provided, suggest one-on-one support strategies for assisting students with [specific need such as sensory processing disorders or autism] in a [scenario such as specific group activity or independent learning task].
• Generate differentiated assessment methods that allow students with [specific need such as a specific learning disability] to demonstrate their understanding of [subject or topic]. Include both formative and summative assessment options that minimize stress and optimize engagement.

Using these prompts in Copilot can help you easily adapt learning experiences to meet every student’s unique needs, creating a more inclusive, supportive, and equitable classroom.

Streamline IEPs with Khanmigo for Teachers

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are essential for documentation and planning to support all students. However, creating and tailoring these plans requires a significant amount of time and effort from educators. Khanmigo for Teachers, free for educators in over 40 countries thanks to our partnership, offers an IEP Assistant to help streamline the process.

Educators provide context on the learning environment, disability category, and current challenges and strengths to quickly generate an initial draft. The plan should then be refined based on professional judgment, evaluation, and analysis. Be sure that the final IEP is tailored to the student’s specific needs and complies with all applicable school policies and legal requirements.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a meaningful opportunity to reflect on how to support all students. Microsoft provides accessibility tools to empower every student to engage independently and confidently in their learning. Copilot enhances learning by helping educators plan inclusive lessons and develop individualized learning goals. Explore how Microsoft can help you create a classroom where learning is truly inclusive for every student.

The post Meeting the needs of all students with accessibility tools for the classroom appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Copilot offers innovative and efficient ways to manage last-minute tasks and create dynamic classroom activities—which can be especially helpful during these transitional times of year. Explore these prompts to discover how Copilot can help you boost learning and create efficiencies to finish the term strong.

1. Create sentence starters for student self-assessments

Offering time for students to reflect on their growth amidst end of term tests can encourage self-assessment, help them set goals, and provide valuable insights for your planning. Sentence starters are a great way to guide students in reflecting on their successes, challenges, and areas of improvement.

Copy and paste the following prompt into copilot.cloud.microsoft. You can adjust the prompt as needed to fit your age or grade level.

Create 12 sentence starters for fourth graders to reflect on their academic progress, successes, and challenges during the first half of the school year. Group them into three categories: Academic Progress, Successes, and Challenges.

Easily customize your sentence starters by adjusting the prompt. For example:

• Ask Copilot to create sentence starters in a fun way—like imagining students as superheroes reflecting on their “learning superpowers” and “areas to strengthen.”
• Tell Copilot to create full sentences with blanks, offering Multilingual Learners of English (MLEs) extra support with clues to help complete the sentence.

Copilot can assist you in providing ways to enhance student self-reflection that encourage student agency of their learning and offer you insights into their progress.

2. Develop tiered assignments for frustration-free practice at home

When breaks arrive, families often seek additional assignments to reinforce learning at home. Creating tiered assignments can help meet the diverse learning needs of your students. Copilot simplifies this process by quickly generating differentiated, engaging assignments for home practice. You can offer students personalized and enjoyable activities, even during breaks, without spending extensive time on planning.

Here’s an example prompt for creating a differentiated assignment for a middle school math class studying linear expressions. Consider how you might adjust the prompt to work for your subject area.

Create a fun winter break activity for seventh graders to determine if linear expressions are equivalent or inequivalent. Include 3-5 tasks using real-world applications, like comparing prices or deals on items, and demonstrate why this skill is important. Design a three-tiered assignment with tasks at varying difficulty levels, incorporating both equivalent and inequivalent linear expressions. For each task, provide 3-5 practice expressions.

Here are some ideas to customize your assignment further:

• Have Copilot create clear instructions that guide students to select a tier with problems that they can confidently solve with minimal help.
• Ask Copilot to create a scenario where students act as “math detectives,” using linear expressions to solve mysteries—turning tasks into a fun narrative where students follow clues to solve real-world problems.

Copilot saves time and helps you get started by generating ideas to help you create adaptable resources for various subjects and student needs.

3. Recommend your students’ next favorite book

School breaks often include passive activities like watching TV and playing video games. Offer students options for their free time by recommending books that match their interests. Simply share a student’s interests, preferred genres, or authors with Copilot for suggestions on personalized reading recommendations.

A book recommendation prompt might start off like this:

Recommend 10 science fiction novels for a tenth-grade student who is interested in computer science, featuring a strong female protagonist. Include diverse authors and the title of the book, author, and a short summary paragraph laid out in a table.

Follow up Copilot’s response with additional expectations that personalize the book recommendations for individual students. For example:

• Create a “choose your own adventure” book list, where students pick based on their mood: “Feeling adventurous? Try this book. Want a futuristic escape? Check out this one!”
• Ask Copilot to add discussion questions or reflection prompts for each book to foster critical thinking, like: “How does the protagonist’s journey mirror real-world challenges?”

Copilot helps you quickly generate personalized learning ideas, making it easy to tailor activities to student interests and increase engagement.

4. Generate fun pictures for engaging writing activities

As students count down the days until break, encourage engagement with fun and creative learning experiences. Copilot helps by generating eye-catching visuals, enhancing activities and sparking inspiration.

Here’s a prompt to create an image with Copilot:

Create a whimsical winter woodland scene where animals like foxes, rabbits, and hedgehogs are dressed in stylish human winter clothes. The scene should be snowy with tall, frosted trees and a path winding through the forest. The animals should be engaged in various activities like ice skating, having a tea party, sipping cocoa, and reading books.

Adding specific details will help Copilot generate a more accurate and vivid image. Customize the image with these ideas:

• Direct Copilot to provide detailed instructions for a creative writing assignment that uses the generated image. For example, “Write a story about your adventure in this enchanted forest. What secrets of the forest do they share with you? How do you join in their winter festivities?”
• Ask Copilot to generate an image in a completely different style such as a cartoon or a futuristic digital piece to inspire more creative writing responses.

Easily create interesting images with Copilot for your lessons to capture students’ attention and inspire creativity.

5. Draft a letter that shows families how to use Copilot

Copilot is a great tool for families, too. Enlist Copilot’s help to draft a winter break letter that shows caregivers how to generate ideas for fun activities or ways to recharge over school break using Copilot.

Try this prompt to get a starting point for your letter:

Draft a warm letter that thanks families for supporting their students during the first part of the school year. Highlight the importance of balancing relaxation with continued practice of classroom skills. Include a section explaining Microsoft Copilot with simple steps for using it on the web. Provide 3-5 prompt starters for creating fun, educational at-home activities.

Make sure to customize the prompt so that the letter reflects what you hope students will do over break. For example, you could:

• Have Copilot come up with prompt starters in a particular subject area like math, language arts, science, or social studies, giving families targeted ways to continue skill building.
• Ask Copilot to come up with prompt starters for family activities that encourage cooperation and collaboration, like “Plan a science experiment together.”

Quickly draft personalized communication with Copilot, making it easier to create messages that support families and save time during busy periods.

Integrate Copilot into your daily classroom routines

Copilot is here to support you as school breaks approach. Use the prompts in this post as a starting point and adapt them for your unique classroom needs. If you’re new to Copilot and want to learn more about how to get started, check out these resources to start making the most of your AI-powered assistant:

• Meet your AI assistant for education: Microsoft Copilot
• Enhance teaching and learning with Microsoft Copilot – Training
• Copilot Lab

Not heading into a break? Copilot can still be a valuable, everyday tool in your classroom. Explore these posts for more ways to integrate it into your daily routines:

• 5 ways Copilot can help you start the school year
• 6 ways to use Microsoft Copilot for end-of-school-year tasks
• Five quick prompting tips to get more from your AI assistant

Discover the endless possibilities of using Copilot as your AI classroom assistant today!

The post 5 ways Microsoft Copilot can help you finish your school term strong appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

This year, inspire your students to build a strong foundation for AI literacy with Minecraft Education and Microsoft resources, opening doors to exciting, AI-powered careers.

Build AI literacy and fuel STEM fascination with Minecraft Education

Minecraft Education’s AI Foundations offers an exciting opportunity to integrate AI literacy into your STEM lessons in a fun, interactive way. This comprehensive resource is designed for learners ages 8 and above and turns abstract AI concepts into immersive learning experiences through a platform they already love.

Featuring bite-sized animated videos, free teaching materials, a parent guide, and imaginative new Minecraft worlds where players solve real world problems and explore AI-related careers, AI Foundations builds AI literacy and fosters a love for problem-solving and creativity. Explore these three exciting offerings from AI Foundations.

Discover the power of AI through Fantastic Fairgrounds

Kick off your AI literacy lessons with the Fantastic Fairgrounds world, which introduces students to AI through engaging gameplay. They’ll assist Park Director Leslie in solving real-world problems in the park’s pavilions. Through interactive, hands-on challenges, students explore foundational AI concepts, practice data analysis, and tackle dilemmas. By the end of this experience, students will have a better understanding of AI fundamentals and gain insights into potential AI career paths.

Harness AI to address global challenges in AI for Earth

Help your students dive deeper into AI’s real-world potential through the AI for Earth collection. With five engaging lessons, students are introduced to how AI can help solve environmental challenges such as water quality monitoring, ocean observations, and sustainable farming. Each lesson highlights the tangible ways AI can be a force for good in addressing global issues.

Through these lessons, students will develop their problem-solving skills and gain deeper insights into how AI can make a difference in areas like environmental sustainability. Whether your students aspire to be engineers, data scientists, or policymakers, this collection demonstrates AI’s broader impact.

Journey into the world of AI with AI Adventures videos

Explore AI with your students in the exciting AI Adventures video series. These three bite-sized videos make AI approachable for everyone. Your students will join two curious companions as they discover the wonders of AI, its problem-solving capabilities, and the importance of responsible AI usage. The series, produced in partnership with Microsoft’s Democracy Forward initiative, begins with AI 101: Building the Basics, where an unlikely pair of friends learn how AI systems work.

The series also contains AI in Action: Using AI Tools Responsibly and AI for Good: Solving Problems with AI. Both videos underscore the importance of trustworthy AI use. These videos are not only informative but also fun, making them a great way to break down complex ideas.

By integrating AI literacy through Minecraft Education, educators empower students with essential STEM skills that combine problem-solving, creativity, and data-driven thinking with real-world AI applications. As AI becomes central to STEM fields like environmental science, healthcare, and technology, building these foundational skills prepares students for dynamic careers that drive innovation. Whether they aim to be engineers, data scientists, or researchers, these resources make AI a tangible and transformative part of STEM learning, ensuring students are ready to lead in a world where AI plays an essential role in shaping the future.

If you’re looking for even more ways to integrate AI into learning experiences, check out:

• Minecraft Prompt Lab: Learn how to use Microsoft Copilot with sample prompts to create dynamic game-based learning experiences.
• Hour of Code: Generation AI: Explore engaging coding tutorials that introduce students to AI concepts and considerations.

Teach foundational generative AI concepts with our classroom toolkit

The AI Classroom Toolkit is a creative resource that blends engaging narrative stories with instructional information to create an immersive learning experience for educators and students aged 13-15 years. Available in multiple languages, the AI Classroom Toolkit is accessible to a wide range of students, making it a versatile resource for fostering digital and AI literacy in diverse educational settings.

The toolkit is designed to assist you in initiating important conversations about responsible AI practices in the classroom. Students will gain valuable insights and develop practical skills to enhance their digital safety including:

• Fact-checking
• Cultivating good digital hygiene habits
• Safeguarding their data privacy
• Adopting strategies to manage their mental wellbeing effectively

This adaptable resource allows you to cover everything in a single lesson or break the information into four parts to offer more time for discussion and reflection. It also features guided “Try It Yourself” activities that let students explore various AI tools and applications. These hands-on experiences enrich the lessons, but aren’t essential for achieving the core learning objectives, offering flexibility for classrooms regardless of their adoption of generative AI tools.

Use this quick video guide to help you plan how to use the toolkit with your students. It offers practical tips on structuring your teaching sessions, ensuring students grasp the essentials of generative AI at a comfortable pace. If you’re comfortable with generative AI concepts and ready to start using the toolkit, this may be the easiest place to begin.

Empower your classroom with AI literacy skills

If you’re interested in learning more about AI on your own, check out our AI for educators learning pathway. It offers modules that break down essential AI concepts and showcase real-world applications that can enrich your classroom. From automating routine tasks to supporting personalized learning, you’ll discover practical and interesting ways to integrate AI into teaching and learning with tools like Microsoft Copilot.

As technology continues to advance, the need for qualified professionals in AI-fueled STEM fields will only increase. National STEM Day is an opportunity to ignite your students’ passion for STEM and equip them with the vital AI literacy they need to thrive in the future. Use these resources and tools from Minecraft Education and Microsoft to help you innovate on November 8 and empower students to become active participants in shaping the AI-powered world of tomorrow.

The post Full STEM ahead: Inspire students with AI-powered innovation on National STEM Day 2024 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Through Minecraft’s Hour of Code activities, students of all ages can dive into computer science in fun, interactive ways that spark creativity, develop problem-solving and critical thinking, and build a foundational knowledge of basic coding.

Microsoft is empowering classrooms worldwide to connect through the power of computer science. Together, with Code.org, we’ve brought programs like Minecraft Hour of Code to students around the world, making coding fun, accessible, and engaging. The impact has been huge with Minecraft Hour of Code reaching nearly 300 million sessions since 2016.

Code the show, save the day with Minecraft

Step into a vibrant theater world to help save the day in Minecraft’s Hour of Code 2024: The Show Must Go On! In this new Hour of Code adventure, students will explore the theater to find the missing star, the Agent, while solving fun coding puzzles and interacting with lively characters. They will unlock hidden gags, customize the show, and plan an unforgettable performance.

Students can help the Agent overcome stage fright as they navigate backstage areas like the Dance Studio and Prop Department. For the grand finale, they will customize the stage show with their creative input and watch their coding skills come to life!

In this year’s exciting Hour of Code experience, students will: 

• Explore the theater to find the missing Agent and help them find their coding confidence. 
• Solve engaging coding puzzles throughout the venue.
• Team up with the Agent to create the Minecraft Hour of Code Extravaganza.
• Share their unique vision and grand finale with their friends.

While navigating the theater and discovering various departments, students will use the power of code to: 

• Compose toe-tapping tunes in the Recording Studio. 
• Choreograph dazzling dance routines in the Dance Studio.   
• Craft eye-catching props in the Prop Department. 
• Create show-stopping costumes in the Wardrobe. 

Explore Minecraft’s Hour of Code 2024: The Show Must Go On! today, and plan to join millions of students worldwide to celebrate the power of code during Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) December 9-15, 2024.

Join the global Hour of Code movement

In addition to this year’s new adventure, explore our growing collection of Minecraft Hour of Code activities that are available throughout the year. Each self-guided activity is approximately one hour long and can serve as a fun and creative introduction to coding and computer science.

• Generation AI: Venture through time to create AI-powered inventions. Students learn about the principles of Responsible AI through problem solving, creativity, and computational thinking.
• Escape Estate: Use coding and computational thinking to solve puzzles and escape from Dr. Breakowski’s mysterious mansion.
• Minecraft Timecraft: Travel back in time to save the future. Students choose their adventure and learn basic coding concepts to correct mysterious mishaps throughout history.
• Minecraft Tale of Two Villages: Leverage the power of code to bring the two villages together. Students develop cooperation and empathy while learning computer science skills.

Throughout the entire collection, students can develop core coding skills like:

• Problem solving: Develop logical thinking to create unique solutions.
• Debugging: Identify and resolve errors in code.
• Computational thinking: Create strategies and structures to solve challenges.

These fun coding activities bring a unique opportunity for you and your students to learn and play together while practicing interdisciplinary skills like collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Minecraft Education resources to support teaching and learning

If you’re new to Minecraft Education or need a refresher, our training materials will help you navigate the platform with ease, understand its features, and guide your students through engaging activities. These resources can help you design meaningful tasks, set clear objectives, and effectively assess learning. Tailored for all experience levels, you can use these tools to incorporate Minecraft Education into your teaching practice and confidently lead your students through an Hour of Code.

Explore these popular resources to get started:

• Minecraft Education Teacher Academy: This four-part series, led by Microsoft Certified Educator Michael Barrett, will teach you pedagogical strategies for planning, assessing, and structuring Minecraft Education activities.
• Minecraft Trainer Academy: This module guides you through best practices for preparing and facilitating Minecraft Education training for your organization.
• Facilitate a Minecraft Hour of Code experience: This module equips you to successfully lead an Hour of Code session using Minecraft Education.
• Minecraft block coding academy: This learning path teaches you how to use Minecraft Education to teach programming skills and concepts to learners at all levels.

Deepen learning and student engagement with Minecraft Education

With Minecraft Education, Kent School District students are building critical skills for the future, such as AI literacy and coding. Recognizing Minecraft Education’s value, the district invested in scaled professional development to enable educators to effectively use this platform for teaching and learning. This initiative drove the integration of Minecraft Education across the curriculum in subjects ranging from chemistry and geography to library use as well as computer classes and English Language Arts (ELA). Since incorporating Minecraft Education as part of their Microsoft licensing agreement, Kent School District has seen a significant increase in student engagement.

“Every single time I use Minecraft, it makes my job easier,” says Mike Cline, an educator with Kent School District. “I see my students doing what they love and being creative. They have a spark in their eyes when they have the opportunity to show themselves—who they really are—or learn something new in Minecraft. Minecraft is another useful tool for my students, one that can make learning more fun: allowing them to do amazing things that help make the world a better place.”

Hour of Code is a perfect opportunity to ignite your students’ passion for coding—whether during CSEdWeek or anytime throughout the year. With Minecraft’s Hour of Code 2024: The Show Must Go On!, your students can experience the excitement of coding while developing essential future-ready skills. Join millions of students worldwide in celebrating the global Hour of Code movement and watch your students bring their ideas to life—one line of code at a time!

The post Code, create, and take the spotlight: Minecraft’s Hour of Code 2024 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

With inclusive activities from Minecraft Education and AI-powered tools like Microsoft Copilot, you can create engaging and easy-to-implement learning experiences to honor Indigenous Heritage Month 2024. Integrate these resources to foster appreciation and recognize the cultural perseverance, innovation, and resilience of Indigenous communities. Help all students develop a broader appreciation of Indigenous heritage and leadership—while ensuring Indigenous students see their cultures valued and celebrated.

Honoring Indigenous cultures with Minecraft Education

Minecraft Education offers students the opportunity to step into another world, where they can explore Indigenous knowledge and traditions through immersive learning. These ready-made worlds let your students engage with the history, values, and contributions of Indigenous peoples in a way that is fun, hands-on, and meaningful.

Here are four Minecraft worlds that celebrate Indigenous history, culture, and innovation:

• A Pacific Northwest Coast Experience (grades 2–12): Take your students on a journey created with the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation in which they’ll go back in time to help a coastal community prepare for winter. Through this immersive experience, students learn about Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge, the interconnectedness of all living things, and what it takes to build a self-sustaining village.
• Manito Ahbee Aki (grades 3–6): Dive into Anishinaabe culture and teachings with this world that encourages students to strengthen their writing and critical thinking skills. Along the way, they’ll gain insights into Indigenous perspectives on community, leadership, and the importance of cultural continuity.
• Indigenous Stories (all ages): Show students the power of oral traditions through research and storytelling. In this easy-to-teach build challenge world, they’ll develop literacy and art skills by illustrating stories told by Native people, connecting with the rich tradition of passing knowledge through generations.
• NGĀ MOTU – The Islands (all ages): Set in Aotearoa (New Zealand), this world takes students on a journey to discover the Indigenous language, culture, and environmental stewardship practices of the Māori people. Students will expand their understanding of how Indigenous peoples across the globe have cared for the land for centuries.

Whether you’re new to Minecraft or a seasoned pro, these experiences are designed to be intuitive and engaging for students of all ages.

Bring inclusive lessons to life with Copilot

In addition to immersing students in Indigenous cultures and histories with Minecraft Education, Copilot can streamline lesson planning for Indigenous Heritage Month, helping you create engaging and culturally responsive lessons in a fraction of the time.

With just a few prompts, Copilot helps you gather everything you need from historical insights to meaningful videos and interactive activities that honor Indigenous communities. Copilot goes beyond content creation. It can also recommend alternative perspectives, highlight important themes, and suggest activities aligned with standards, ensuring your lessons are both impactful and inclusive.

Copy and paste these prompts into Copilot to get started. Tailor them in a way that aligns with your specific classroom needs and objectives.

• Create an inquiry-based unit plan for secondary students that investigates contemporary issues affecting Indigenous communities in the [specific region]. Explore topics like tribal sovereignty, land rights, and cultural preservation. Include discussion prompts to encourage critical thinking. Use unbiased primary and secondary sources. Provide a detailed student rubric.
• Design an engaging set of [grade or age level] lessons on the significance of language revitalization in Indigenous communities. Have students research the history of Indigenous languages, the impact of colonization on language loss, and contemporary revitalization efforts. Students can write a reflection or narrate an oral history about why language preservation is vital to maintaining cultural identity and how it’s supported today. Include age-appropriate reading materials, multimedia resources, and interactive activities that align with [grade or age level and specific standards] standards.
• Develop a lesson plan for [grade or age level] students focused on the contributions of Indigenous leaders in environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. Allow students to explore one or more Indigenous environmentalists or traditional ecological knowledge systems, aligned with [grade or age level and specific standards] standards. Suggest notable and lesser-known Indigenous figures, including both well-recognized and emerging leaders. Include hands-on activities, and relevant historical content.

Copilot makes it easier for you to craft meaningful, impactful lessons that celebrate Indigenous contributions. Customize units and lessons across subjects and grade levels, ensuring they meet standards while honoring Indigenous cultures.

Extend Indigenous voices beyond the lesson plan

You can also use Copilot to enrich your classroom by engaging students with Indigenous voices in ways that go beyond traditional lessons. By adding your insights, Copilot can suggest guest speakers, virtual tours of significant Indigenous cultural sites, and collaborative projects that connect students with Indigenous community leaders. It can also help you curate recommendations for literature, music, and artwork by Indigenous creators to bring authentic, diverse experiences into your classroom.

Copy and paste these prompts into Copilot to discover ways to create a more inclusive and diverse learning environment. Tailor them in a way that aligns with your specific classroom needs and objectives.

• Generate a list of resources of Indigenous sites, historical landmarks, or places of significance near [city, geographic location, etc.]. Include ancient gathering spots, sacred lands, or culturally important areas. Identify ways a class could visit these spots virtually (e.g., virtual field trips, videos, images, articles). Connect each site to the history and identity of local Indigenous communities.
• Develop a month-long reflective journaling activity for [grade or age level] students on Indigenous land and culture. Have students investigate the history of Indigenous tribes in [city, geographic location, etc.] using resources you curate. Encourage students to reflect on how this history changes their view of the land and their relationship to it. Throughout the month, provide prompts for students to reflect on how they can respect and honor Indigenous connections to the land today.
• Create a selection of age-appropriate literature and picture books by Indigenous authors for [grade or age level] students. Include books that showcase a range of Indigenous cultures and perspectives without reinforcing stereotypes. Provide a brief theme and summary for each book, highlighting the unique voices and stories of the authors.

Whether you’re looking to introduce new voices into your classroom or create immersive, reflective experiences for your students, Copilot helps you go beyond the basics and offers rich, engaging content that resonates with your students.

During Indigenous Heritage Month, let Minecraft Education and Copilot help you bring Indigenous voices into your classroom in ways that are both impactful and easy to implement. Minecraft Education’s immersive worlds celebrate the rich cultures and contributions of Indigenous communities, while Copilot can assist you in crafting thoughtful, culturally responsive lessons. With these powerful tools, you can create meaningful learning experiences that will inspire your students all year long.

Curious about how the vivid tapestry of the Indigenous community surfaces across Microsoft? Explore stories and more from our colleagues who are helping set a standard for the future of technology and the ways we bring ourselves to work.

The post Elevate Indigenous voices during Indigenous Heritage Month appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Cybersecurity isn’t just about computer programs that prevent bad actors from accessing devices and systems, it’s also about empowering students, educators, and staff with the knowledge to stay informed and vigilant. Understanding how cyber criminals target schools, the tricks they use to sneak in, and what you can do to stop them in their tracks is key to keeping your community more secure.

This October, let’s “Secure Our World” together. From conversation tips to hands-on experiences like Minecraft Education worlds, you’ll find cybersecurity resources to enhance your classroom instruction.

Starting the cybersecurity conversation

Starting a conversation about cybersecurity with students is a simple and effective way to build cyber habits that keep everyone safer online. Cyber criminals often use clever social engineering tactics to trick someone into downloading malicious software or revealing their personal information. Students might be more at risk because they’re still learning to spot the difference between legitimate messages and potential threats.

Key points to discuss about phishing

Phishing is a common tactic used by cybercriminals to trick individuals into revealing personal information. Here are some essential points to cover with your students:

• Avoid clicking unknown links: Hackers use phishing links to infiltrate your life. These links can appear in text messages, emails, QR codes, search engines, websites, social media posts, and direct messages.
• Don’t access QR codes that seem too good to be true: Hackers have started using QR codes, a technique called Quishing, that direct unsuspecting users to a data harvesting or phishing page to collect personal data. Often they’re disguised as free giveaways or other compelling offers.
• Be aware of social engineering: Hackers may impersonate family members, friends, teachers, or authority figures to gain your trust and extract information.
• Recognize red flags: Phishing messages often contain misspellings, convey a sense of urgency, or offer fake rewards. Always hover over links to see where they lead before clicking.

Examples of when to be extra vigilant

It’s important to teach students to be extra cautious in certain scenarios. Here are some examples for both primary and secondary level students:

Primary school students

• Researching information for a class report.
• Looking for online math tutoring courses.
• Searching for online videos and citing unverified information in schoolwork.
• Messaging a teacher with a question.

Secondary school students

• Differentiating between ads and organic posts on social media.
• Receiving messages asking for passwords or threatening account lockouts.
• Being direct messaged with unknown links and urged to click them.
• Searching for jobs and applying to scam companies.
• Researching and applying for college or trade school.
• Receiving friend requests from duplicated profiles of known individuals.

Even a quick 10-minute discussion about cybersecurity can significantly boost your school’s overall safety. You might also want to share these tips with families so that they can reinforce these important lessons at home.

Hands-on, minds-on experiences with Minecraft Education

Teaching cybersecurity concepts to students is easy with the Minecraft Education Cyber and Digital Citizenship collection of worlds and accompanying educator guides. The worlds include a progression of standards-aligned lessons that span elementary through post-secondary education. Just like other Minecraft Education experiences, students immerse themselves in a virtual world where they accomplish tasks, collaborate with others, and engage in activities that teach cyber safety and security—all while having a lot of fun!

Minecraft cyber education content has been downloaded more than 80 million times, and the CyberSafe series is also available for Bedrock players on the Minecraft Marketplace. The Cyber and Digital Citizenship collection is broken down into four age-appropriate bands:

• CyberSafe (ages 7-11): Introduces students to basic cybersecurity concepts like online safety, healthy gaming interactions, and digital citizenship practices.
• Cyber Fundamentals (ages 10-14): Expands students’ knowledge about cybersecurity by covering malware, personally identifiable information (PII) threat analysis, and data protection steps.
• Cyber Expert (ages 13-18): Deepens understanding with a focus on social engineering, ransomware, and the importance of using backup software.
• Cyber Defense (ages 14-18, 18 and older): Offers an advanced look at access control systems, cybersecurity careers, and ways to earn cybersecurity certificates.

In our largely online world, learners need to develop the skills they’ll need to navigate online spaces safely, and confidently. Educators also need the right tools to empower their students to be cyber safe. Minecraft Education’s cybersecurity curriculum helps learners of all ages become cyber heroes—protecting their data, using the Internet safely, and modeling digital citizenship. Stay tuned for new cyber content in Minecraft Education for Safer Internet Day—a global day of celebration in February each year.

If you’re new to Minecraft Education or need a refresher, sign up for a one-hour training as part of Minecraft Teacher Academy. Explore more professional learning, either on-demand or with a live cohort.

Inspiring cybersecurity champions

In addition to cybersecurity resources for the classroom, we also offer unique opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing careers in cybersecurity. With Microsoft, your students can:

• Discover diverse mentorship opportunities: Explore the many learning and mentorship opportunities Microsoft and partner organizations provide so that all students can see themselves in cybersecurity.
• Explore educational opportunities: Discover how Microsoft and the Last Mile Fund can help students earn a cybersecurity degree through scholarships for financial assistance and cybersecurity exam costs.
• Get certified to fight cybercrime: Eligible students can get their Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals certification for free and earn college credit while doing so. Visit the Microsoft Learn Student Hub: Student certifications to learn about all the available certifications and how to enroll.

Build your knowledge with cybersecurity training for educators

Your own cybersecurity awareness and knowledge plays a critical role in your school’s overall security strategy. Cyber criminals know that educators are busy and may quickly respond to urgent messages or irresistible deals. By learning to distinguish between legitimate and suspicious messages or links, you are less likely to fall victim to social engineering tactics designed to steal private information.

To help strengthen your cybersecurity skills, Microsoft offers cybersecurity training modules for educators. “Build cybersecurity resilience in K-12 classrooms with Microsoft tools” is a comprehensive introduction designed for educators. This module covers essential concepts like how to anticipate cyber threats and secure your device, identity, and online activities. It includes:

• Explanations of common threats like phishing, malware, and ransomware.
• Tips for protecting your passwords and PII.
• Strategies for maintaining privacy when working online.
• Steps to take if you fall victim to a cyber-attack.
• Ideas for teaching cybersecurity to students.
• Information on joining cybersecurity groups that offer educator resources.

If you’re interested in using Minecraft Education to teach cybersecurity, be sure to check out “Minecraft Education lessons: Teach cybersecurity concepts with Minecraft Education.” This Microsoft Learn module covers:

• Explanations of Minecraft worlds that provide cybersecurity instruction to K-12 students.
• Overview of the differences between resources for upper elementary, middle school, high school, and post-secondary students.
• Topics featured in the Minecraft cybersecurity worlds.
• Types of activities that students complete while learning in Minecraft.

By joining Microsoft for Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024, you’re not just protecting your school—you’re empowering the next generation of cybersecurity champions. Dive into the tools and resources to spark student interest and help them build their skills to thrive in the digital world. Together, let’s make your classroom a community of cyber-savvy learners. Stay safe and inspire those future cyber heroes!

The post Teach cybersecurity with Microsoft and Minecraft Education appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

“That’s one of the best uses for AI in an academic setting,” Evans says, “because sometimes you can read a paragraph five times and still not understand until the concept is explained in a different way.” 

Generative AI is opening up all sorts of new avenues for learning, from personalized tutoring to study guides. But as with any technology, it’s helpful to know its strengths and limitations before diving in.  

We talked with some students, parents and educators who’ve embraced the new tools for tips on how to use AI responsibly at every level to enhance learning and avoid potential pitfalls.   

“The key,” says Matt Hall, a professor in Texas, “is two words: Use it. And once you’re done using it, use it again. Use it as early as possible, and learn to become a good prompt writer. Using AI is a basic life skill now, and if you’re not using it, you’ll be at a competitive disadvantage.”   

Younger learners

Elementary school-aged students can benefit from AI-powered programs to help learn the fundamentals such as reading and math.

Elementary school-aged students can benefit from programs that are powered by AI as they focus on building foundational skills. Aren Uzun, a 12-year-old seventh-grader in California, uses Reading Coach after school to help him practice reading and speaking — and says he is getting higher grades as a result.  

Ava Gerlach, a 10-year-old fifth-grader in Florida, is learning about AI in Minecraft Education to get more comfortable with the new technology and the ways it can help her learn in the future. 

What AI can help students do

Tools like Reading Coach—part of Learning Accelerators—can help kids boost their confidence by practicing skills with a less intimidating audience, such as before reading out loud in front of the whole class, says Aren’s mom, Cigdem Patlak Uzun. Aren is more comfortable presenting to others and is more willing to take the risk of sharing ideas now that he can test the waters first with secure AI coaches built for learning, she says. 

“For some of my presentations I got lower grades, so I wanted to see exactly what I was doing wrong,” Aren says. Reading Coach showed “that I was speaking too fast and said some words incorrectly, so it helped me fix that.” 

There’s value in learning how to learn and how to constantly grow with these new tools.

James Evans

Ava says she was first introduced to the concept of AI through Minecraft Education’s Hour of Code last year, and now she can spout off an explanation at the drop of a hat: “AI is basically a human-made technology that helps people with real-world problems,” she says. 

“I will probably use it as a fifth-grader to help me with research, studying and understanding the steps to math equations,” Ava says. “Especially going back to school now, I’m going to need a refresher on long division.”

Tips for using AI in learning

Kids need to learn the fundamentals first and focus on ways to build their skills with AI tools, Aren says. “You shouldn’t be using AI to figure out how to do the beginning of something,” he says. “Like, if you’re learning what 1+1 is, and AI tells you the answer is 2 but you don’t know why, then later there could be a test on what is 198+275 and you wouldn’t know how to calculate it. It’s better to use it for something that will help you forever, like how to improve your writing skills and do research for new ideas.” 

The personalized guidance in Reading Coach helps keep students engaged — “almost like getting a personal tutor with one-on-one instruction,” Patlak Uzun says. Aren urges fellow students not to share personal information, such as an age or address, online and says younger kids generally should use AI alongside an adult. A recent 4H study backs that up, showing that 72% of the kids surveyed are seeking support from adults in learning how to use these new tools correctly and with confidence. 

Minecraft Education has given Ava a way “to explore things in a safe context,” says Ava’s mom, Holly Gerlach. “And she’s learning about the principles of creating with AI and thinking about inclusivity, privacy and security.” 

High school years

Teens can benefit from AI tools that help build skills such as information literacy and how to validate sources.

As kids get more involved with technology and start using AI, tools such as Search Coach can help by teaching information literacy and how to validate sources. Those are foundational skills students need now, says Isabelle Armstrong, a 16-year-old high school student near Perth, Australia. 

What AI can help students do

Isabelle says Search Coach has helped her narrow down her prompts to be more specific, so now she gets more relevant and trustworthy answers from AI. That, in turn, has taught her how to be more concise and precise with the essays she writes for English classes. “I’m a bit of a rambler,” she says, “so this is helping me get more clear with what I’m saying and get to the point.” 

AI tools can help generate ideas and assist with research, Isabelle says. “It helps kickstart the process and guide me so I’m not looking at the wrong things,” she says. 

“Using AI to brainstorm can help the students work smarter, not harder,” says Kylie Kingdon, who teaches remote classes for kids spread out all over Western Australia, including Isabelle’s modern history class. Kingdon uses Copilot in class to show students various prompts and responses and help them ascertain “what’s good and what’s not. They can see what my prompts are and the answer that’s come out, and that prepares them for the future.”  

The skill of learning how to use AI effectively is helpful throughout a student’s education, Kingdon says — such as realizing that if you only ask for information about “President Roosevelt” for the U.S. history class she teaches, you could get back an answer about Theodore when you meant Franklin. 

AI is basically a human-made technology that helps people with real-world problems.

Ava Gerlach

Search Coach also instructs students in how to evaluate sources, Isabelle says, to get more reliable and less biased information. “We learned the difference between .com and .org and other different domains,” she says. “It’s good to see your searching habits and where you can improve and maybe branch out to different websites or domains, or change what words you use to get different answers. It helps to see your patterns. 

“That’s helped me refine what I’m looking for to get better results.”

Tips for using AI in learning

Use AI as an aid to help learn subjects, but not to produce final coursework, the student and teacher both say. “You need to utilize it in a way that helps you build the skills, not just to get the work done,” Isabelle says.  

AI tools won’t be available in every setting, such as exams, so it’s important to know how to do assignments yourself, she says. “Don’t rely on it as a crutch.” 

It’s all about the process for her students, Kingdon adds. “It’s no longer the final result that’s important,” she says, “but giving them the tools to do all of this.”

Higher education

Older students can benefit from AI’s help with the more intense courseloads—as well as with life skills such as meal planning.

College and university students will find that AI can help them both in and out of the classroom, as they’re hit with intense courseloads as well as the complexity of stepping out of the childhood nest into adulthood, says Evans, the 21-year-old student from Florida who’s moving to Pennsylvania to start on a master’s degree in business analytics. 

What AI can help students do

In addition to reframing complicated concepts to help him better grasp them, Evans uses AI to help create study guides or practice tests, to brainstorm essay ideas and the best structures for presentations, and to research topics. 

Students now need to synthesize massive amounts of data in short periods of time, says Hall, the professor in Texas. Using Copilot for Microsoft 365—with permission from everyone participating—to record, transcribe and summarize classes and meetings can be a huge help with that, he says. It’s also worth asking Copilot to condense reports that might be hundreds of pages long into the key points, to see if the information is relevant to a study topic and worth spending the time to fully read. 

AI tools can help students learn the language of unfamiliar subjects and industries, such as helping Evans talk about warehouses, shipping and logistics for a business class. And that, along with knowing how to use new technology in general, could be valuable in landing an internship or that first job, he says. 

For school projects that require creativity, Copilot can be “a pull-start lawnmower to get you going,” Hall says.  

Using AI is a basic life skill now, and if you’re not using it, you’ll be at a competitive disadvantage.

Matt Hall

Evans says AI is helpful outside the classroom, too—especially for university students living away from their parents and “trying to figure out the logistics of life,” including activities like meal planning.  

“One of the biggest things you hear everywhere is, ‘never stop learning; always be learning something new,’” Evans says. “There’s value in learning how to learn and how to constantly grow with these new tools, because we’re on the precipice and seeing this major change with technology.”  

Tips for using AI in learning

Don’t use AI to write your schoolwork, Evans and Hall advise. Even though AI can write, it won’t have your voice or style, Evans says, and those are important to put out in the world. “We view AI as a co-creator or referential tool,” Hall says. “Don’t cheat yourself out of the learning journey.” 

Evans recommends learning how to do something yourself before getting AI to help with it, to make sure you can assess if the final product is accurate and good. 

Trust but verify, they both say. Use tools such as Copilot that provide sources and citations along with their answers, Hall says, to help with veracity checks. “At the end of the day, I’m the one who needs to make sure the information in my presentation is right,” Evans says. “And I need to learn these lessons before I get to the corporate world.” 

Learn how to talk with other students about AI as well, Evans says. Some will be more comfortable than others using it for help with group projects. 

Most importantly: how students use AI in the classroom will probably continue to evolve as quickly as technology itself. “Next semester my answers could change,” Evans says, “because we’re still learning it, and learning how to use it, and it’s changing with us.”

Photos, from top to bottom: Aren Uzun at Meadow Park Elementary School in Irvine, California (photo by Earnie Grafton); Ava Gerlach (photo courtesy of Holly Gerlach); Isabelle Armstrong (photo courtesy of Armstrong); James Evans (photo courtesy of Evans)

The post Smart ways students are using AI appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

The game allows kids aged 8 or older to challenge a friend, neighbor, family member, or themselves. Players can complete fun challenge tasks from a variety of categories including:

• English Language Arts
• Art and music
• Social Studies
• Science
• Math
• Coding

These tasks are designed to reach and engage every learner, from aspiring coders to reluctant comic artists. Keep learning going this summer with our free Leaps and Logs game! Download Leaps and Logs to get started with summer learning activities from Microsoft Education.

Play digitally or on paper

The learning activities in Leaps and Logs can be completed by students of most ages (age 8 or older recommended). Players may aim to complete one or two rounds of play a day, continuing their game play until the start of the new school year.

Leaps and Logs is versatile and can be played digitally or on paper. Full game directions and a game board can be found by downloading Leaps and Logs.

• Playing digitally involves downloading the game board and task lists then uploading them into Microsoft Whiteboard.
• Playing on paper involves downloading and printing the game board. The challenge tasks can also be printed, but students will need a digital version to access the embedded links.

Also, check out some tips for sharing the game with students in our blog post Leap into summer learning with a game from Microsoft.

Join the fun and continue learning

To help you get started, we’re highlighting a few of the fun learning activities in the Leaps and Logs game. Explore ways kids can have a blast while letting their creativity shine as they learn and grow!

Create a comic book in 5 easy steps

Try your hand at creating your own manga-style comic book. Dazzle your friends and family with thousands of graphics and animations that make your comic come alive!

1. Create a short outline of your story or brainstorm a storyline with Microsoft Copilot.¹
2. Open the Microsoft PowerPoint comic template.
3. Go to New Slide and select a comic layout.
4. Customize your frames with colors, characters, and text.
5. Share your story!

Build your own instrument and hold a concert

Express your musical creativity by building a musical instrument using items you have at home. Then set the stage and entertain everyone with your DIY creation!

1. Ask Copilot¹ for steps to build your favorite instrument or get inspiration from homemade musical instruments other people have made.
2. Gather the supplies and items you’ll need to make the instrument.
3. Follow the steps to build your instrument.
4. Test your instrument by playing a song.
5. Hold a concert or recital!

Create a plan to improve your community

Enhance your neighborhood by making plans to improve your community. Learn how to create an action plan with the Neighborhood Good game from iCivics.

1. Visit https://www.icivics.org/games/neighborhood-good
2. Select “New Game.”
3. Pick an issue that resonates with you and your community.
4. Make a plan of action by playing the game and then choosing the Who, What, and How details.
5. Share your plan with people in your community!

Recreate a famous landmark in Minecraft Education

Explore the world by researching famous landmarks. Use Seach Coach in Microsoft Teams for Education learn about a landmark and build a digital version of it in Minecraft Education.

1. Choose a famous landmark you want to learn more about.
2. With your school account, use Search Coach in Microsoft Teams for Education to research the landmark.
3. Plan your replica from at least two different angles on paper.
4. Explore and build the landmark with the Replicating Landmarks world from Minecraft Education.
5. Share what you learned by building it with your friends and family!

Continue learning all summer long with these fun and engaging activities. Curious about the other challenge tasks included in Leaps and Logs? Explore the game to see how students can build AI-powered inventions in Minecraft Hour of Code: Generation AI, personalize their own story using Reading Coach online, or organize a trip within a specific budget using Microsoft Copilot.¹ There are a variety of tasks to choose from that will encourage students to be creative and think critically.

Keep kids entertained this summer and help them prepare for a new school year with our free Leaps and Logs game! Download Leaps and Logs to get started with summer learning activities from Microsoft Education.

¹ Students under 18 years of age will not have access to Microsoft Copilot and will need adult supervision to access these activities.

The post Extend summer learning with a free game from Microsoft appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Reading Coach, available in public preview, provides personalized and engaging reading fluency practice. It features safe, one-of-a-kind AI-generated stories, access to fully accessible Immersive Reader, targeted practice on challenging words, and rewards that keep learners inspired and motivated. Reading Coach can help your students practice reading throughout the school year—and all summer long!

How to use Reading Coach

Follow these quick steps to help students get started with Reading Coach online in any browser. Reading Coach is also available by downloading the Windows app.

1. Go to https://coach.microsoft.com/webapp
2. Sign in with your Microsoft personal account as an individual learner at home or with your school account (if your school has enabled Reading Coach). Note: School IT leaders can enable Reading Coach by signing up for the preview and following the enablement instructions. Students or educators can then sign in with their school Microsoft account.
3. Explore, practice, and enjoy!

Try these features in Reading Coach to challenge and engage students:

• Let students choose what happens in each story chapter, charting their own reading journey through the AI-generated story.
• Provide choice through fiction and non-fiction passages in the leveled library.
• Support all learners by using the fully accessible Immersive Reader.
• Boost learning with coaching on challenging words.
• Personalize reading by adding your own content for students to read based on their interests.
• Watch as students check out their progress and earn badges, unlocking new characters and settings for the next story.

Learn more and get started with our Reading Coach with AI Stories quick guide.

Three modes in Reading Coach for endless reading possibilities

Reading Coach offers students three reading modes, including generating a story with AI, reading a passage from its digital library, or using text from an article or textbook.

• “Create a story” mode features 15 main characters, ranging from dogs to dragons, and seven diverse locations. Students choose one character and one location, then set their reading level, from kindergarten to middle school. With these selections, the AI generates a complete story with a captivating beginning, middle, and ending. AI-generated story content is moderated for content quality, safety, and age appropriateness following Microsoft’s Responsible AI Standard.
• “Read a passage” mode provides students with a digital library powered by Readworks. The library is categorized by Lexile level and word count, allowing students at all stages of reading proficiency to access text and improve their reading fluency.
• “Add a passage” mode enables students to add their own text from articles, textbooks, or other sources. This supports reading any passage and offers students practice on challenging words within that text.

Join the Reading Coach Summer Reading Quest

Looking for an exciting way to keep your students reading all summer long? Bingo! Encourage your students to take the Reading Coach Summer Reading Quest to meet their summer reading practice goals and earn exclusive stickers and posters!

Here’s how it works:

Download the resources.

• Access the Reading Coach Summer Reading Quest bingo card and related information, available in four languages, in the Reading Coach Materials OneDrive folder.
• Find everything you need to help students and families get started, including instructions, email templates, and additional resources.

Engage in summer reading.

• Have students read and complete tasks from their bingo board throughout the summer.
• Each task focuses students on a different aspect of reading including repetition, consistency, performance, word practice, and real-world reading.

Log your classroom’s activity.

• At the start of the new school year, fill out a form to log your classroom’s reading activity and request swag.

Stay tuned for more!

• To stay tuned for updates and get swag for completing the quest, join the Reading Coach Educator Community or the Reading Coach Family Community.

Whether you’re in the northern hemisphere enjoying summer break or elsewhere in the world, Reading Coach is an excellent tool to provide students with personalized and engaging reading fluency practice and real-time coaching. Join us in the Reading Coach Summer Reading Quest to support your students’ summer reading practice. Learn more about how to get started with Reading Coach in the Build reading fluency with Reading Coach training module on Microsoft Learn.

The post Boost summer literacy skills with Reading Coach appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Microsoft, leveraging the potential of AI and computing skills, is dedicated to ensuring every learner, irrespective of background or circumstance, has access to top-quality educational opportunities. Through a range of products, partnerships, content, and curriculum, Microsoft supports educators in sparking students’ interest and preparing them for the future.

Initiatives such as the Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior competition play a pivotal role in introducing new technology concepts and fostering critical thinking among students. With a focus on personalized learning experiences, these programs cater to diverse student needs and interests, empowering educators to guide their students towards success.

What is Imagine Cup Junior?

Now in its fifth year, Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior (ICJ) 2024 offers a platform for students aged 5-18 to showcase their skills on a global stage. This year introduces a new Tech for Good category challenge aimed at younger students ages 5-12, providing tailored lessons to inspire them to engage with technology for positive change. Meanwhile, the AI for Good competition category includes students ages 13-18.

During ICJ, educators use Microsoft’s resources to introduce AI technologies, guiding students to apply their learning to real-world challenges. The competition not only promotes AI awareness and knowledge but also serves as a steppingstone for students interested in pursuing careers in technology.

We are delighted by the remarkable competition entries from students in over 100 countries, showcasing their creative project ideas and solutions enabled with AI. As we celebrate these students’ achievements, it’s clear that initiatives like Imagine Cup Junior foster innovation and empower students to build skills needed for a digital society and expand their opportunities to address global issues using technology

Christina Thoresen, Director, Worldwide Public Sector Education, Microsoft

Celebrating innovation: Meet the winning teams

The top 10 winning teams in the Imagine Cup Junior 2024 AI for Good global competition are listed below in alphabetical order:

• DuoVision, Turkey: MemoirAI, an AI-based specialized autobiography assistant, preserves personal histories by blending verbal narratives with integrated audio and visual data, creating a permanent repository of human experience.
• IntelliLex, Vietnam: IntelliLex, a personalized, automated AI system, supports dyslexic children in overcoming challenges and improving learning outcomes.
• Milky Way, Vietnam: The Milky Way project preserves and promotes the value of intangible cultural heritage through interactive maps, timelines, categories, filters, and recommendations
• Ocean Guardian, China: Ocean Guardian’s AI-assisted coral reef restoration system plans the best path for an underwater robot to repair coral reefs with minimal damage to marine life.
• Rainbow Soldiers, South Africa: Rainbow Soldiers’ application connects people around a cultural group and encourages people to share their experiences.
• Stroke of Luck, Malaysia: Stroke of Luck’s battery-operated device is surgically placed in the body to aid stroke patients in recovery and rehabilitation by recognizing, capturing, storing, receiving, and sending information in the form of electrical impulses via AI.
• Team Mustang, United States: Team Mustang’s project provides early and accurate diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) involving the development of a convolutional neural network capable of analyzing abdominal ultrasound images to determine whether the liver is malignant or benign.
• The Exhausted Dreamers, Singapore: The Exhausted Dreamers’ computer vision AI detects and labels car parts, sorting them based on recyclability and value, and sending the coordinates of the part location to a robot arm for retrieval.
• To the Top, Saudi Arabia: To the Top utilizes AI to solve the problem of unpleasant odors emanating from tertiary treatment plants, sewage water, and eliminates the negative impact on air pollution and the health of citizens.
• VocAI, United States: VocAI’s AI app generates clear and natural speech for people with hearing loss and provides self-training for improving speech quality.

The top winning team in the Imagine Cup Junior 2024 Tech for Good global competition is listed below:

• Dr. MediBud, Vietnam: Dr. Medibud is an AI doctor that gives anyone in the world access to regular, effective, and inexpensive health checkups and monitoring on their phone by leveraging large language models and retrieval augmented generation (RAG).

Honorable mentions for the Tech for Good competition include:

• Fit Buddy Smartwatch, Malaysia: Fit Buddy Smartwatch by STEM Titans for children that leverages AI to track activity, meals, and to provide education regarding healthy choices.
• Shield, India: Shield is a system created through a network of notes using Internet of things (IoT) Street cameras, road cameras, and other internet-connected cameras to leverage AI facial recognition to identify the thousands of missing people who are victimized by human trafficking. 
• Skin Safe, Vietnam: Skin Safe is an AI app that detects skin issues using a smartphone camera, connecting people with reliable skin care service providers.
• SOS, Kuwait: SOS is an app that can help in identifying and protecting endangered species by allowing users to report sightings, learn about conservation efforts, and connect with nearby nature reserves all through the use of the camera on their phones and Computer Vision API, Bing Maps API, Azure Notification Hubs, and more.

Prepare for the workplace of the future

Moving forward, it’s crucial for educators, policymakers, and communities to collaborate in equipping students with the skills needed to navigate the workplace of the future. By embracing learning that cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving, and well-being, we can prepare students to shape meaningful futures in the era of AI.

The success stories from around the world demonstrate the transformative impact of introducing emerging technologies into education. Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior exemplifies the power of empowering students to thrive and succeed in tomorrow’s world.

Explore resources for building AI skills

Learn more about key skills and tools critical for future success by exploring these resources. 

• For students: Microsoft Learn Student Hub, Minecraft Hour of Code: Generation AI, Microsoft MakeCode, and Hacking STEM.
• For educators: AI for educators, AI for education: Resources and learning opportunities, and Smart learning: AI resources every educator should know.

The post Congratulations to the Imagine Cup Junior 2024 winners! appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

In this summer learning game, players take on challenges across various subjects including English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Coding, and Arts/Music. After completing each activity, players share their newfound knowledge or creations with fellow players or family members, ensuring that learning goes beyond just ticking off boxes on a list.

The free summer learning activities in Leaps and Logs can be completed by students of most ages (age 8 or older recommended). Whether students try to build AI-powered inventions in Minecraft Hour of Code: Generation AI, personalize their own story using Reading Coach online, or organize a trip within a specific budget using Microsoft Copilot, there are a variety of tasks to choose from that will encourage students to be creative and think critically. Players may aim to complete one or two rounds of play a day, extending their game play throughout the summer.

Two ways to play Leaps and Logs

Students can engage with Leaps and Logs in two different ways: digitally or on paper (with access to a device for embedded task links). Full game directions and a game board can be found by downloading Leaps and Logs.

The free summer learning activities in the Leaps and Logs game encourage students to be creative and think critically.

Playing digitally

• Download the game board and task lists and upload them as a document into Microsoft Whiteboard. To upload, select “New Whiteboard” then select “Document” from the lower panel. Find the Leaps and Logs Game file that was downloaded, then select the gameboard page.
• Change the title of the whiteboard by selecting the dropdown arrow next to “Whiteboard” and typing in the text box. When renaming is complete, select the checkmark in the text box to save your new title.
• In the whiteboard, select shapes or upload images from the side panel to use as moveable game pieces.
• Roll one die using this digital dice roller. Be sure to unselect Dice 2 and Dice 3 to roll just one die.

Upload the Leaps and Logs gameboard to Microsoft Whiteboard and use shapes or images as game pieces.

Playing on paper

• Download and print the game board. The challenge tasks can also be printed, but students will need a digital version to access the embedded links.
• Assign players game pieces or small objects to move around the printed gameboard.
• Use one six-sided die (or this digital dice roller) to determine the number of spaces to move.
• Ensure that the gameboard and pieces are kept in a safe place where they won’t be moved or use a pencil to mark where each player ended their turn.

How to share with students

Whether your classroom is still buzzing with activity or students have already left for the school year, here are some ways you can share the Leaps and Logs summer learning game with students and families.

• Share the link to this blog post with families at end of the year events.
• Post information about the game on a classroom website, school social media page, or Microsoft Teams for Education announcement.
• Provide students with a printed copy of the game and instructions on how to access Leaps and Logs.
• Add the link to this blog post to your classroom or school newsletter.
• Help students begin game play as individuals, in pairs, or small groups to start their journey.

Keep learning going and kids entertained this summer with our free Leaps and Logs game! Download Leaps and Logs to get started with summer learning activities from Microsoft Education.

The post Leap into summer learning with a game from Microsoft appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Ashley would go on to compete in two Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) U.S. National Championships. She also won first place nationwide for Word and Excel at a Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition. During her senior year, she received an invitation to become a Student Ambassador for the 2018 MOS World Championship, and it was there that she addressed a room full of participants from 52 different countries. 

Earning verified expertise for in-demand jobs

After she won her first competition with the FBLA, she was offered a full-time job at just 15 years old, “Thankfully, my dad and my grandpa drove me to work every day for the month and a half that I didn’t have my driver’s license and I was able to work at that job for almost two and a half years. And so, before I left for college, I got two and a half years of real-world experience and started building my confidence and my network.” 

Then, at age 19, Ashley landed her dream job at Microsoft, working full-time while she continued her education at Washington State University. She would later graduate with a master’s degree in business administration. 

In college, a lot of my friends would say ‘How do you set yourself apart during an interview?’ or even on a résumé because some people don’t even get to do the interview. You have to find what sets you apart, and Microsoft Certification is exactly that.

Ashley Masters, MBA, Student Ambassador, 2018 MOS World Championship 

Ashley is now part of a growing number of students, educators, workers, and employers who have recognized the significant impact of certifications, not just during interviews but throughout a person’s entire career, leading to more recognition, improved job satisfaction, and better performance. 

You, too, can become job-ready and future-proof by unlocking essential skills in data, AI, and other in-demand skill sets. Go to Microsoft Learn to start expanding your skill set today and visit Microsoft Credentials to get your skills validated. 

Employers are putting skills first

Recent LinkedIn data shows that around 1 in 5 jobs in the U.S. no longer require a 4-year degree. Employers are realizing that they can tap into much larger talent pools by screening for the skills they need rather than the degrees an applicant has earned. This skills-first approach values what a candidate can do and their willingness to learn above all else, and it has allowed forward-thinking companies to access millions of alternatively skilled workers to fill job roles.  

Certifications are an especially great way for new graduates to stand out from other candidates with similar educational backgrounds when pursuing their dream jobs. The certification badge provides benefits for an applicant, including: 

• Tangible proof of meeting industry standards.  
• Demonstration of commitment to continuous learning. 
• Higher earning potential due to validated experience.  

A certificate tells the world that the person is a problem solver, which is precisely what companies are looking for. Bruce Beuzard IV became the MOS U.S. National Excel Champion in 2019 and he applied for his first job as a Data Center Technician at Amazon Web Services that same year. He got the job, and soon word of his expertise got around. When his manager asked Bruce if he could help solve a problem they had been working on for months, he happily accepted.  

Within a few hours, he built a complex Excel worksheet that helped the company save $3M in labor costs that year, solidifying Bruce’s position as an Excel superstar. Like Ashley, Bruce attributes the opportunities he’s had to his certifications.   

If you’re in a position where these certifications are being offered to you for free, and teachers are willing to teach it to you for free, take it. I promise you, that one certification sets you worlds apart.

Bruce Beuzard IV, 2019 MOS U.S. National Excel Champion

How can students build AI skills? 

LinkedIn released their Future of Work Report and found that new AI tools have the potential to lighten workloads and help professionals focus on the most critical parts of their job. For students, this report demonstrated the potential impact on the future of work where the skills required for many jobs have changed by 25% since 2015, with that number expected to reach at least 65% by 2030.  

Students can acquire new AI skills on their own time using Microsoft Learn, the free online platform. Microsoft Learn offers a comprehensive array of learning paths and Microsoft official learning modules covering a wide range of topics, from fundamental concepts to advanced applications. This includes courses on machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and reinforcement learning. For academic institutions AI learning is integrated through Microsoft Learn for Educators (MSLE).   

There is an abundance of varied and adaptable AI learning paths that students can take to harness the potential of AI and use it to create these incredible applications that have a real impact on the world. AI is quickly becoming one of the most valuable resources for self-determination and long-term success.”

Christina Thoresen, Director of Worldwide Education Industry Sales Strategy at Microsoft

Students and education leaders can explore a collection of AI learning pathways based on their career choice and personal goals. As the demand for AI and data related skills in the workforce grows, Microsoft continues to support building AI literacy and provide AI-related training courses to help prepare students for the future.  

Setting students up for success in the real world

Tyler Millis, a software developer and a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, had amassed an impressive 47 technology certifications by the time he finished high school and the title of Microsoft Office Specialist World Champion. According to Tyler, this was way more than any of his colleagues at MIT, “I think the more students know about these programs, these certifications, these competitions, the better.”  

Many universities have recognized the real-world value of certifications and are now including them in their curriculum. Moreover, many certifications have international recognition, allowing students to compete in the global job market and explore opportunities worldwide.  

Having such an asset provided for the students is an advantage to us that other courses don’t have. I’ve personally been offered job positions on the condition that I attain certain Microsoft certificates, demonstrating how advantageous it is to have them.

Kayden Anderson, Student, Australian Catholic University

Ready to take your learning to the next level? You, too, can become job-ready by unlocking essential skills in data, AI, and other high-value areas. Check out Microsoft Learn to start expanding your skill set today and visit Microsoft Credentials to get your skills validated.

Learn more by exploring these additional resources and staying up to date with the latest trends:  

• Start your AI learning journey at the Microsoft Learn Student Hub. 
• Claim free Azure for Students benefits. 
• Sign up for free trial licenses, and build low-code and no-code analytics solutions, by using Microsoft Power Platform apps. 
• If you’re an educator or a faculty member who wants to bring AI skill-building to your students, visit Microsoft Learn for Educators Program – Applied Skills. 
• Microsoft and Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, are actively involved on a global scale in engaging with customers for licensing and deployment opportunities related to certifications in educational institutions, including schools and campuses. Learn more about the Microsoft Certification offerings available through Certiport.  
• Compete in Certiport’s Microsoft Office Specialist Championships, one of the largest IT competitions.    
• Explore the Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certifications.   

AI in education brings opportunity to life

At Microsoft, we are committed to making sure AI systems are developed responsibly and that equitable opportunities are created for all students. Join us for Reimagine Education on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, to explore insights from global education innovators who will share next practices on education equity, security, and workforce readiness in the era of AI. Select the time that works best for you and save it to your calendar—either 9:00 AM PT (UTC-8) or 6:00 PM PT (UTC-8). Together we can reimagine education.  

The post How college students are landing their dream jobs with AI credentials appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.