Explore the Microsoft Educator Center

Many of you already use the Microsoft Educator Center (MEC), a free platform for self-paced learning, to access a variety and depth of courses, learning paths, and resources for educators. Many schools and universities also use the MEC as a foundational, internal training resource to create their own learning paths.   

With the uncertainty around in-person schooling, I wanted to highlight a brand new MEC learning path, Master Microsoft Teams for any learning environment, that can help you create a consistent teaching experience regardless of how the year evolves. 

Connect with Global Training Partners

If your educators and staff would like to benefit from professional development specialists who can design the training and support to help accelerate their learning, the Microsoft Global Training Partner program is ready to support leaders and educators to understand how best to leverage technology for learning. Each partner has undergone official Microsoft training and is certified to deliver professional development offerings on Microsoft’s behalf. 

Just this week we held our Global Training Partner Summit, an opportunity to train the trainers and where we celebrated with over 800 of our best trainers, recognizing some of the tremendous work that is taking place around the world during this inordinate time. There were several partners who stood out for their outstanding work, as well as the perseverance, determination, and positivity it has taken to cultivate success. We presented them with special awards during the event. 

Please join me in congratulating our winners:

Education Transformation Framework

• PT. Cipta Gadhing Artha, Indonesia
• Instituto de Tecnología e Investigación Maestro21, Peru
• Sofia Education Experts Ltd, Greece
• Tablet Academy, Global

Teaching and learning

• Tech Avant-Garde, India
• IDE Yazilim Donanum Bilisim, Turkey
• Trivium, Brazil

Skills and employability

• Audentes Technologies – Philippines
• Dyn IT, Morocco
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Canada

Minecraft: Education Edition

• De Pedagogics, India
• Line Learning & Development, Philippines
• KlayyTech, Egypt
• Cobblestone, Canada
• Big Brain, Brazil

Check out our Global Training Partner finder experience to help you find and connect with the right company in your area.  

Affordable and secure devices with free educator training

As we continue our ongoing commitment to more personalized student experiences, we see the use of devices for learning become an epicenter of the student experience. Microsoft Education is committed to ensuring that both educators and students get the maximum value of their technology by creating inclusive online environments that help every student to achieve more. 

To help your educators use technology effectively in the classroom, your institution can receive educator training at no additional cost by taking advantage of our special device and training offer that combines affordable and secure devices for education with free training in select markets.  

Get training with Microsoft Store

Through the Empower Education program, Microsoft Store trainers will help you navigate the unique blended learning environment with free trainings and resources. Geographical borders don’t limit the training support Microsoft Store teams can provide.

• Students, teachers, faculty, and parents can attend virtual workshops and training sessions—wherever they are located. You can explore and find trainings of interest here. 
• Microsoft Store trainers also engage on a 1:1 basis through Microsoft account teams to provide customized training sessions to schools and higher education. institutions to help adopt technology faster and in a more cohesive way. Trainings can be customized to your needs with more than 17 languages supported.
• Students can also find courses based on their specific interests, attend fun workshops, and collect achievement badges.

Together, we continue to face tremendous challenges and wonderful opportunities. We see how professional development is key to continue in growth and development. The resources I shared are designed for educators, faculty, and staff to provide continually better and more inspiring learning for all students around the globe. 

I am moved by the stories of the inspirational education leaders, innovative and creative educators, and of course the resilient students and families. Thank you for allowing Microsoft to be a part of your success.

The post Empower your educators and staff with new training resources appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Today, we celebrate the accomplishments of the thousands of inspiring educators and schools across 100 countries who are joining our communities for their commitment to supporting a culture of learning, innovation, and continuous improvement. These schools represent the new and returning cohort of Microsoft Showcase Schools and we are thrilled to welcome their continued participation in the program. Click on ‘Discover and connect with a Showcase School near you’ at the link above to learn more about each one of these schools. The educators represent those who are leading digital transformation in education through our MIE Expert program. We welcome them to the 2021-2022 class of MIE Experts, and are inspired by these passionate educators who have worked to earn a place in this program. Congratulations to all our MIE Experts! You can see a list of their names here.

These educators and leaders are distinguished by their commitment to school-wide transformation, and have leveraged Microsoft’s Education Transformation Framework to drive a culture of learning, innovation, and continuous improvement. Their hard work is reflected in improved learning outcomes for their students and an increased focus on future-ready skills. Additionally, their dedication to education transformation has helped them and their schools effectively manage the transition to remote and hybrid learning during the current COVID-19 crisis, and they are now reimagining what the in-school experience will look and feel like.

The global Showcase Schools and MIE Expert communities come together to tackle challenges, celebrate successes, share learnings, and try new solutions in vibrant online communities through Microsoft Teams and social media. As they continue their education transformation journeys, they are supported by Microsoft, partners, and each other through capacity building, transformation guidance, peer learning, amplification opportunities, and early access to research and solutions.

Congratulations to this year’s MIE Experts and Showcase Schools! 

We would like to also welcome our new and returning cohort of schools joining the incubator path of the Showcase School program as they embark on their transformation journey to become a Showcase School. View all schools in the incubator path of the Showcase School program.

If you’re interested in becoming an MIE Expert, get started by joining the Microsoft Innovative Educator program. It is composed of more than 1 million educators worldwide who have joined the Microsoft Educator Center and successfully completed professional development online courses, accessed resources, and shared learnings with their colleagues. If you are an educator, get started on your MIE Expert nomination.

If you are a school leader who is interested in joining the Showcase Schools program, begin by familiarizing yourself with the Microsoft K-12 Education Transformation Framework. Next:

• Review the Showcase School rubric to identify where your school is on the transformation journey and the areas in which you’d like your school to grow.
• Learn about the Showcase School Program engagement process.
• Fill out a self-nomination for your school.

All schools joining the program start on the incubator path to begin or expand their transformation journey. When your school reaches the Showcase School criteria, you can then apply to become a Showcase School. There are two times per year for schools on the incubator path to become Showcase Schools.

In the meantime, there are plenty of other ways to stay connected with us.

• Join the Microsoft Education Center.
• Learn about blended learning best practices both for educators and schools to help ensure student success.
• Subscribe to our Microsoft Education YouTube channel.
• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to stay up to date on the latest news and resources to support teaching and learning, no matter where you live.
• Check out our free online EduDays series and register for webinars.
• Become an MIE Trainer through our online MIE Trainer Academy and start reporting your trainings using our EduTrack tool. Between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, earn your MIE Trainer badge when you train 100 people, and your Master Trainer badge when you train 400. You can re-earn your badge in subsequent years.

The post Meet Microsoft’s 2021-2022 Showcase Schools and MIE Experts appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

At Microsoft, we’ve been working with education systems around the world who are developing strategies to create more equitable and accessible learning systems. Innovative technologies are transforming all sectors, allowing us to reinvent what is possible, and create new opportunities and access for people to connect and collaborate. For education, these innovations and advancements are offering new opportunities for how we can rethink, personalize, and improve our education systems to better support all learners.  

As part of this work, we recently had the opportunity to interview leaders from around the globe and co-author a white paper with Education World Forum (EWF)—the world’s largest gathering of education and skills ministers—to assist the planning of EWF in January 2022. The resources were created to provide you with insights and perspective from education industry leaders on the topic of equitable education in a post-pandemic world, and how systems are focusing on effective learning opportunities for every student. You can access these on our Virtual Education Transformation Series webpage, which include: 

• The whitepaper: “Equitable education in a post-pandemic world: Effective learning for every student,” co-authored with Education World Forum.  
• The on-demand video series featuring education leaders from around the globe:
  • How the COVID pandemic influenced equity in education: Gavin Dykes, Program Director, Education World Forum, United Kingdom; Larry Nelson, Asia Regional Business Leader, General Manager, Education; and Alexa Joyce, EMEA Director of Education Transformation and Skills 
  • Inclusive education with Minecraft: Education Edition: Ayman Ahmad Alattas, Program Director, Edutainment, Saudi Arabia and Alexa Joyce, EMEA Director of Education Transformation and Skills, Microsoft 
  • Reinventing education statewide: Jorge Enrique Hernandez, Guanajuato MoE, Mexico and Dina Ghobashy, Business Strategy Leader, K-12 School Leadership and Programs, Microsoft 
  • Equity and skills: Life, learning, and employment: Michael Prayer, Superintendent New York DOE Brooklyn, USA and Mark Sparvell, Director, Education Marketing, Microsoft 
  • Well-being and analytics: Positive education approaches to scale: Shannon Stevens, Wellbeing Consultant, CEWA, Australia and Mark Sparvell, Director, Education Marketing, Microsoft 
  • Enabling inclusive education in developing countries: Alex Twinomugisha, Senior Education Technology Specialist, World Bank and Alexa Joyce, EMEA Director of Education Transformation and Skills, Microsoft 
  • Empower all students with reading literacy: Mike Tholfsen, Principal Product Manager, Education, Microsoft 

I invite you to discover these resources and explore the many additional tools, like the Microsoft Education Transformation Framework, designed to support you: our education systems leaders working to address how we best move forward. I also encourage you to explore and consider joining the Microsoft Leaders of Digital Transformation Program, designed to connect education leaders with a network of leaders working together on key challenges they are facing. 

Together, we are preparing for a post-pandemic world where every student can be more successful and develop the skills they need for the future. I, along with our teams around the world, look forward to hearing from you about how we can work together and support your transformation journey—with equity and access at the heart of what we’re improving for our students. 

The post Leading forward: Ensuring equity and access in a post-pandemic world appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

We were excited to celebrate the winners in a live event announcement. You can relive this experience by watching the on-demand video.

Despite the uncertainty during a global pandemic and adjusting to remote and hybrid learning, students found creative ways to bring their teams together, innovate, and learn about AI along the way. From hardships experienced by friends or family to issues they have read about in the news, or their determination to preserve the earth and create a better world for future generations, the standard of the student submissions was truly awe-inspiring. Every student who took part brought their heart to their projects, which really came through to all the judges.

The top 10 global winners recognized this year and their concepts are:

• “Here to Hear” from Western Canada High School in Canada: A language-learning tool that supports children with hearing impairments, helping to support inclusiveness in education for the DHH community.
• “Sense and Save” from Daffodils Foundation for Learning in India: An AI-powered, bio-resistive graphene sensor for real-time amniotic fluid monitoring in pregnant women, supporting those who do not have regular or easy access to healthcare.
• “Gaia Eye 80 degrees” from Beijing No. 80 High School in China: A global environmental diversity and anomaly discovery sharing platform, empowering people to report environmental concerns and observations and get feedback powered by AI.
• “CORRA” from St Aloysius College in Australia: The “Companion Obedient Response Robot,” designed to interact and support children with autism in the form of a robot doll that can be with them at all times.
• “Titans” from Maharaja Agrasen Model School in India: A scan and check app for consumers to detect counterfeit medicine packaging, to help reduce the growing issues with counterfeit medicines being sold in India.
• “HygieneNET” from Jesuit High School in Oregon, US: A deep learning and sensor-based system for enforcing hand hygiene compliance in healthcare facilities.
• “Imagineering” from Hwa Chong Institution in Singapore: An AI-powered app that identifies any anomalies in baby’s fecal matter to support and guide new parents and provide early diagnoses of any diseases.
• “Ying Wa Crazy” from Ying Wa College in Hong Kong: Designed to bring Chinese medicine to a digital platform, embracing the major principles of Chinese medicine and building those into an app to increase the speed of diagnosis.
• “G Force” from On My Own Technology in India: A non-invasive pressure mapping method to screen skin cancer and enable earlier detection.
• “SMSR” from Hurlstone Agriculture High School in Australia: The “Smart Mobile Sanitizing Robot” to supply and clean feminine products to support with period poverty and efficient waste management.

What I love most about Imagine Cup Junior is seeing educators embrace these new technologies—like AI and machine learning—and then provide these experiences to their students. Not only do students get the opportunity to learn about Microsoft’s AI for Good initiatives, but they also further develop and practice 21st century skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. 

Congratulations to ALL the students who participated this year and thank you for sharing your ideas. We can’t wait to hear from you in the future and see how you continue to create innovative ideas about how to use AI to improve our world.

To anyone who is starting their journey of learning AI, take a look at Microsoft Learn for Students, MakeCode, Minecraft Hour of Code AI tutorial, and Hacking STEM. For students older than 16 who want to take their learning even further, I encourage you to register for the Imagine Cup Collegiate Challenge and apply to be a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador. 

Stay tuned for the next Imagine Cup Junior Challenge!

The post Announcing Imagine Cup Junior AI for Good Challenge 2021 winners appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Microsoft supports a thriving community of educators and school leaders who are working together to change students’ lives and build a better world. The Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert and Showcase School programs were created to help you learn, grow, and connect.

Educators and schools in these Microsoft education programs benefit from the support provided by Microsoft on their digital transformation journey. In addition, Microsoft offers opportunities for educators and school leaders to share and exchange ideas around innovation and successes that highlight new practices and solutions through community connections, online and through regional and global events. 

The nomination period for the 2021-2022 Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert program and Showcase School program is now open. Nominate yourself by July 15, 2021 to become part of this coming year’s cohort of changemakers!

Jump to the next section to learn how to join the Showcase School program.

How to join the MIE Expert program

If you are a teacher, a school leader, a professional learning specialist, an education coach, a curriculum specialist, or anyone who supports teaching and learning and wants to grow your own practice, the Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert program is for you. It’s a community of self-driven educators who are passionate about integrating Microsoft technology into teaching and learning, who inspire students with creative thinking, and who enjoy working collaboratively. MIE Experts get access to free professional and career development opportunities and certification programs. They also share their learning by playing leading roles in regional training sessions, giving presentations at conferences, writing blogs, engaging in social channels, and more. Resourceful and entrepreneurial, they relish the role of “change agent” and work to achieve excellence in education using Microsoft technologies and innovative teaching practices. With current momentum and advancement of technology integration underway in education, the MIE Expert self-nomination process has been adjusted this year to reflect the technology proficiency and expectations needed by the community. 

To join this diverse and exciting community, please follow these four easy steps to nominate yourself.

Step 1: Join the Microsoft Educator Center (MEC) and complete your profile. You will need to download your transcript, link it to a shareable location, then share that link with us as part of the nomination process. You can find your transcript by going into your profile on the MEC. Additionally, if you use Microsoft Learn you can share your Learn profile as part of your nomination.

Step 2: Ensure that you have successfully passed two hours of courses on the MEC and earned your certified MIE badge. You must be a Certified MIE to become (or stay) an MIE Expert.

Step 3: Download this Word document with all the questions to help you prepare your nomination (and helpful links to get you up to speed on the tools you are less familiar with).Note that there are three phases to the nomination process (1) sharing information about you, (2) a scored questionnaire to demonstrate a base knowledge of Microsoft tools that support teaching and learning, and finally (3) the long-form answers which will be reviewed by the local Microsoft team in your country/region.

Step 4: Nominate yourself by July 15, 2021 (If you submit by July 8, and don’t make it through the scored questions, you will have a chance to rework your nomination and submit by July 15).

The 2021-2022 cohort of MIE Experts will be announced the week of August 30, 2021.

We look forward to welcoming you into the growing MIE Expert community and celebrating innovation in teaching and learning together.

How to join our Microsoft Showcase School program

Schools around the world are exploring new approaches to teaching and learning to ensure students are prepared for success in school and in life. The Microsoft Showcase School program supports such efforts, and we invite you to explore the Incubator Path, the first step toward becoming a Showcase School.

Throughout a school’s education transformation journey, Microsoft and its partners assist in building capacity, guiding transformation, and providing early access to new research and solutions. There is a relentless focus through the program on securing strong student outcomes by creating effective, secure, and efficient schools that provide personalized and predictive learning that empowers students.

Whether your school is fully operational or is still a project idea — if you are considering a growth journey toward digital transformation, school leaders are invited to nominate their school to the Showcase Incubator Path. The Showcase Incubator Path is the initial step schools take before becoming a Showcase School.

Schools will go through the Incubator Path at their own pace supported by Microsoft and its partners. Along the way, they will have access to the broader Showcase School community to establish global connections and facilitate learning from and with other schools. If this sounds like a program you would like to join, follow these two easy steps to nominate yourself before the deadline of August 1, 2021.

Step 1: Familiarize yourself with the Microsoft K-12 Education Transformation Framework and review the Showcase School rubric to identify where your school is on the transformation journey and the areas in which you’d like your school to grow as a result of your participation in the program. The work of the Showcase School program is based around the Framework, which is designed to support school communities working toward transformational change.

Step 2: If you’re part of a project to establish a new school, whether it’s brick-and-mortar or virtual, nominate your school.

If you are a school that is open and operational: prepare a two-minute Microsoft Sway or video that tells the story through a single, clear example of how you as the school leader have led your school’s innovation in one of the following areas:

• Vision for change
• Educator and leader professional development
• Improvement process and data-driven decisions
• Personalized learning and well-being
• Future-ready skills

Begin your Sway or video with your school’s name, city, and country. Your name and role should also be visible at the start of the presentation. Clearly respond to the following prompts:

1. This is what we think about education transformation today.
2. This is what we hope to learn about education transformation when we engage with Microsoft.
3. This is what we are keeping in mind as we take these next steps.
4. These are our current blockers/challenges.
5. Close your Sway or video with your school name, city, and country, as well as your name and role visible.

Once you have completed these steps, you will be ready to fill out the self-nomination form.

A blog announcing the new 2021-2022 cohort of schools in the Showcase School program will launch the week of August 30, 2021.

We look forward to welcoming you into the Incubator Path of the Showcase School program.

The post Grow your impact with Microsoft Education programs appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

A new whitepaper, “Reimagining higher education as a student-centered experience” by Microsoft Education, explores some post-covid trends impacting higher education, and how technology can help address them. Let’s take a look at three of the top trends.

Trend 1: Students are becoming more diverse and so are their expectations of higher education’s role in their path to employment

Going forward, it will be critical for universities and colleges to help a diverse population of learners get the skills they need to be successful in the workforce. According to the OECD, the negative impact of COVID-19 on the worldwide job market has been 10 times greater than that of the global financial crisis of 2007-08. And for jobs that are available, employers report difficulty recruiting candidates with the necessary skills. At the same time, students are feeling less optimistic about their future job prospects— over half said they had lost confidence in the value of a university or college education and were worried about developing the skills they need. 

Today’s students and lifelong learners need skills to land jobs and meet evolving workforce trends—and these days, this means digital skills. Microsoft is committed to partnering with higher education institutions to provide the necessary skills, technology, and tools to help equip all learners with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century.

Brad Smith, President, Microsoft

As institutions race to keep up with a growing skills gap, they must also address important changes in student demographics. The traditional, “college-aged” student population is on the decline,ⁱ and adult learners are a growing demographic critical to closing the skills gap. Additionally, an important demographic for higher education is learners with disabilities. Representing 15 percent of the global population, or 1 billion people,ⁱⁱ persons with disabilities are less likely to have completed a bachelor’s degree or above, and face increased challenges finding employment as compared to those without a disability.ⁱⁱⁱ For those able to attain a higher degree, their chances of being employed increase, demonstrating the importance of higher education in this population’s economic mobility.

To help higher education institutions provide customized career programs for all students, Microsoft announced Career Coach, a Microsoft Teams app that can help colleges and universities offer personalized guidance to students and assist them in identifying career goals aligned with their passions, interests, and strengths. It uses an artificial intelligence (AI)-based skill identifier and LinkedIn integration to align a student’s comprehensive profile with job market trends. Additionally, it helps them grow real-world skills and build connections with mentors and peers. 

Trend 2: Harnessing data and leveraging AI will increasingly help institutions provide more personalized experiences and operate with greater agility

With greater competition for student admissions and a growing emphasis on the value and experiences students expect, a student-centric approach across the student lifecycle can help universities and colleges attract and engage more learners. 

According to a new IDC paper, “Cultivate innovative AI-powered student engagement in hybrid learning for higher ed,” AI is playing a major role in transforming student engagement in higher education for early adopters of the technology.

Microsoft infuses AI in our products to empower all users—faculty, staff, and students—with apps and tools within Microsoft Teams that leverage data and AI. For example, Power Platform enables staff and faculty to quickly spin up apps, automations, and virtual chatbots, with no coding experience required.

When the pandemic began, Purdue University used Power Apps and Power BI to create a custom application to help faculty and university leaders gain real-time visibility into research program status, proactively manage issues, and make informed decisions about budget allocations.

With our new app built on Power Apps and Power BI, we could catch and report mistakes in real time. Faculty reported more accurate projections and the university could immediately see system-wide impacts and make more informed decisions.

Ken Sandel, Senior Director of Sponsored Program Services, Purdue University

Trend 3: The integration of technology with pedagogy will enable more flexible, engaging, and inclusive learning experiences

When higher education institutions unexpectedly moved classes online, many of them responded with surprising speed, scaling their infrastructure quickly to keep tens of thousands of students and faculty connected. Unfortunately, despite the excellent work and intense effort, there is no disputing that online classes are not a substitute for the campus experience. Soon, inequities that already existed were highlighted, limitations of virtual pedagogy were revealed, and student engagement declined.

Almost half of students say that the pandemic worsened their ability to stay engaged, and 60 percent of faculty report witnessing a drop in student engagement. 

Before the pandemic, some colleges and universities were already modernizing the learning experience to create more student-centered experiences. These institutions fared exceptionally well despite the disruption. The article, “Reimagining higher education: The post-covid classroom,” explores how institutions like Florida State University (FSU) and University of New South Wales (UNSW) are integrating technology and pedagogy and demonstrating that technology can be accretive to the future of education. 

As institutions continue their transformation, they need tools that offer more than just video conferencing or chat. Microsoft Teams for Education, included in the Microsoft 365 subscription, integrates with an institution’s learning management system and provides a hub for collaborative and engaging learning experiences inclusive of video conferencing, files, chat, apps, and more. Teams supports learners with comprehensive accessibility features including live captioning and translation, and empowers educators and leaders with built-in insights to better understand student engagement, discover trends, and identify at-risk students.  

Throughout this evolution in higher education, Microsoft is honored to provide support with technology and skills offerings for institutions around the world. See our website and learn more about Microsoft’s position on these trends in Higher Education and how we address them in our new whitepaper, “Reimagining higher education as a student-centered experience.” In addition, all sessions from the online event, Higher Education Reimagined, are available on-demand. Sessions explored how to prepare today’s students for the workforce of the future, how to harness data to reimagine the student experience, and how the education community can embrace the shift to student-centered learning. 

ⁱHigher education enrollment: Inevitable decline or online opportunity? | McKinsey

ⁱⁱNew IDC report shows big opportunities to transform higher education through AI | Microsoft Education

ⁱⁱⁱPersons with a disability: Labor force characteristics — 2020 (bls.gov)

The post Engaging all higher education students with student-centric approaches appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

In many countries, students perceive computer science as difficult and not relevant to their lives or career aspirations. This is particularly acute among young women and girls, with women representing only 19 percent of computer science graduates from bachelor’s programs in the US, according to the National Science Foundation.¹ This picture is similar around the world.

At the same time, job opportunities in computer science are growing, with the World Economic Forum estimating that 97 million new jobs will arise by 2025 in areas such as data science, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT).²

Education systems are looking at ways to enhance computer science education throughout student learning pathways, from primary to upper-secondary. We hear from education leaders across the globe that they are keen to include cutting-edge topics like AI and data science in curriculum, but that constant change and innovation in technology makes it challenging to keep current.

In response, Microsoft is aiming to help bridge the gap by launching our new Microsoft Computer Science Curriculum Toolkit. The toolkit is a set of materials that can help education leaders rethink curriculum, by explaining the rationale for change and setting out key learning objectives and guiding materials for kindergarten through grade 12.

The curriculum objectives are based on a set of “big ideas” that students are encouraged to explore using problem-solving skills and that are aligned to the global challenges of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We have taken this approach because research has shown that students are more motivated about computer science when we demonstrate how it can be harnessed to solve big-picture societal issues.³

In the toolkit, leaders can take advantage of:

• The “Reimagining computer science in the curriculum” white paper that outlines the key opportunities and challenges in computer science curriculum while also pointing to global approaches and best practices.
• Curriculum review and development resources including structure, rationale, curriculum objectives, and mapping for each grade level. These can be localized and adapted as needed.

For each step in the curriculum, we propose relevant materials, as well as pointers to leverage Microsoft’s computer science teaching and learning resources, such as Microsoft MakeCode, Minecraft: Education Edition computer science subject kit, and Microsoft Learn for Students.

We are excited to launch this set of resources and continue to contribute to improving computer science education for students across the world. These resources connect to the Teaching and Learning pillar within the Microsoft K-12 Education Transformation Framework, which supports education leaders in navigating holistic transformation strategy within their institutions.

Explore the computer science white paper, as well as the accompanying curriculum and structure.

^{1. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2019 | NSF – National Science Foundation}

^{2. Tech-Driven Changes in Job Markets Threaten Social Contract with Workers > Press releases | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)}

^{3. Why Europes’ girls aren’t studying STEM | Microsoft Research}

The post Reimagining computer science in the curriculum appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

To bring the challenge to even more students, I am delighted to share details of the AI webinar and hackathon series to help students on their journey and teach them everything they need to know to get involved in Imagine Cup Junior. The series will start right at the basics, guiding students on what AI is, where it already exists in the world around them, how it can be used for good, and inspiring students to become inventors of the future. The webinars will conclude with virtual hackathons where students can build out their projects ready for submission.

Educators, instructors, parents, and guardians can register to take part in Imagine Cup Junior. The webinars and hackathons will supplement the resource kit (educator guides, student guides, lesson plans, hackathon kits, and more made available upon registration) and will be hosted on Microsoft Teams. The dates and times are below and join links can be found here.

And to support educators interested in bringing Imagine Cup Junior to their students, we are providing a webinar for educators on December 1, 2020 at 8:30 AM and 6:30 PM Pacific Time. This will take educators through our resources, share how to get started, and answer any questions about the challenge. The join links can be found here.

As a reminder, students aged 13-18 can take part in Imagine Cup Junior, individually or in teams of up to six, by developing an AI concept based on Microsoft’s AI for Good initiatives. These include AI for Humanitarian Action, AI for Earth, AI for Cultural Heritage, AI for Accessibility, and AI for Health.

Registration closes on May 21, 2021, and in June 2021 Microsoft will be proud to recognize the top ten ideas globally and celebrate students’ achievement with an Imagine Cup Junior trophy and group mentorship sessions. To ensure the privacy of students, all submissions must be made by educators, instructors, parents, or guardians on behalf of their students.

Challenge rules and regulations can be found here.

Register today and empower students to truly change the world. I can’t wait to see their innovation and ideas!

The post Imagine Cup Junior 2021 artificial intelligence webinar series appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

It was humbling to see students connecting in different ways using the power of Microsoft Teams, Flipgrid, and Skype. With so many schools still impacted by the pandemic and learning from home, it was particularly exciting to see that students, regardless of their locations, were able to be inspired by guest speakers and field trip partners like zoos and museums. Whether students were together in their classroom social distancing or interacting over Teams in Together Mode, they were empowered to experience the world in new ways.

We also saw amazing examples of educators who showed their incredible resilience to provide interactive and immersive experiences for students amid these challenging times. We saw students share their culture and traditions, dance, sing, share stories, and play mystery Skype and mystery animal. Students also showed curiosity and engaged in discussion with each other on important topics like climate change, sustainability, UN Sustainable Development Goals, and healthcare. It was fantastic to see students learning from each and sharing ideas about how they can make a positive impact on the world with technology.

This year’s new live events during the Global Learning Connection were also a highlight. Students connected with a Minecraft Developer, were entertained by sharks at the Mote Marine Laboratory, and went on a journey to space with the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Students can still experience these sessions on-demand here.

I had the opportunity to personally call 30 classrooms across 28 countries where I learned so much about their history and traditions while also answering questions from students curious about the positive impact technology can have on the world.

For those who participated, celebrate your experiences and share them with others:

• Download the Global Learning Connection certificate to recognize the participation of your students.
• Get the Global Learning Connection badge.
• Explore a curated collection of Flipgrid topics to continue the conversation and debrief with your learners.

I continue to be so inspired by the Microsoft Global Learning Connection and the educators who bring these incredible experiences to their students, fostering human connections that truly shape the perspectives and attitudes of the next generation of global citizens. These young people stand ready to make the world a better place and are well on their way to doing so.

The post How students came together with Microsoft Global Learning Connection appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

It’s why I am so excited for this year’s Global Learning Connection, where our mission to connect with students to fill their hearts with optimism, resilience, and compassion has never been so needed and purposeful. 2020 represents the sixth year of the Global Learning Connection, bringing students together from all over the world to connect with other students, guest speakers, and experts in their field to inspire generations to learn empathy and open hearts and minds to help them become global citizens and change the world.

On November 10 and 11, Microsoft is inviting every student, educator, and parent to join us for 48 hours of connections, leveraging the power of Microsoft Teams, Flipgrid, and Skype to break down the walls of classrooms and homes. Grab a global virtual passport and get ready to visit places you’ve never seen before by taking virtual field trips to zoos, museums, and national parks. Talk to authors, engineers, and conservationists, and learn from Microsoft leaders. You can also connect with classrooms live or asynchronously to share stories, sing a song, dance, and even play a game of Mystery Skype or Mystery Flipgrid!

Last year’s Global Learning Connection saw students travel over 23 million virtual miles. This year, we want travel around the earth and maybe even reach the sun! By tracking the miles or kilometers traveled virtually between locations and sharing with us on the Global Learning Connection website and on social media, everyone can contribute to this global learning mission.

We know this year feels a little different for many students and educators. Educators and students may be participating in this Global Learning Connection from their classroom, or leveraging technology to connect from their homes to their virtual classroom. Either way, Teams is a great solution to help bring students together and connect across all points of the globe. This year we’ll also be hosting global live events featuring very special guests at various timeslots throughout the 48 hours. More on that shortly, but you’ll want to follow us on Twitter @MicrosoftEDU and #MSFTGlobalConnect to learn more about these exciting Teams live events.

To participate in the Global Learning Connection, take these next steps:

1. Bookmark the event page.
2. Start to plan out your class adventure by downloading a step-by-step activity plan.
3. Schedule calls with experts and classrooms for November 10-11, 2020 and connect via Teams, Flipgrid, and Skype. Find more details here.
4. Share your plans and favorite photos with us with #MSFTGlobalConnect and #MicrosoftEDU.
5. Download the Teacher Toolkit filled with resources for your classroom from passports, certificates, posters, social media examples, and activities to track your miles and more.

The post Join us for Microsoft Global Learning Connection 2020 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

As we continue to work to empower every student on the planet to achieve more, I am excited today to share three professional development resources to support educators on their journey.

Get training with Microsoft Store

Microsoft Stores have undergone massive transformation and are now extending support through live virtual training events. Geographical borders no longer limit the training support that Microsoft Store teams can provide.

• Students, educators, and parents are invited to explore and attend virtual workshops and training sessions of interest.
• Microsoft Store education trainers also engage on a 1:1 basis to provide customized training sessions to schools and institutions to help adopt technology faster, more effectively, and more cohesively. These trainers speak more than 20 different languages and the training can be customized to customer needs. The best way to take advantage of this offer is to work with the local Microsoft account teams.

Explore the Microsoft Educator Center

Over the past several decades, Microsoft built deep connections with the educator communities that we serve around the world. It is our goal to nurture and empower them with learning resources and training. With their support and feedback, we created the Microsoft Educator Center, which offers a vast variety and depth of technology learning resources.

As our worldwide community of educators continues to grow and become stronger, Microsoft recently announced the newest cohort of over 20,000 Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Experts. These educators demonstrated exceptional ability to spark their students’ creativity and improve learning outcomes with Microsoft technologies. They are always looking to connect with other inspiring educators across the globe and are excited to share their ideas with others. Many of their ideas are reflected in the Microsoft Educator Center.

In particular, I wanted to highlight the newly released Learning Path on Hybrid Learning Strategies for Success. It is comprised of four courses that are organized around student grade level and will resonate with every educator and faculty member:

• Hybrid learning: A new model for the future of learning
• Hybrid learning in the primary classroom
• Hybrid learning in the intermediate classroom
• Hybrid learning for the adolescent learner

Work with a Global Training Partner

Clearly, when it comes to teaching and learning, one size does not fit all. We realize the complexity of having different education systems, approaches to curricula, and languages around the world. So in addition to the Microsoft Store and the Microsoft Educator Center online learning resources, we developed an exclusive network of Global Training Partners (GTP). These training organizations are qualified and ready to co-create locally relevant professional development strategies and execute curated face-to-face, blended, and online training sessions across the globe. The Global Training Partners program currently includes 370 companies that serve over 70 countries.

I just had a chance to spend this week with some of these trainers over a series of virtual readiness events at our annual Global Training Partner Summit and was blown away by the innovation and energy they are bringing into discussions. I would encourage any educator or education leader to visit the Find a trainer page where you can find a Microsoft-trained and certified partner in your location who is able to work hand-in-hand with any educational institution to craft a plan that best supports specific and relevant training needs.

To recognize the outstanding impact these Global Training Partners are driving throughout the world, we introduced Global Training Partner of the Year awards in each of the major geographical regions. This year they went to the following:

• Americas – Big Brain Education, Brazil
• Europe/Middle East/Africa – Exquitec Educational Technology, Nigeria
• Asia – Line Learning and Development, Philippines

Together, we continue to face tremendous challenges and opportunities, witnessing the rise of the “new normal” in teaching and learning. I hope that the resources I shared will help educators and faculty provide improved and inspiring learning for all students worldwide. Thank you for allowing Microsoft to be a part of your success.

The post New training resources for educators worldwide appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

The diverse members of our Showcase School Program are distinguished by their commitment to school-wide transformation, and they have leveraged Microsoft’s Education Transformation Framework to drive a culture of learning, innovation, and continuous improvement. Their hard work is reflected in improved learning outcomes for their students and an increased focus on future-ready skills. Additionally, their dedication to education transformation has allowed these schools to effectively manage the transition to remote and hybrid learning scenarios during the current COVID-19 crisis.

Community support and engagement is critical during these challenging times. Viewed as experts, many Showcase Schools were approached by their departments or ministries of education to provide guidance to other schools in their respective countries as they moved to remote learning. Prime examples of the Showcase Schools’ global impact include:

• Dhour Shweir Public Secondary School, Lebanon assisted their Ministry of Education with adoption of Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 at scale across the nation.
• Notre Dame School, Dominican Republic led a committee to help the new Minister of Education with plans to support all schools in the country in transitioning to and mastering remote learning.
• Broadclyst Community Primary School, Ribblesdale High School, and Danesfield School, England were named “Demonstrator Schools” and joined a consortium of schools across England that are considered leaders in the use of technology in education. They offer guidance and coaching to help other schools and colleges make the best use of technology and provide remote learning for students.
• GEMS Wellington Academy, UAE; GOAL Academy, US; Steyn City School, South Africa; Gateway Colleges, Sri Lanka; Izmir Istek Foundations Schools, Turkey; Vizyon College, Turkey; Mandoulides School, Greece; Lyceum 28, Russia; High School #1517, Russia; The Junior and Senior School, Cyprus; Escola Bosque, Brazil; Wilburton Elementary, US; Dhour Shweir Public Secondary School, Lebanon; and The Corner Academy Trust, UK shared their knowledge and experience through a series of free webinars that are available on demand now.

As many institutions head back to start a new academic year in the coming weeks, Microsoft Showcase Schools will continue to share their expertise and help others navigate the challenges of the “new normal.”

The global Showcase Schools community comes together as a group to tackle challenges, celebrate successes, share learnings, and try new solutions in a vibrant online community through Microsoft Teams. As Showcase Schools continue their education transformation journey, they are supported by Microsoft, their partners, and each other through capacity building, transformation guidance, peer learning, amplification opportunities, and early access to research and solutions.

Thank you Microsoft Showcase School leaders and educators for all the work you do to drive education transformation, one school at a time.

This year, Microsoft opened an Incubator Path for schools interested in starting the education transformation journey to becoming a Showcase School. We already have over 300 schools participating in the new Incubator Path, and we would like to invite new schools to join us in our mission to enable every student on the planet to achieve more. Learn how to join the Incubator Path of the Showcase School program and explore our resources below:

• Learn more about the Showcase School Program.
• Get started with the Education Transformation Framework.
• For questions or comments regarding the Showcase School program, contact us.
• View all schools in the Incubator Path of the Showcase School Program.

All Showcase Schools 2020-2021

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