Women, whether subtly or vociferously, have always been a tremendous power in the destiny of the world. 

March is Women’s History Month in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, created to highlight the pivotal but often underrepresented contributions of women. As educators, you have the unique opportunity of bringing these stories to life in your classrooms. 

Incorporating special activities and engaging Women’s History Month lessons into your classroom can transform this month into an enriching educational experience. Through this, you can help your students make deeper, more personal connections with history. Join Microsoft Education as we take this opportunity to inspire and educate by shedding light on the extraordinary achievements of women and encouraging a new generation of learners to understand and value their impact. 

Celebrating women’s history 

Women’s History Month presents an opportunity to genuinely recognize the impact women have had on shaping our world. You can shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked narratives and achievements of women, casting their stories from the sidelines to the center stage.  

This month is your opportunity to sketch a more diverse portrayal of our past, particularly for the young women in your classroom. It’s a chance to show them a world where their potential is boundless. Dive into the lives of historical figures, explore the accomplishments of contemporary female leaders, and bridge the gap between yesterday and today. These stories of determination, creativity, and leadership can spark inspiration. 

I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard … we cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.

Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani female education activist

Women’s History Month is not only a time for celebration but also to educate and empower. It’s a chance for you and your students to explore and appreciate the diverse and critical roles women have played in contributing to the world we live in today. 

In her words: Women’s History Month quotes that inspire 

Ignite your students’ curiosity and empathy through an exploratory activity designed to honor remarkable women. Use Flip to create a vibrant space for students to share the lives of women who’ve made a difference, whether in science, politics, the arts, or any field that speaks to them.  

You can easily create a topic in Flip where students can post their chosen Women’s History Month quote, accompanied by a brief exploration of the woman behind the words. They’ll share her achievements, her role in shaping our world, and the personal significance of her message. As students share their findings, they’ll uncover the diverse tapestry of female resilience, innovation, and insights that continue to influence our world today. 

Inspirational stories from women in AI 

This Women’s History Month, dive into the exciting world of AI with your students. We’re thrilled to invite you to AI Conversations: Women Leaders Share Their Stories, a special event hosted by Flip. Join us for an insightful session featuring Becky Keene and Dr. Sabba Quidwai, acclaimed AI and education experts. 

Geared toward middle school, high school, and higher education audiences, this Women’s History Month event promises to be a dynamic exploration of AI’s possibilities. Participate in the event to explore questions like: What skills are essential for AI success? How can AI be used for future advancements? 

The presenters will also shed light on the unique challenges women face in the AI sector. You and your students will hear their personal stories of entering the AI world, how they harness AI to transform both personal and professional lives, and what they hope to achieve with AI in the future. 

This Women’s History Month event is more than a lecture; it’s a two-way conversation. You’ll have the opportunity to ask the presenters your own questions, gaining insights and advice directly from these inspiring women. Don’t miss this chance to connect your classroom with these AI pioneers and ignite your students’ passion for pursuing their AI dreams. Register for AI Conversations: Women Leaders Share Their Stories today! 

Exploring women’s achievements with Minecraft 

Engaging activities in Minecraft Education can support your Women’s History Month lessons. In Good Trouble: Women’s Suffrage, students will embark on a journey to research Victorian Britain and the global history of how women gained the right to vote. By delving into the past, they will enhance their historical and political awareness, and gain a deeper understanding of how challenging societal norms led to significant changes, enabling women to participate in the democratic process. 

Along the way, they will ponder crucial questions about history and politics, exploring the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion in the Women’s Suffrage movement, the challenges women faced in their quest for voting rights, and the enduring significance of equitable voting rights in modern society. Learners will be able to apply these reflections to their own political contexts and situations. 

Fostering future changemakers with women’s history in 2024 

Women’s History Month provides a platform for your students to learn about the past, engage with the present, and dream about the future. Join Microsoft Education in fostering an environment where every student sees the limitless potential they possess, mirrored in the diverse stories of women who have paved the way. By highlighting the contributions and struggles of women throughout history, you can lay the groundwork for a future where equality and diversity are not just aspirations but realities. 

Together, let’s inspire our students to become not just learners of history, but active participants in creating a world that values and celebrates the contributions of all individuals. 

The post Inspiring students during Women’s History Month 2024 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

To help streamline your search for new and effective tools, we’ve rounded up some of the latest updates and experiences from Microsoft Education that will help you enhance your students’ reading skills, collaborate and communicate with your class, and create more content and curriculum for your lessons. We’re also highlighting live and on-demand events you can join with your students, and webinars and professional development opportunities to help you stay ahead. Let’s dive in and see what’s new in Microsoft Education.  

1. Reading Coach is now available in any browser 

Microsoft Reading Coach provides personalized, engaging, consistent, and independent reading fluency practice by allowing learners to create unique AI-generated stories by choosing characters and settings from a curated collection of options. Reading Coach was already providing learners with personalized reading practice, instant feedback about pronunciation and fluency, while also giving insights back to educators. Now it’s available for free as a public preview web app and a Windows application to use in the classroom or at home with a Microsoft account.  

Get started with Reading Coach online, in any browser or download the Windows app. Learn more about Reading Coach and check out the guides on our Learning Accelerators page.

2. Microsoft Copilot expansions for education audiences

In December we were thrilled to announce several Microsoft Copilot expansions for education audiences. Copilot with commercial data protection is now available to all faculty and higher education students who are 18+, including users of our free offers. And on January 1, 2024, education faculty and staff became eligible to purchase Copilot for Microsoft 365. We also shared additional updates including eligibility for Office 365 A3 and A5 faculty customers and removed the 300-seat purchase minimum to empower organizations of all sizes. 

Visit copilot.microsoft.com and explore what you can do with Copilot, your AI assistant for education.  

3. Loop availability for education customers

Microsoft Loop is a flexible, AI-powered collaboration app that can help you think, plan, and create together. We’re excited to share that Loop will be included in Microsoft 365 A3 and A5 plans, including Student Use Benefit in early March 2024. Customers with Office 365 A1 can continue creating workspaces and pages through June 30, 2024, and will be able to access them afterwards.  

Try Loop today and watch Microsoft Loop – think, plan and create together like never before to learn more. 

4. New AI literacy training for educators and students 

As more exciting AI features are developed, we’ll continue to support building AI literacy in parallel. We’ve launched the AI for Educators Learning Path on Microsoft Learn, made up of three modules to help educators learn about and benefit from AI. It begins with empowering educators to explore the potential of AI, continues into how to enhance teaching and learning with Copilot, and finishes with our newest addition: Equip and support learners with AI tools from Microsoft.  

Educators can then leverage the AI Classroom Toolkit to help teach and support students in using generative AI safely. It’s a creative resource that blends narrative stories with instructional information to create immersive and effective learning experiences for educators and their students.  

Check out the AI for Educators Learning Path on Microsoft Learn and explore the AI Classroom Toolkit to help teach and support students in using generative AI safely. 

5. New features in Microsoft Teams for Education 

You can now check-in with students using Reflect in Microsoft Teams for Education as they complete their assignment. When you enable Reflect Check-in on an assignment, students will be prompted to share how they feel when they submit their work. Then, you can review your students’ responses in the Assignments Grading experience, to monitor the progress of an individual student and the overall mood of the class about the assignment. 

Another new feature that’s available now is reusing your modules between Class Teams. You can reuse content such as Assignments, Files, and Links from one class to another with Classwork. This is useful if you want to teach the same class again, have multiple versions of a class, or share curriculum with another educator.   

Check out What’s New in Microsoft EDU – Bett 2024 Edition to learn more about all the new updates in Microsoft Teams for Education.  

6. New experiences and lessons from Minecraft Education 

Minecraft Education and BBC Earth have launched a new wondrous world inspired by the latest landmark series from BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit, Planet Earth III. With the Planet Earth III DLC, students will step into extraordinary realms of the natural world to experience the struggles and triumphs of survival while playing as a series of incredible creatures, including the great white shark, the Arctic wolf, the musk ox, and more. Explore the Planet Earth III DLC to learn about each animal and gain their perspective on survival! 

In another new experience, CyberSafe: Good Game—the latest addition to Minecraft’s CyberSafe collection—players help a group of gaming teammates create a code of conduct, practice digital citizenship, and ensure everyone feels welcome. This game-based learning experience is designed to teach students the tools and skills that put players in control. Players tackle exciting challenges, foster kindness and teamwork, and turn the online world into an inclusive playground for all. Play CyberSafe: Good Game and bring lessons in cybersecurity and online safety into your classroom.  

7. Minecraft and ISTE Level Up Learning digital events 

Dive deeper into the benefits of teaching with Minecraft with Level Up Learning, a digital event series from Minecraft Education and ISTE. Through a series of webinars spotlighting school systems around the world, educators and leaders can join a transformational journey into the integration of game-based learning and its impact on student outcomes.   

Register for free for all of the Level Up Learning events:  

• Computer Science and AI on February 29, 2024  
• Student Voice, Agency, and Authentic Learning Experiences on April 2, 2024  
• Connection, Leadership & Team-based Experiences through Esports on April 30, 2024  
• STEM Literacy for all students on May 28, 2024   

8. Join Flip live events or watch on-demand 

In February in the United States, educators come together to commemorate and pay tribute to the narratives of Black and African American individuals, honoring the significance of their experiences. Celebrate Black History Month during this time and throughout the year by watching the on-demand Flip event Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future: Discovering Black History through Digital Innovation with your class.  

Then, in March, Women’s History Month is celebrated in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. To mark the occasion, join with your class on March 13, 2024, as Flip celebrates innovative women working in the field of AI with the live event AI Conversations: Women Leaders Share Their Stories. Participate in the event to explore the questions: What does it take to succeed in AI? How can you make a difference with AI in your future? Register for the Flip live event today!  

Whether you want to enhance your students’ reading skills, discover new ways to collaborate and communicate, or expand your content and curriculum, Microsoft Education has new features and experiences for you to explore. Happy teaching! 

The post Stay ahead with 8 new updates from Microsoft Education appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Education has evolved significantly over the past several years, and so have the needs of educators. In today’s diverse classrooms, it’s more important than ever to use the right education technology, find ways to support all students, and help create more inclusive environments. We recognize that educators need time-saving workflows, teaching tools, and resources to help everyone thrive and reach their full potential. 

Microsoft believes that education technology has a valuable role to play in supporting the needs of both teachers and students. However, we understand that it can sometimes be challenging to adopt new education technology and face the learning curve of mastering new teaching tools. To bridge this gap and make adoption smoother, we’ve pulled together a collection of free quick start guides for you. Our PDF guides for teachers are instructive and user-friendly, designed to help you easily get started with Microsoft Education tools in the classroom. 

Where can teachers find quick start guides for Microsoft Education tools?

Check out our collection of quick start guides, created by fellow teacher Heather Aird, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (MIE Expert). Through vibrant colors, simplicity, and comprehensive coverage of our learning tools and Learning Accelerators, these PDF guides for teachers empower you to embrace education technology quickly and confidently.  

AI in education tools

• Microsoft Copilot quick guide
• Reading Coach with AI stories quick guide
• Microsoft Teams for Education AI features quick guide
• Khanmigo for Teachers quick guide

Microsoft 365 tools

• Classwork in Microsoft Teams quick guide
• Microsoft OneNote Class Notebook quick guide
• Microsoft OneNote quick guide
• Microsoft Word quick guide
• Microsoft PowerPoint quick guide
• Microsoft Forms quick guide
• Microsoft Loop quick guide
• Microsoft Stream quick guide
• Minecraft Education quick guide
• Microsoft Lens (formerly Microsoft Office Lens) quick guide
• Microsoft Bookings quick guide
• Microsoft Editor quick guide
• Microsoft Planner quick guide
• Microsoft To Do quick guide

Learning Accelerators

• Reading Progress quick guide
• Reading Insights quick guide
• Speaker Progress quick guide
• Speaker Coach quick guide
• Search Progress quick guide
• Search Coach quick guide
• Math Progress quick guide
• Reflect quick guide

Accessibility tools

• Digital Tools for Dyslexia quick guide
• Immersive Reader quick guide
• Reading Coach in Immersive Reader quick guide
• Math Solver quick guide
• Microsoft Translate quick guide
• Speech to Text (Dictate) quick guide
• Live Captions for PowerPoint quick guide

Our quick start guides cover a range of teacher resources and where to find them, unlocking countless possibilities for personalized and interactive learning experiences. Each PDF guide provides step-by-step instructions, accompanied by clear visuals and diagrams, ensuring that you can navigate Microsoft Education teaching tools and education technology with confidence.  

Microsoft Education is dedicated to providing technology solutions that can save you time, individualize student learning, and set students up for future success. Explore these portable and printable PDF quick start guides—designed to equip you with guidance and support whenever you need them! 

Looking for more ways to quickly get started with Microsoft Education technology? Check out these free resources below, created specifically for teachers like you. 

• Meet your AI assistant for education: Microsoft Copilot
• Eight how-to guides for educators: Quickly get started with Microsoft Education 
• Reflect activities for student engagement 
• New ways to reflect and thrive on World Mental Health Day! 
• 4 new Teams updates to enhance classroom engagement 
• Transform assessment with new Forms updates 

The post Comprehensive quick start guides for Microsoft Education tools 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.

Join Microsoft in celebrating Safer Internet Day 2024 by refreshing your understanding of cybersecurity issues facing schools and exploring cybersecurity solutions, tips, resources, events, and training from Microsoft Education. Start with a course built specifically for educators or check out the collection of immersive cybersecurity lessons from Minecraft Education.  

There are multiple ways to participate and celebrate in your classroom: 

• Incorporate safe internet lessons into your classroom. 
• Hone your cybersecurity awareness in Microsoft Learn. 
• Develop and practice cyber safety skills with students. 
• Register for Level Up Learning: Digital Citizenship & Cyber Fluency. 
• Explore the guidance in the Microsoft Family Safety Toolkit. 

Understanding the cyber safety challenge

In recent years, schools have increasingly depended on online and digital resources, experiences, and communication. At the same time, schools have become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Because of this, it is crucial for both you and your students to acquire, discuss, practice, and implement safe internet skills, both in the classroom and at home. Explore the guides, training, and activities below designed to help you lead discussions with your students about online safety and build strong cybersecurity practices in your school community. 

Microsoft cybersecurity resources for educators and school leaders

Start your internet safety discussion with students using the K-12 Cybersecurity Infographic and Cybersecurity Conversation Guide from Microsoft Education: 

• The K-12 Cybersecurity Infographic provides simple examples of phishing links and scam ads and how to identify them. 
• The K-12 Cybersecurity Conversation Guide helps educators and caregivers discuss key topics with students on how to improve their cyber hygiene. 

Take the next steps in boosting your cybersecurity skills with the free cybersecurity training for educators and school leaders on Microsoft Learn. In less than an hour, you can increase your cybersecurity background knowledge and learn helpful strategies to keep data, accounts, and devices secure. Explore these courses to get started: 

• Build cybersecurity resilience in K-12 classrooms with Microsoft tools 
• Boost K-12 school cybersecurity leadership with Microsoft tools

Explore safe online gaming with students in Minecraft’s latest adventure  

Young people, aged 8-17, spend an average of two hours a day in online game environments, making it a significant part of their screen time. The ubiquity of online gaming among young people highlights the importance of safely navigating these digital spaces. Minecraft Education can help students practice and learn essential digital citizenship skills and gives educators engaging content to bring lessons in cybersecurity and online safety into their classrooms. 

In CyberSafe: Good Game, the latest addition to Minecraft’s CyberSafe collection of immersive worlds and lesson plans, players help a group of gaming teammates create a code of conduct, practice digital citizenship, and ensure everyone feels welcome on the team. This game-based learning experience is designed to teach students the tools and skills that put players and families in control. Players tackle exciting challenges, foster kindness and teamwork, and turn the online world into an inclusive playground for all.  

Empower cyber heroes with Minecraft Education’s cybersecurity curriculum

Continue to explore online safety with lessons from Minecraft Education, aligned to Cyber.org and Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) standards. Empower learners with the skills and knowledge they’ll need to protect their digital footprint and make safe choices in an increasingly online world. 

With immersive student content, educator guides, and professional learning, the Minecraft Education Cyber Collection makes it easy to integrate cybersecurity into any classroom and empower all students to make safe choices online. Explore the Microsoft Learn Pathway for resources on teaching cyber with Minecraft. 

Level up with events from Minecraft Education and ISTE

Continue your professional learning with Level Up Learning, a digital event series from Minecraft Education and ISTE. Through a series of webinars spotlighting school systems around the world, educators and leaders can join a transformational journey into the integration of game-based learning and its impact on student outcomes. 

The series kicks off on February 6, 2024, with the first webinar featuring Miami Dade County Public Schools. Discover how one of the United States’ largest school systems successfully instills crucial digital citizenship and cyber skills, leading to job and career opportunities. Register for free for all of the Level Up Learning events: 

• Digital Citizenship and Cyber Fluency on February 6, 2024 
• Computer Science and AI on February 29, 2024 
• Student Voice, Agency, and Authentic Learning Experiences on April 2, 2024 
• Connection, Leadership & Team-based Experiences through Esports on April 30, 2024 
• STEM Literacy for all students on May 28, 2024 

New online safety research and Family Safety Toolkit from Microsoft

Each year, Safer Internet Day provides an opportunity for people of all ages to engage and discuss online activities and safety. As part of our ongoing participation in Safer Internet Day, and our longstanding commitment to child online safety, Microsoft is releasing the latest findings from our annual Global Online Safety Survey. Importantly, our survey results show that young people trust their parents and go to them for support and guidance around online risk. 

Enabling students and their families to support informed choices about their online activity is even more important with the advent of generative AI. To help young people, educators, and families navigate the digital world, Microsoft has also released a new online safety resource, the Microsoft Family Safety Toolkit. This new toolkit provides guidance on how to leverage Microsoft’s safety features and family safety settings to support and enhance digital parenting, plus guidance for families looking to navigate the world of generative AI together. 

Partner with Microsoft to celebrate Safer Internet Day on February 6. Explore classroom resources, participate in impactful discussions, boost your knowledge with training from Microsoft Learn, enrich your students’ learning through immersive lessons from Minecraft Education, and explore the Microsoft Family Safety Toolkit. Elevate your commitment to a continuous culture of online safety for a more secure digital future!

The post Celebrating Safer Internet Day 2024 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

During the event, hear stories from innovative schools around the world. Also hear from Microsoft leaders, including President and Vice Chair Brad Smith, and Vice President, Education Paige Johnson, on how we can work together to empower every learner to achieve more.  

Select a time on March 6 and save Reimagine Education to your calendar now! No registration required.  

AI in education brings opportunity to life 

AI is transforming the world of education. Generative AI tools are having an incredible impact on the way we learn, work, and play. At Microsoft, we are committed to making sure AI systems are developed responsibly and that equitable opportunities are created for all students, in the classroom and beyond. Join us to explore insights from global education innovators who will share next practices on education equity, security, and workforce readiness in the era of AI.  

Students, educators, and leaders from schools and universities around the globe are leveraging Microsoft AI solutions to enhance learning outcomes, boost efficiency, and make education organizations more secure, accessible, and inclusive. Hear from leaders at Fulton County Schools (Georgia, U.S.), Oregon State University, Department for Education South Australia, and many other educational institutions, sharing how they’ve embraced AI solutions and laid foundations for ongoing innovation in education. You will also hear a fascinating conversation with Paige Johnson, VP of Education at Microsoft, and Chris Reykdal, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington. He will share how his agency is leading an initiative to implement AI across K12 schools in Washington State.

Join us to discover how to: 

• Create more equitable and efficient learning environments with Microsoft AI solutions.  
• Build on a secure foundation and improve security operations with industry-leading AI solutions and automated workflows. 
• Prepare students for the ever-evolving future of work. 
• Leverage the latest education technology announcements from Microsoft.  

The event is open to everyone, no registration required. Save the date to your calendar and join us Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 9:00 AM PT (UTC-8) or 6:00 PM PT (UTC-8).   

aka.ms/ReimagineEducation

I’m excited to have you join me to learn how you can use the latest Microsoft AI tools to create more equitable, safe, and efficient learning environments while helping to prepare students for the ever-evolving future of work.  

Paige Johnson, Vice President, Education at Microsoft

Together we can reimagine education.  

The post Reimagine Education: A digital event on March 6, 2024 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

On February 7, 2024, the power of reading aloud is celebrated with World Read Aloud Day. World Read Aloud Day was founded in 2010 by the nonprofit organization LitWorld to position literacy as a foundational human right. And, so far, the day has become a real page-turner, celebrated by millions of readers and listeners in over 170 countries! 

Why literacy matters

Reading aloud is an incredibly powerful way to help listeners of all ages build essential literacy skills. And student literacy impacts learners in every subject and grade level as well as outside of the classroom. Powerful learning tools designed to address the real-world needs of today’s classrooms are a smart and practical way to help students gain the crucial literacy skills they need to help them succeed in school and in life. 

Support student literacy with Reading Progress

While literacy is the foundation for all learning, each student’s path toward reading mastery may differ. This is why it’s so important to create personalized learning environments that address and support the unique needs of all students. 

Reading Progress, a Learning Accelerator, empowers students to practice their reading fluency skills, self-assess as they watch and listen to themselves, and receive customized feedback from their teachers that specifically targets their literacy needs. Reading Progress offers: 

1. Assignment creation: Quickly upload a reading passage or choose from a sample library, and customize activity parameters such as time limits, number of attempts, and codify the reading level and genre. 
2. Student reading and recording: Students open the assignment and can record themselves reading the assigned passage, helping to build confidence.  
3. Educator review: Automatically flags student mistakes, helps educators manually flag errors, and jumps to words in the video to streamline the review process. 
4. Powerful insights: View data such as correct words per minute, accuracy rates, and challenging words at the student and class level. 

Visit Getting started with Reading Progress in Teams for step-by-step instructions for using Reading Progress to help build literacy skills with your students.  

Personalize reading experiences with Reading Coach

With the latest AI technology, we have an opportunity to provide learners with personalized, engaging, and transformative reading experiences. Reading Coach is now powered by generative AI and does just that.  

Reading Coach was already providing learners with personalized reading practice, instant feedback about pronunciation and fluency, while also giving insights back to educators. Now we’re excited to share new features that will fuel student agency and motivation with dynamically created stories that adapt to their reading level and individual challenges. 

Reading Coach takes a unique approach to implementing generative AI with guardrails. Learners select the story’s protagonist, setting, and are provided with choices that alter the plot of the story as they read. Reading Coach combines these inputs with the learner’s selected reading level, and over time, words they mispronounce to dynamically create personalized stories. Students stay engaged and in the driver’s seat with the power to pick a path of a story while they progress through the chapters. The story content is moderated for quality, safety, and age appropriateness. 

Reading Coach intrinsically motivates learners to continue advancing their skills in several ways. They can unlock new story settings and characters, earn badges that reward their efforts, and see their pronunciation and fluency improvements in progress reports. 

We’re making Reading Coach more broadly available than ever, so that learners can read on the device of their choice, at home or school. To get started with Reading Coach, visit coach.microsoft.com/webapp (you may be asked to sign in with a Microsoft account) or download the Windows app. Learn more about how Reading Coach works on our support documentation pages. 

Dive into literacy with Immersive Reader

Microsoft Immersive Reader is an easy-to-use tool that that’s designed to improve reading comprehension and fluency for students of all abilities. Available for free in popular classroom applications like Microsoft Teams, Word, and OneNote, Immersive Reader incorporates research principles that increase access and is loaded with features to help students read.   

Immersive Reader can: 

• Support fluency for English language learners or readers of other languages. 
• Build confidence for emerging readers as they learn to read at higher levels. 
• Offer text decoding solutions for students with dyslexia and other learning needs. 
• Provide individual word or whole text translation into over 100 languages (over 40 of which can be read aloud). 
• Serve as scaffolding to ensure students with a variety of learning needs have access to grade-level texts. 

You can customize the learning experience for students, so whether it is reading at a slower pace or providing picture clues without narration, teachers can address a variety of activities in the classroom. Discover how every student can improve their skills and comprehension with Immersive Reader. 

Celebrate World Read Aloud Day 2024 with author Mia Armstrong

Flip is hosting a powerful event to honor World Read Aloud Day: a special reading of the popular children’s book I Am a Masterpiece by the author herself, Mia Armstrong. Mia is a prolific tween actor, model, and activist, born with Down syndrome. Her story is one of courage and inclusion, proving that disabilities and differences are no match for talent and determination. 

Join Mia this World Read Aloud Day on February 7, 2024, at 10:00 AM PT to get a glimpse into the life of a child with Down syndrome, and help some readers see themselves in a book and help others understand those friends, classmates, and family members who are neurodivergent. Register for the Flip event Celebrate World Read Aloud Day with Mia Armstrong today! 

Ignite literacy on World Read Aloud Day

Before the written word, stories were shared and passed down aloud to preserve culture, knowledge, and insight. This is the tradition that sparks World Read Aloud Day: a proven history of building literacy, improving spelling through enunciation, increasing social bonding, and enriching empathy. Join Microsoft in celebrating World Read Aloud Day and showing the world that we all have the right to read. So, grab a book, find an audience, and read out loud!  

Looking to go deeper? Check out these Microsoft Learn courses full of practical strategies and insights for igniting literacy in your classroom. 

• Learn how to support reading fluency practice with Reading Progress 
• Learn how to improve reading for any student, regardless of age or ability, with Immersive Reader

The post Read ‘em and reap (the rewards): World Read Aloud Day 2024 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

This year we were thrilled to be joined by Jaime Teevan, Chief Scientist & Technical Fellow at Microsoft, to talk about her research on AI in the workplace and discuss her recommendations for the best ways to leverage AI technologies.  

And that was the perfect kickoff for Bett 2024, because AI—perhaps unsurprisingly—was the talk of the show.  

Strike a pose 

Right from the get-go, visitors to the Microsoft stand on the show floor were captivated by Microsoft Designer and the power to use AI to build their own avatars.   

For those not able to attend in person, visit aka.ms/SeeYourselfinAI to try out the prompt for yourself!  

Keynote to success

At this year’s Bett there were SO many ways to be inspired by Microsoft! Engaging product demos? Check. Expert-led sessions? Also check. The latest on AI in our Microsoft Learn Live Classroom? You got it!  

As I mentioned earlier, kicking things off for Microsoft was Jaime Teevan, with her Thrive with AI: Lead like a scientist keynote. She provided her expert perspective around AI and the fundamental shifts it will bring to learning.  

Citing the LinkedIn Future of Work Report, Jaime shared that—though more than half of a teacher’s job involves specialized skills that need to be performed by humans—nearly half of teacher skills support tasks where AI could enable greater productivity (such as lesson planning and curriculum development). What everyone wants to know is: can AI really help with these challenges? Will it transform work and how?  

Early research with Microsoft Copilot says yes, with 72% of initial users agreeing that Microsoft Copilot helped them spend less mental effort on mundane or repetitive tasks, 68% saying it improved the quality of their work, and 77% saying they don’t want to give it up! I want you all to imagine, what could you do with that time back? How might this allow for more focus on what matters most, like spending time with your students?

Jaime cited an important new study—Math Education with Large Language Models: Peril or Promise?—that revealed the learning benefits of LLMs (Large Language Models).  

In one of the first randomized experiments on LLMs and education, Microsoft Research and Harsh Kumar from the University of Toronto found that LLM-based explanations positively impacted learning relative to seeing only correct answers. This is largely due to the intention they built this experiment around and the design choices they made, to have LLMs serve as a coach, to act as tutors that don’t just provide answers, but are specifically pre-prompted with customized instructions. And what is so exciting about all of this is that we already have incredible tools today that will only be further enhanced by generative AI.

Achieving more with Microsoft Education 

Some other exciting Microsoft Education announcements at Bett included:   

• Microsoft Copilot with commercial data protection will be available to all faculty and higher education students ages 18 and above when signed into their school accounts starting later this week. There are so many ways educators can use Copilot to save time and energy! 
• Reading Coach is now powered by generative AI to fuel student agency and motivation with dynamically created stories that adapt to their reading level and individual challenges. It’s also available as a standalone app, providing personalized reading fluency practice for free as a Windows application and a web app to use in the classroom or at home with a Microsoft account. 
• Microsoft Teams for Education updates include things such as the ability to use generative AI to create rubrics and instructions in Assignments. The educator always has the choice and can generate different options, and—after the content is created—can always make further edits and updates to the content. 
• You can also use generative AI to create modules in Classwork. Now educators can get assistance creating a course outline and drafting modules and descriptions based on the subject, student grade level, and class learning objectives. 
• Microsoft Loop—a flexible, AI-powered collaboration app that can help you think, plan, and create together—is now available for Education customers.  

Buddy up to PowerBuddy™

PowerSchool—the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America—announced the launch of PowerSchool PowerBuddy™, powered by the Azure OpenAI Service. With PowerBuddy, students receive on-demand assistance and tailored pathways. Teachers can generate lesson plans and personalize homework at scale. Parents can inquire about their child’s academic performance. And administrators can democratize information for decision-making.  

“PowerBuddy helps each child cultivate a genuine passion for learning, driven by the intentional design of safe, supportive, inspiring, and tailored experiences using AI,” said Shivani Stumpf, Chief Product and Innovation Officer at PowerSchool. PowerBuddy is being piloted now and will be available for the 2024-2025 school year. Watch the video PowerSchool PowerBuddy™, An AI Assistant for Everyone in Education to learn more.  

Kahoot! had its own AI-related announcement: the PDF-to-kahoot generator! This tool leverages the Azure OpenAI Service to transform static PDFs into high-quality interactive kahoots, injecting excitement into each student’s learning experience and helping them to foster a deeper understanding of the curriculum-aligned material. The collaborative nature of Kahoot! also adds an element of friendly competition to the learning process!  

Jornea Armant, Head of Community Engagement for Microsoft Flip, was also on hand to discuss what assessment means in this era of generative AI, focusing on the power of Flip—a no-cost video assessment tool—and Microsoft Copilot, as tools for adapting assessment practices for future-ready classrooms.  

Re-imagine the possibilities!

To build upon all this Bett excitement, be sure to join us for Reimagine Education on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, to learn more about how AI is transforming the world of education. 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)—and join us for insights from global education innovators who will share best practices on education equity, security, and workforce readiness in the era of AI. At Microsoft, we are committed to making sure AI systems are developed responsibly and that equitable opportunities are created for all students, in the classroom and beyond! 

The post The best Bett yet appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Microsoft Education encourages educators like you to celebrate the contributions, challenges, victories, and courageous voices during Black History Month and as an integral part of your class throughout the year.   

Experienced educators have shared this practical wisdom: 

• Start where you are 
• Foster “windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors” moments for you and your students 
• The time is always right to learn about Black History  

Develop a learner’s mindset this Black History Month 

You may ask yourself, “How do I even start to make my classroom more inclusive?” The good news is that you do not need to be a social justice expert or have all the answers to make your classroom more inclusive.   

Commit to a learner’s mindset alongside your students this Black History Month. “There’s nothing wrong with being vulnerable with your students and saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to learn this together,’” Dr. Natasha Rachell, Director of Instructional Technology and Co-Creator of Lessons in Good Trouble says. “That brings another human level to the content. And I think students appreciate that.”   

Use one of these simple strategies to get the conversation about Black History Month started: 

• Engage in discussions using Microsoft Teams for Education to help students learn how to model digital citizenship skills while participating in online discourse. 
• Use Microsoft Reflect to take thoughtful breaks, consider new perspectives, and set learning goals. 
• Develop information literacy skills with Search Coach—a Learning Accelerator created to assist students in developing essential information literacy skills and locating reliable and reputable resources.  

Teaching about Black History Month: Steps to get started 

A mixture of dedication, courage, curiosity, and proven resources such as the ones below can help you to deepen and extend Black history and social justice learning. Start small and don’t be afraid of big conversations: They only prove that students are engaged!  

Here are some ideas about how you can incorporate Black and African American history into your class.  

Use The King Center to teach about Black History Month 

Discover the King family legacy through The King Center Timeline, a collaborative effort by Microsoft and The King Center. This unique collection features the first-ever compilation of documents, pictures, and videos showcasing Mrs. Coretta Scott King’s dedication to nonviolent social change. Dive into the timeline to spotlight pivotal moments in her life, emphasizing themes like persistence, activism, nonviolence, and the preservation of history.

Use Minecraft Education as a Black History Month teaching resource 

Explore the concept of “good trouble” in Minecraft Education, an immersive learning platform built specifically for the classroom. Lessons in Good Trouble are perfect for educational activities that focus on civil rights and social justice, and were developed in a partnership between Minecraft Education, Learning for Justice, and veteran educators. Expand the experience with these other connected Minecraft worlds:  

• Good Trouble: U.S. Civil Rights
• Good Trouble: Black Lives Matter
• Who is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?
• The “I” in Identity

See how Wonderopolis can further Black History Month education 

Tap into your students’ curiosity by sharing a Wonderopolis article. With age-appropriate posts answering “What is Black History Month?”, “Who was Ruby Bridges?”, and “What Does Juneteenth Celebrate?”, there are resources that address many of your students’ questions. Even better, students can use Microsoft Immersive Reader, a tool that makes text accessible throughout the entire site. Explore the entire Black history collection on Wonderopolis.  

Celebrate Black History Month with Microsoft Flip 

Explore Flip’s thoughtfully curated Celebrate Black History Flip Discovery Library Collection. This collection offers ready-to-use discussion topics that empower students to learn, honor, and celebrate Black History. The collection includes contributions from esteemed partners such as The National WWII Museum, Amplify Voices, Langston League, The Equal Justice Initiative, and more, along with submissions from educators across various grade levels and subjects.  

Participate in the Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future: Discovering Black History through Digital Innovation Flip Live Event on February 21, 2024. This event provides an opportunity for students to discover how virtual museums, Flip, and AI can be used to explore and celebrate the rich and diverse heritage of Black culture in America and worldwide. Register for the event and learn more about how you can be a part of history with NASCAR driver, Rajah Caruth.   

Windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors

Students may sometimes find it challenging to relate to the names and events they study. In reality, the Civil Rights movement is a tapestry woven by ordinary individuals who took extraordinary steps in history-making ways—such as breaking barriers at a hostile school, sitting at lunch counters, and boycotting buses. Much like the ripples created by a pebble tossed into a calm pond, the effects of their actions resonate profoundly and endure in significant ways.  

When you provide your students “windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors” into the lives of historical or contemporary figures, their perspectives shift and learning gets really interesting through conversations, questions, and curiosity. Explore social justice and inclusivity through age and grade-appropriate conversations so that Black history and civil rights continue beyond Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday and Black History Month.  

The time is always right

“This quote keeps coming to mind, appropriately enough, from Dr. King,” says Dr. Rachell, Director of Instructional Technology and Co-Creator of Minecraft’s Lessons in Good Trouble. “‘The time is always right to do what is right.’ Whether you’re looking for something in your community or simply talking about these issues outside of this month or two, the time is always right to do what is right. There’s always a time and a place to learn about these issues and to have those age-appropriate conversations with your students. After all, we can’t move forward until we recognize and understand where we’ve been.” 

When you infuse inclusivity into your curriculum, it communicates to students that Black history is a fundamental aspect of American history. This approach connects with and acknowledges the humanity of your students, establishing a space that welcomes their questions, voices, and contributions. 

Microsoft invites everyone to commemorate and celebrate Black history not only during Black History Month but also throughout 2024. Explore classroom resources, engage in activities, and participate in discussions highlighting the numerous contributions, figures, and events that shape Black history.

The post The time is always right: Resources for celebrating Black History Month in 2024 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Last year, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) dedicated International Day of Education to the girls and women in Afghanistan: the only country in the world where girls and women currently don’t have access to education.    

And 2024’s International Day of Education theme is just as vital, and—unfortunately—all too relevant: learning for lasting peace.  

Using education for peace 

As emphasized in the UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development, learning for lasting peace must be transformative: empowering learners to become active agents of peace in the world.   

It’s so easy these days to be overwhelmed by news of conflict that pervades our digital landscape and our world. 2023’s Global Peace Index had the average level of global peacefulness deteriorating for the 13th time in the last 15 years, with 2022 deemed the deadliest year since 1994. C’mon: our species can do so, so much better. In my opinion—no surprise here—the key is education.  

Education builds empathy, the surest way to bring about compassion and understanding for the multiple perspectives and contexts crowding our world. In the shadows of ignorance, hate is allowed to fester. This is why a commitment to peace is more urgent than ever. 

Education is a basic human right. And—as outlined in the UNESCO Global Futures of Education report—inclusive and equitable quality education—and lifelong opportunities for all—require a rebalancing of our relationships with one another, with nature, and with technology. And when there is a foundation of participatory governance, respectful dialogue, and cooperation, a sustainable peace can flourish.  

A resolve to resolve 

The UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development calls for “education for peace” to be at the core of new social contracts for education. In addition to advocating that everyone has the right to an education, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights advocates for free and obligatory primary education to be made available to all students. Education helps prevent marginalization and conflict from erupting in the first place and brings about post-conflict healing and reconciliation. 

But there is still plenty of work to do. 

According to UNESCO, 250 million children all over the world are failing to acquire basic literacy skills and 1.5 billion students and youth are or have been affected by school and university closures. The United Nations estimates that nearly two thirds of the children falling behind reading targets live in Central and Southern Asia and Eastern and South-Eastern Asia. 

While over 90% of teachers think it’s important to teach Global Citizenship Education, only 1 in 5 teachers have resources available on how to teach global citizenship education. And becoming a respectful human being starts with tolerance. Social media connects us in many wonderful ways, yet it can also amplify dehumanizing hate speech. 

UNESCO offers a number of Global Citizenship Education and Hate Speech resources to help teachers address the root causes of intolerance and foster respect and a shared sense of belonging. 

Let’s use education for peace on International Day of Education 

We are living in challenging times—to say the least—and the impact of the world on students is profound. Meaningful learning experiences simply can’t take root amidst emotional and physical turmoil. 

By partnering with schools and districts and developing collaborative relationships with school leaders and teachers, we instill a deep commitment to the power of education in bringing about a more peaceful and equitable world. 

All learners deserve access to a high-quality education regardless of their ability, income, language, or location fueled by inclusively designed technologies to better prepare students for the future. Microsoft empowers every teacher and student to accelerate learning through experiences, feedback, and analytics while enabling organizations to innovate and meet their educational and operational goals. 

So, during this year’s International Day of Education, let’s put our differences aside and, instead, come together to show the important relationship between education and peace—on both a global and local level—and initiate frank, respectful discussions with one another. 

Let’s talk about how to improve education as a public good. 

Let’s talk about our priorities and challenges for education amidst global crises and conflicts. 

Let’s talk about how to lead digital transformation to make education more equitable and accessible. 

Let’s talk about how to support teachers and unlock the potential in every student. 

Let’s talk about how to make education the center of our national and global peacebuilding efforts. 

Let’s talk. 

The post Peace together: International Day of Education 2024 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

With new advancements in AI happening faster than ever before, you might be wondering how you can use these tools in your classroom to save you time and energy. Educators worldwide are making strides to understand and integrate AI into their work and often find it to be a valuable tool. You can use AI to save time creating rubrics, personalized content for students, and educational materials such as quizzes and lesson plans.   

Generative AI is a newer piece of technology and a unique category of AI that focuses on creating new content. With generative AI you can generate new content like text, images, code, or audio. It achieves this by learning patterns from existing data and understanding the context and intent of language. This provides you with new opportunities for content creation, personalization, and innovation. Because this technology is creating new content, checking for accuracy in generative AI is essential—especially in the field of education.  

Microsoft Copilot is a tool that uses generative AI to serve as a helpful assistant to you in the classroom. Copilot can help you save time, differentiate instruction, and enhance student learning. With Copilot, you can easily create lesson plans, quizzes, rubrics, and other class resources for any level of learner.  

5 ways to use Copilot in education 

Here are just a few examples of the many ways you can use Microsoft Copilot to save time and energy: 

• Personalized learning: Copilot can support personalized learning by helping you create content, tailored feedback, and guidance for students based on their individual needs and learning styles. 
• Brainstorming: You can use Copilot to brainstorm new ideas for activities, lesson plans, supporting materials, and assignments.  
• Lesson planning: Copilot can help you plan lessons by suggesting or drafting activities, resources, and assessments that align with learning objectives. You can also use Copilot to start a rubric for the lessons. 
• Provide feedback: Copilot can help you draft initial feedback and ideas for students on their work, which you can edit and personalize for your students.  
• Get quick answers: Copilot can help you get quick answers to your questions without having to read through multiple search results. Also, Copilot provides links to content sources so you can assess the source or dive deeper into the original content. 

Getting started with Microsoft Copilot

To get started with Microsoft Copilot, you can follow these steps:  

1. Open copilot.microsoft.com or select the Copilot icon on the sidebar in your Microsoft Edge browser. 
2. Type your prompt into the chat window. 
3. Review the sources linked at the bottom by “Learn more.” You can fact-check the information provided or dive deeper into a topic by accessing the original articles, studies, or reports. 
4. Review the response to make sure the output is what you want and accurate. You are the expert, and you decide what goes into the classroom. 
5. To get the most out of Copilot, you can keep the conversation going by following up on your prompts. This helps you collaborate with Copilot to gain more useful, tailored responses.   

You can also give feedback to Copilot based on the quality of its responses to help the AI learn and match your preferences.  

How to write a prompt for AI 

To effectively guide generative AI, you want to give it clear and concise instructions, known as prompts. A well-crafted prompt enhances the generative AI’s output in the quality, relevance, and diversity. A good prompt should be clear, specific, and aligned with the goal of the generation task. A bad prompt can lead to ambiguous, irrelevant, or biased output. To get the best response from Copilot, consider the following tips:  

• Define clear objectives. Determine the main goal of the prompt and the role AI should take. Whether creating a syllabus, drafting a quiz, or revising lesson content, have a clear vision of the end goal. 
• Be specific. Chat experiences operate best when given detailed instructions. Specify grade level, subject, topic, or any other relevant parameters. For instance, “secondary math quiz on algebraic expressions” is clearer than “math quiz.” 
• Structure the prompt. Break complex tasks into smaller parts. Instead of asking the AI to draft an entire lesson, request an outline, then delve into specific sections. 
• Iterate and refine. The first response from AI might not always align perfectly with expectations. Don’t hesitate to rephrase the prompt, ask follow-up questions, or provide more context based on the initial output. 
• Combine expertise. Use AI as a tool to enhance and streamline work but remember to overlay its suggestions with your educational expertise. AI can suggest content, but the educator decides the best way to edit and present it to their audience.   

Want a fun way to practice creating effective prompts? Minecraft Education just announced Prompt Lab for Minecraft Educators, a free playbook on how to use Microsoft Copilot to write compelling prompts, develop interactive learning content and assessments, and generate creative ideas for Minecraft lesson plans.   

Create images from text with Copilot 

You can use Image Creator from Designer in Copilot to create personalized, engaging visuals for all sorts of lessons or topics. You can type in a description of an image, provide additional context like location or activity, and choose an art style. Image Creator generates an image straight from your imagination. Prompts can begin with “draw an image” or “create an image.” You can use this tool to create images for a class newsletter, lesson, or Teams post.   

• Get started in Copilot prompting “create an image…”  
• Then build out your prompt with adjective + noun + verb + style.  
• Click on your favorite image to open the result in a new tab and save the image. 

 An example would be “Create an image of an adorable black puppy wearing a hat in photorealistic style.” 

Try creating an image in Copilot for your lesson, or just for fun!   

Protected AI-powered chat

At Microsoft, our efforts are guided by our AI principles and Responsible AI Standard and build on decades of research on grounding and privacy-preserving machine learning. Copilot provides commercial data protection and delivers a secure AI-powered chat service for educational institutions. This means user and organizational data are protected, chat prompts and responses in Copilot are not saved, Microsoft has no eyes-on access to them, and they aren’t used to train the underlying large language models (LLMs). Additionally, our Customer Copyright Commitment means education customers can be confident using our services and the output they generate without worrying about copyright claims.  

Get to know your Copilot 

Dive deeper into the world of generative AI and unlock its full potential for your classroom.  

• The new AI for Educators Learning Path on Microsoft Learn is made up of three modules to help educators learn about and benefit from AI. 
• Prompt Lab for Minecraft Educators demonstrates how to use Microsoft Copilot with Minecraft Education to design engaging learning experiences. Level up your Minecraft teaching with this useful new resource! 
• AI classroom toolkit provides instructional information for educators and students to use generative AI safely and responsibly. 
• AI for education on Microsoft Learn is a collection of resources and courses on how to use AI for educational purposes.  

Ready to elevate your teaching with Microsoft Copilot? Start using Copilot today! copilot.microsoft.com 

The post Meet your AI assistant for education: Microsoft Copilot appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Bringing the future of productivity to education

Last month, we were thrilled to announce several Microsoft Copilot expansions for education audiences. Copilot with commercial data protection will be available to all faculty and higher education students who are 18+, including users of our free offers. And on January 1, 2024, education faculty and staff became eligible to purchase Copilot for Microsoft 365. We’re already seeing innovative organizations like The University of Hong Kong, The University of Manchester, and GEMS Education lead the way as early adopters. We shared additional updates this week including eligibility for Office 365 A3 and A5 faculty customers and removed the 300-seat purchase minimum to empower organizations of all sizes.  

Microsoft Loop is a flexible, AI-powered collaboration app that can help you think, plan, and create together. We’re excited to share that Loop will be included in Microsoft 365 A3 and A5 plans, including Student Use Benefit in early March 2024. Customers with Office 365 A1 can continue creating workspaces and pages through June 30, 2024, and will be able to access them afterwards. Watch the video Microsoft Loop – think, plan and create together like never before to learn more about Microsoft Loop and try Loop today! 

Transforming reading experiences 

It’s well known that reading is foundational to a student’s academic success; studies show that fluent readers are four times more likely to graduate high school and get better jobs. Educators and parents alike are looking for ways to help students improve reading fluency in a way that keeps them engaged and prior research has found that personalized learning is one of the most effective ways to help close learning gaps. With the latest AI technology, we have an opportunity to provide learners with personalized, engaging, and transformative reading experiences. Reading Coach, a Learning Accelerator now powered by generative AI, does just that. You can sign up for a preview of Reading Coach today and try it for yourself at Reading Coach Web app preview.

Reading Coach was already providing learners with personalized reading practice, instant feedback about pronunciation and fluency, while also giving insights back to educators. Today we’re sharing new features that will fuel student agency and motivation with dynamically created stories that adapt to their reading level and individual challenges.  

Reading Coach takes a unique approach to implementing generative AI with guardrails. Learners select the story’s protagonist, setting, and are provided with choices that alter the plot of the story as they read. Reading Coach combines these inputs with the learner’s selected reading level, and over time, words they mispronounce to dynamically create personalized stories that keep students engaged and in the driver seat. Students stay engaged with the power to pick a path of a story while they progress through the chapters. The story content is moderated for quality, safety, and age appropriateness. And in addition to creating AI-powered stories, learners can also pick leveled passages from the curated ReadWorks library.

Reading Coach intrinsically motivates learners to continue advancing their skills in several ways. They can unlock new story settings and characters, earn badges that reward their efforts, and see their pronunciation and fluency improvements in progress reports.  

We’re making Reading Coach more broadly available than ever, so that learners can read on the device of their choice, at home or school. It will be available on the web and as a Windows App, at no cost to anyone with a Microsoft account. Additionally, we’re making it easier for teachers to create Reading Coach practice assignments by adding integration with popular Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Canvas, which will be available in late Spring 2024. Learn more about how Reading Coach works on our support documentation pages.  

These new Reading Coach features build on top of the passage generation and comprehension question generation in Reading Progress which will be available for preview late January 2024. With the use of AI in an impactful, safe, responsible way, we believe that personalized learning at scale is within reach. 

Saving time and differentiating instruction

In addition to reading, over the past year we have been focusing on opportunities to free up time for educators by further enhancing our products with AI. Today, we’re sharing more features coming to Microsoft Teams for Education and Microsoft Reflect to help tailor content. They will be generally available at no additional cost to all education customers later this year.  

All these tools quickly and easily generate content such as reading passages, comprehension questions, rubrics, assignment instructions, and more. Educators are always kept in control as the experts and can review initial drafts of content, generate more options, make edits, or choose to discard. Educators can personalize learning with the click of a button by using filters like age, language, topics, and increasing or decreasing the complexity of the content. And education organizations can choose to turn these features on or off.  

Classwork is a feature in Teams which is built to manage your curriculum and allows educators to create and organize class resources including Assignments, Files, Links, Channels, Class Notebook pages, and more. Classwork module generation helps easily kickstart content with module suggestions based on your subject, student age range, and scope of learning.  

When creating an Assignment in Teams, educators will be prompted with opportunities to leverage AI to easily emphasize key content, simplify, or add more detail, learning objectives, and even emojis. In each case, educators are reminded that AI-generated content may be incorrect, and they’ll need to choose to keep, discard, or regenerate the content.  

Once the Assignment is ready, educators can generate a rubric draft after providing title, evaluation, age range, scale, and criteria detail. Educators are then encouraged to review thoroughly and make any edits before attaching to an Assignment.  

Microsoft Reflect is a tool that helps students identify and express how they feel in safe and fun ways, building their emotional vocabulary and giving educators the insights they need to provide active support. Reflect can now further enhance understanding by enabling educators to generate options for learners to specify reasons behind the emotion. These options are tailored to the check-in question set by the educator and draw on multi-year research by experts from the Stanford Graduate School of Education. Educators can regenerate, manually add, or completely discard results. Reasons can then be grouped at a class level into a predefined list of focus areas with strategies on how to navigate each one in partnership with Challenge Success, a nonprofit affiliated with Stanford’s Graduate School of Education. 

Building AI literacy for educators and students

As more exciting features are developed, we’ll continue to support building AI literacy in parallel. We’re now launching the AI for Educators Learning Path on Microsoft Learn, made up of three modules to help educators learn about and benefit from AI. It begins with empowering educators to explore the potential of AI, continues into how to enhance teaching and learning with Copilot, and finishes with our newest addition: Equip and support learners with AI tools from Microsoft. This new course walks educators through how to help learners discover, interact, and create with AI and generative AI. 

Educators can then leverage the AI Classroom Toolkit to help teach and support students in using generative AI safely. It’s a creative resource that blends narrative stories with instructional information to create immersive and effective learning experiences for educators and their students. 

Advancing youth online safety and wellness

As we head into 2024, there is an urgent call to action for us all to take steps to protect youth safety and privacy online and to ensure that technology—including emerging technologies such as AI—serves as a positive force for the next generation. As policymakers and regulators weigh potential measures to help advance safety outcomes in the coming weeks and months, it is essential that they consider both the benefits and the risks of technology for young people. Read more in our blog about Microsoft’s position on these issues and themes for policymakers to consider as they work through initiatives to protect youth safety and privacy online. 

Learn more about today’s announcements in our latest What’s New in Microsoft EDU blog and join us at Bett next week to explore AI in education with Microsoft. 

The post Unlocking productivity and personalizing learning with AI appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.