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.

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.

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.

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.

Bett UK is the largest education technology exhibition in the world, featuring three days of inspiring content, networking, and product discovery. We can’t wait to connect with the thousands of educators, school leaders, and edtech partners at the event—and we have a lot to share this year! 

For Bett 2024, we’re excited to give educators an inside look at AI-powered learning tools and share the latest features and tips for using Microsoft Education technology in the classroom. Learn more about how we’re bringing the future of productivity to education in our blog Unlocking productivity and personalizing learning with AI. 

We hope to see you there! See the full schedule of Microsoft at Bett 2024 and start planning your experience. 

Empower students to achieve more with Microsoft Education

Improving education is not as simple as adding up the components of a classroom, teacher, and textbook to get a test score. Each student learns differently. By engaging their unique imaginations, interests, inclinations, and secret abilities we can help every student achieve more. 

We recognize that every school’s most precious resource is its students and educators. Come visit us at stand SH20, join a workshop in our Learn Live Classroom (ICC Suite 8), or attend one of our sessions in the Bett theatres and discover ways we’re providing teachers with AI-powered, one-on-one coaching tools to engage individuals with tailored lessons and create more time for classroom instruction. 

See how we’re also helping IT protect the data of every single student to give every school greater security and flexibility. And explore how we’re giving schools easier ways to track progress to streamline management and support classes with clear data, all on one simplified and secure platform.  

Our AI-powered solutions help make learning more equitable by putting every student at the center of the equation, so educators in every school have easy access to the tools they need to empower every student to achieve more. 

Check out the full schedule of Microsoft at Bett 2024 and start planning your visit. We look forward to connecting with you there! 

Start your Bett 2024 experience with our keynote “Thrive with AI: Lead like a Scientist” 

We’re thrilled to hear our very own Chief Scientist and Technical Fellow, Jaime Teevan, share her insights on the skills needed in the era of AI. Join us at the keynote, Thrive with AI: Lead like a Scientist, to learn about the transformative power of AI in education and how you can develop your AI skills. 

• Thrive with AI: Lead like a scientist – Bett UK at ExCeL London 
• Wednesday, January 24, 2024 
• 10:00–10:30 GMT 
• Bett Arena 

Add this inspiring keynote to your calendar and discover how you can use AI to transform learning. See you there!

Attend Microsoft sessions in Bett theatres

Join fellow educators and school leaders in finding new ways to support students through AI, Microsoft Learning Accelerators, and more. 

• 2024 Agenda | Microsoft at Bett UK 
• Wednesday, January 24–Friday, January 26, 2024 

Review the schedule, and then visit the Bett agenda to add Microsoft sessions to your calendar. 

Get the latest from Microsoft Education in our Learn Live Classroom

Attend a Microsoft-led hands-on session to discover new tools and strategies to explore AI in education, improve efficiency and cybersecurity, and prepare students for the future with the power of Microsoft’s Learning Accelerators, Copilot, Flip, Minecraft Education, and more. Hear from experts each day of Bett, starting at 10:00 AM GMT daily.  

• 2024 Agenda | Microsoft at Bett UK 
• Wednesday, January 24–Friday, January 26, 2024 
• Open daily from 10:00 GMT 
• Microsoft Learn Live Classroom, ICC Suite 8 

Don’t miss a moment of learning before, during, and after Bett. Participate in the Microsoft Bett 2024 Challenge on Microsoft Learn, January 17 to February 29, 2024, and sharpen your skills with this curated collection of free asynchronous learning modules. Join the Microsoft Bett 2024 Learn Challenge and explore how you can support all learners in your classroom! 

Connect with Microsoft Education at stand SH20

Visit us at the Microsoft stand, SH20, and make the most of every moment with Microsoft Education. Attend Microsoft Learn Live Theatre sessions, explore AI with experts, engage with colleagues, and much more. 

• Wednesday, January 24–Friday, January 26, 2024 
• Microsoft stand, SH20 

Connect with product experts and get hands-on experience with your favorite learning tools like Reading Progress and Reading Coach, Microsoft Reflect, Copilot, Minecraft Education, and many others. Come see us at the Microsoft stand, SH20! 

Learn from our partners

From simple applications to complex integrations, we work with our partners to build innovative cloud-to-edge solutions, applications, and services. Visit our partner stations on the Microsoft stand at Bett to learn more. Along with Class Technologies and PowerSchool, we’ll also be featuring solutions from Phoenix, Haldor, Cloud Design Box, SalamanderSoft, Kahoot, Eventful, Academic Software, AspireCloud, Dugga, SoftCat, Wonde, and HybrIT.  

PowerSchool:

• Connect with PowerSchool: Thursday, January 25, 2024, 10:00–13:00 GMT, Microsoft stand, SH20 
• Add PowerSchool + Microsoft: Bringing trusted AI tools to your data and workflows to your calendar: Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 12:30–12:55 GMT, Microsoft stand, SH20 
• Join the session “Personalizing education with Data: PowerSchool and Azure OpenAI”: Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 17:00–17:45 GMT, Microsoft Learn Live Classroom, ICC Suite 8 

Class Technologies:

• Connect with Class Technologies: Thursday, January 25, 2024, 13:00–16:00, Microsoft stand, SH20 
• Add Class for Microsoft Teams: The next generation virtual classroom to your calendar: Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 13:45–14:15 GMT, Bett Theatre: Ahead Auditorium 
• Join the session “Class for Microsoft Teams: The next generation classroom,” Thursday, January 25, 2024, 12:30–12:55 GMT, Microsoft stand, SH20 
• Join the session “Next Generation Virtual Classroom”: Thursday, January 25, 14:00–14:45 GMT, Microsoft Learn Live Classroom, ICC Suite 8 

We can’t wait to connect with you at Bett 2024. Get ready for the show and start planning your experience with Microsoft—a lot can happen in three days! 

The post Plan your Bett 2024 experience with Microsoft Education appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

ICJ provides an engaging learning opportunity supported by educators that covers a range of skills and is open to all students ages 5-18, regardless of their technical proficiency.¹ 

Last year thousands of students from more than 100 countries participated in the ICJ challenge. The judges recognized 10 global winners who created incredible concepts to address Microsoft’s AI for Good initiatives. Many countries and areas hosted local competitions and acknowledged the top local teams. 

In 2024, we’re excited to see even more students participate in the challenge and learn the impact that digital technologies such as AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity can have on the world.  

What is Imagine Cup Junior?

The Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior is a AI Tech for Good global student competition for students ages 5-18 built on the success of Microsoft’s Imagine Cup. Through ICJ, educators utilize lessons to teach their students about AI technologies, students form teams, and apply these lessons to dream up a concept or idea to make a difference in their local community or world around them.  

Students explain their concept in a PowerPoint template and record a video to illustrate their concept. No coding is required, and the competition is open to any student who is interested in learning more about AI.  

New this year! We have several new resources to support student learning including an innovative lesson about generative AI and how it is different than traditional or rule-based AI. In addition, Imagine Cup Junior is now open to all students ages 5-18. Students aged 13-18 will compete in the AI for Good category and students aged 5-12 will compete in the Technology for Good category.  

Imagine Cup Junior Registration 

Participation in Imagine Cup Junior is via a Team Leader (such as an educator, instructor, staff member, school leader, parent, guardian) over the age of 18.² The 2024 challenge is open for registration via www.imaginecup.com/junior starting today!  

Imagine Cup Junior Resource Pack 

Once registered, Team Leaders can access all the resources needed to educate students and run a great Imagine Cup Junior challenge. These resources include:  

AI for Good Resource Pack for students ages 13-18: 

• Getting Started Kit: includes six 45-minute lessons, student guides, submission template, rules and regulations, and rubric. 
• Deep Learning Modules: in-depth overview of the six technology modules that supplement the Getting Started Kit, for more advanced learning. Modules include Intro to AI, Machine Learning, AI Applications in Real Life, Deep Learning and Neural Networks, AI for Good, and Cybersecurity. 
• Team Leader Toolkit: includes student certificates, social templates, posters, and more to leverage throughout the challenge. 
• Judging Criteria and Rubric: to understand what will be used by judges to determine the winners.  

Tech for Good Resource Pack for students ages 5-12: 

• Getting Started Kit: includes five 45-minute lessons, Tech for Good playbook, submission template, rubric, and rules and regulations.  

Team Leaders may also access on-demand AI webinars to further understand best practices for running an Imagine Cup Junior project and facilitating additional learning for students.  

After a Team Leader provides lessons from the Getting Started Kit, students form teams of two to six students for the AI for Good category and teams of two to forty for the Tech for Good category. Each Team Leader then encourages the student teams to apply the lessons and brainstorm concepts to help make a positive difference to the world. Concepts should be aligned to the Microsoft AI for Good initiatives focused on Health, Cultural Heritage, Earth, Accessibility, and Humanitarian Action.  

How are Imagine Cup Junior projects submitted? 

Students illustrate their concept in the Imagine Cup Junior PowerPoint template. Team Leaders submit a completed PowerPoint template and link to a video illustrating the students’ concept at: www.imaginecup.com/junior  

Submissions for the 2024 competition must be uploaded to the Imagine Cup website by May 8, 2024. A panel of judges evaluates each team’s project based on the Judging Criteria and Rubric.  

The top ten teams will be announced on June 13, 2024, and receive trophies and prizes.   

How to get started with Imagine Cup Junior 

1. Register at www.imaginecup.com/junior
2. Download the Imagine Cup Junior AI for Good Resource Pack for students ages 13-18 and/or Tech for Good Resource Pack for students ages 5-12 
3. Incorporate the resources into class curriculum and lesson plans. 
4. Form student teams sized two (2) to six (6) students for the AI for Good category and teams of two (2) to forty (40) for the Tech for Good category and collaborate with them to develop their idea and build their concept in the PowerPoint submission template. Have student teams create a video illustrating their idea. 
5. Submit projects by May 8, 2024 via www.imaginecup.com/junior 
6. Celebrate teams who are crowned global challenge winners, to be announced June 13, 2024 on the Microsoft Education Blog.

¹Team Leaders and students do not need any background in technology– we’ve made every aspect of Imagine Cup Junior accessible to beginner levels in bite-sized modules by technology area. We can’t wait to see what ideas students come up with this year to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges!  

²Open only to student teams ages 5-18 with a team leader 18+. Game ends 5/8/24. For full details, see Official Rules. Note: If a winning team leader is a public sector employee, the prize will be awarded directly to the public sector institution and subject to receipt of a gift letter signed by the institution’s ethics officer, attorney, or designated executive/officer responsible for the organization’s gifts/ethics policy. 

The post The fifth annual Imagine Cup Junior for students is now live! appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

We stand in solidarity with everyone who honors, reflects upon, and memorializes Dr. King, especially on January 15, his birthday. Here are some ways that you can honor and teach your students about Dr. King:  

• Dedicate the day to community service 
• Participate in local or national events 
• Delve into a deeper understanding of Dr. King’s various commitments and ideals through his writings or speeches 
• Share about Dr. King with others  

Microsoft encourages you to take a moment to contemplate Dr. King’s legacy, accomplishments, and historical and cultural significance. Let’s explore how to celebrate Dr. King in your classroom.   

Minecraft: Immerse in civil rights history

Minecraft Education stands out as a popular immersive learning platform for young learners. Introduce your students to the Who is Dr. MLK Jr.? immersive world, where they will collaboratively learn about Dr. King’s life and legacy through guided questions, emphasizing an understanding of his identity and influence. Working together, students will craft museum galleries illustrating the various facets of Dr. King.  

To enhance the experience, consider pairing it with the Minecraft Good Trouble: U.S. Civil Rights lesson, an additional resource to introduce your students to prominent civil rights leaders and events. Further engage students by exploring inspirational stories and portraits of American civil rights activists. Elevate the learning journey by encouraging students to select a highlighted figure for deeper exploration using Search Coach, a tool specifically crafted to assist students in developing essential information literacy skills and locating reliable sources.  

Depiction of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama from Minecraft Good Trouble: US Civil Rights Lesson. 

App smash Learning Accelerators 

Learning Accelerators are a set of learning tools included in Microsoft 365 Education designed to provide students with personalized real-time coaching as they develop essential skills, including information and reading literacies. Combining, or “app smashing,” multiple tools from this category enhances the overall learning experience and outcomes.   

To begin, use Search Coach to locate digital sources related to Dr. King’s life or excerpts from his speeches. Next, download the passage and create a Reading Progress assignment within Microsoft Teams for Education. Reading Progress offers an inclusive and personalized platform for students to refine their reading skills, supplying actionable data for addressing individual needs. Built-in tools such as Immersive Reader enable translation or read-aloud features. Additionally, Reading Coach makes a set of challenging words for each student, fostering further practice and skill development.  

Explore curiosity and teach about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with Wonderopolis 

Ignite your students’ curiosity and teach them about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by introducing Wonderopolis articles that address fundamental questions such as Who Was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? and What Is a Civil Right?. Crafted in elementary-appropriate language, each article is accompanied by discussion questions and relevant vocabulary. Immersive Reader is built into Wonderopolis giving students an accessible experience through translation, read-aloud, and other features that cater to your students’ diverse learning needs.  

Using the read aloud feature in Immersive Reader with the “Who Was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?” Wonderopolis article. 

Curate a collaborative video library to teach your students about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Access online videos of Dr. King’s iconic speeches, such as “I Have a Dream” and “I Have Been to the Mountain Top,” as well as various biographies. Promote active participation by setting up a Channel, Conversation, or Assignment within Teams for Education. This platform empowers students to curate, view, and engage in discussions about these impactful videos.

Consider using Microsoft Stream or Flip to record yourself reading various books or creating a shared playlist for students to explore. This interactive approach enhances the learning experience, offering an opportunity for students to engage with the content in a more dynamic and personalized manner.   

Connect through Flip 

Flip, a platform designed for video-based classroom discussions, offers students a secure and accessible space to express their ideas. Educators can share the Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. topic, remix content from Flip’s Discovery Library, or create a new discussion through Flip’s built-in Topic Copilot.  

“Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” discussion topic in Flip. 

Take a moment to explore the curated Celebrate Black History Flip Discovery Library Collection, featuring ready-to-launch topics that enable students to learn, honor, and celebrate Black History. This collection includes contributions from partners like 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.  

Extend the conversation into Black History Month by participating 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 to take a journey through black history and culture with your class.  

Celebrating Mrs. Coretta Scott King 

Take a moment to spotlight Mrs. Coretta Scott King as you celebrate the legacy of the King family. The King Center Timeline is an unparalleled collection that documents the evolution, history, and influence of The King Center, showcasing the global contributions of its founder, Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Dive into the timeline to emphasize significant moments in Mrs. King’s life, focusing on themes like persistence, activism, nonviolence, and the preservation of history. Finally, watch the Flip Event video A tribute to Mrs. Coretta Scott King with her daughter Dr. Bernice A. King to celebrate Mrs. King’s global impact on human rights.  

The King Center Timeline, chronicling the life, influence, and contributions of Mrs. Coretta Scott King.

Every day presents a fantastic opportunity to delve into and celebrate the legacy, service, and values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Microsoft extends an invitation to commemorate his birthday on January 15, 2024. Explore Dr. King’s life, his significant contributions, and his enduring impact through classroom resources, activities, and discussions.  

The post Honoring the Dream: How to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at school this year with Microsoft Education appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

With at least 9 out of 10 jobs requiring digital skills and demand continuing to grow, education institutions worldwide are integrating computer science into curricular requirements. At Microsoft, we want all learners to be confident in their digital skills and have opportunities to develop the skills needed for their future careers. Learners who have access to computer science in school tend to perform better in reading and math and develop skills sought by employers like analytical thinking and problem solving. 

With a wide array of opportunities from Minecraft Education, Microsoft MakeCode, and Flip, we’re thrilled to provide educators and students with engaging and easy to access resources during Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) and throughout the year. From professional learning experiences to game-based computer science activities, learners will be able to explore new skills to become safer, smarter, and more confident online, opening potential career opportunities and raising awareness of responsible technology use. 

Start your planning with the CSEdWeek Resource Guide

The Microsoft Philanthropies Technology Education and Learning Support (TEALS) Program’s 2023 CSEdWeek Resource Guide is carefully curated to help you plan an inspirational week for your students. The guide includes events, Hour of Code activities, and more from Microsoft and our computer science education partners. Check out this useful resource and sign up to get the guide! 

Plan an inspirational week for your students with the 2023 CSEdWeek Resource Guide from the Microsoft Philanthropies Technology Education and Learning Support (TEALS) Program.

Do the new Minecraft Hour of Code with your students

All students deserve opportunities to explore AI technology to understand its implications, access career pathways, and be empowered to safely, confidently navigate an AI-powered world. Designed for anyone ages 7 and up, Minecraft Hour of Code: Generation AI is a fun, accessible way to explore the fundamentals of coding and responsible AI. Register to join a free Hour of Code Play Along on December 6, 2023, and let your learners engage in the Hour of Code lesson alongside a guest presenter and other classrooms tuned in around the world.   

Minecraft’s Hour of Code inspires learners to learn coding basics and essential principles of computer science, all while encouraging thoughtful discussions around responsible coding and AI development. Get involved with CSEdWeek and do the new Minecraft Hour of Code!  

Explore cybersecurity with Minecraft Education’s full curriculum

Boost learners’ awareness of cybersecurity, online safety, and digital citizenship with Minecraft Education’s full cybersecurity curriculum progression. Resources include information about cyber career pathways, lessons aligned to Cyber.org and CSTA standards, and family engagement strategies. Minecraft Education helps learners ages 7 to 18 build the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves and their data in our growing digital world by allowing them to practice in a fun and immersive experience. 

The Cyber Skills Curriculum not only familiarizes students with digital citizenship and cyber ethics through critical thinking learning experiences but also covers essential cybersecurity topics such as digital footprints, phishing, password protection, and comprehension of encryption, malware, and ransomware. Learn more about teaching cybersecurity concepts with Minecraft Education in this self-paced Microsoft Learn module. 

Minecraft Education empowers educators to bring coding into any classroom and demystify critical topics like cybersecurity and AI. Educators have access to extensive computer science education resources, with opportunities for differentiated and student-centered instruction, inclusive standards-aligned content, and professional learning. 

Build coding skills at all levels with Microsoft MakeCode and Visual Studio Code for Education 

Microsoft MakeCode Arcade 

Microsoft MakeCode is a free online platform that brings computer science to life for all students with fun projects, immediate results, and both block and text editors for learners at different levels. MakeCode Arcade empowers students to create their very own Arcade games online! Try out the new Sparks Flying Skillmap or the Sparks Flying Junior tutorial to build a simple and fun clicker-style game. Check out the educator resources for the Sparks experiences and create games with your students this CSEdWeek! 

Try the new Sparks Flying Junior tutorial from MakeCode and create a fun clicker-style game with your students. 

Visual Studio Code for Education

Visual Studio Code for Education is a free online version of one of the most popular professional code editors in the world, optimized for learners. This year for CSEdWeek, challenge your students to explore Spooky Manor and code their own Python text-based adventure game! Learn more about Visual Studio Code for Education and bring the world’s leading code editor into your classroom. 

Challenge your students to explore Spooky Manor and code their own Python text-based adventure game.

Discover careers in coding with Flip

Minecraft Education and Flip are also joining forces for an engaging opportunity that focuses on careers in coding in honor of CSEdWeek. The Careers in Coding event, happening December 7, features robotics technologist Kamak Ebadi from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. His story promises to ignite the STEM dreams of every student and aspiring space enthusiast. During the event, he’ll discuss the power of coding in shaping future careers and share about NASA’s Artemis missions. 

Take part in the experience and register for the free Careers in Coding event. You can even submit your video questions in the Careers in Coding with NASA & Minecraft Flip Group for a chance to be featured in the event! 

Check out the Careers in Coding Flip event with NASA and Minecraft experts, happening December 7, 2023.

To extend student learning after the event, learners can code their way to the moon with Minecraft Artemis: Return to the Moon, developed in collaboration with NASA. 

Continue computer science learning long after CS Education Week

There’s plenty of learning to be had with so many Microsoft, Minecraft Education, MakeCode, and Flip opportunities to choose from before, during, and after CSEdWeek. Ready to explore even more complex topics like AI? Check out these resources to learn more. 

• AI for education: Resources and learning opportunities: Build your professional learning around AI with training and resources from the Microsoft Learn Educator Center. 
• Microsoft Ignite: Bringing the innovations of the cloud to your CTE classroom: Discover how you can leverage the latest Microsoft cloud services and AI tools in your Career and Technical Education (CTE) classroom. 
• Announcing Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bing Chat Enterprise) for faculty: Learn how you can use Microsoft Copilot to explore the potential of AI in your educational space with commercial data protection. 

Microsoft aims to inspire students to engage in computer science with opportunities to learn, make, and do. From our professional learning experiences to game-based activities, learners can discover new skills to help access career opportunities and thrive in computer science—during Computer Science Education Week and throughout the year. 

The post Gearing up for Computer Science Education Week appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.