To truly embrace representation in schools, it’s important to provide authentic opportunities to learn about the diverse cultures, languages, contributions, and experiences of the AANHPI community during AANHPI Heritage Month and year-round. This not only gives students who identify as AANHPI the opportunity to see themselves in their learning, but also allows all students to learn from diverse perspectives—fostering empathy, understanding, and a more inclusive educational environment for everyone.

Resources and activities for teaching about AANHPI experiences

To help you integrate exploration and celebration of the multifaceted history and culture of Asian Americans, we’ve curated a list of resources and activities for teaching about AANHPI communities.

Use these resources to deepen understanding during AANHPI Heritage Month and throughout the school year.

• Drive discussions and reflections with the Celebrating and Honoring AANHPI Heritage Collection from Flip, a free web and mobile app for recording, editing, and sharing video assignments. Explore the wide variety of AANHPI topics for all grade levels.
• Discover the Māori culture and language in Minecraft Education with Ngā Motu. Students can explore the ecosystem of Aotearoa (New Zealand) as well as Māori architecture, arts, economics, and language. Minecraft Education empowers educators to bring to life indigenous culture and build social-emotional skills all through immersive, game-based learning.
• Plan a virtual visit to the Japanese American National Museum. With tailored tours for students by grade band, students learn about various aspects of Japanese American culture, art, and history.
• Ask students to analyze how history affects the AANHPI community now and in the future. Select one or more activities from the American Asian Education Project and use Search Progress (for an assignment) or Search Coach (for a live, in-class activity), two digital literacy tools from Microsoft, to help students form effective search queries, find trusted sites, and think critically about their results.

Use Search Progress to help students craft effective search queries and evaluate their findings.

• Once the Search Progress and Search Coach activities are completed, use Insights to discuss the most common resources that students visited and explore the queries and key terms that the class used to do their research.
• Explore a collection of books from Learning for Justice designed to help humanize AANHPI communities, challenge stereotypes, and make their stories central to the broader American narrative. Consider recording yourself reading multiple books with Microsoft Stream, a video platform available in all Microsoft 365 Education plans, and create a playlist for students to choose from.
• Use this Asian American timeline to help students better understand how the AANHPI community was impacted by various historical events. Create a page in the Collaboration Space in Class Notebook in Microsoft Teams for Education to engage students in collaborative reflection.
• The AANHPI community has made vast contributions to the field of STEM. Check out this list which showcases some of the AAPI scientists and engineers who have made—and continue to make—significant contributions to STEM.
• Discover more ways to honor AANHPI contributions and teach about AANHPI history from Microsoft Education.

From historic milestones to pioneering leadership, AANHPI individuals have left an indelible mark on the world. While May is designated as AANHPI Heritage Month, it can be used as a catalyst for learning in your classroom year-round. Together, we can ensure ongoing, conscious representation of AANHPI peoples, fostering a truly inclusive learning environment for all.

The post Elevate representation and inclusion during AANHPI Heritage Month appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

AI literacy is crucial in today’s digital age, where AI technologies are increasingly integrated into our daily lives. Our latest insights from the AI in Education: Microsoft Special Report demonstrate a disconnect—use of AI in education is outpacing the understanding of the technology. There’s an urgent need to increase AI literacy and AI integration in strategic priorities, standards, policies, and professional development.

For educators, it’s about preparing your students for a future where AI will be a fundamental part of many professions. It’s also about guiding learners to use AI tools safely and responsibly, ensuring they understand the implications of AI on privacy and data security. By fostering AI literacy, we can shape a future where everyone can navigate and benefit from AI advancements confidently and responsibly. Whether you’re a teacher, parent/guardian, or curious learner, here are some valuable resources to enhance your AI literacy from Microsoft Education.

11 resources for educators to amp up your AI literacy

For National AI Literacy Day 2024, explore the AI in education professional development opportunities available from Microsoft.

AI in education professional development

• AI for Educators training: Spend a few hours on your professional development and learn about the history of AI, large language models (LLMs), generative AI, how to create a prompt, and uses of AI in education. The AI for Educators Learning Path on Microsoft Learn is made up of three modules: “Empower educators to explore the potential of artificial intelligence,” “Enhance teaching and learning with Microsoft Copilot,” and “Equip and support learners with AI tools from Microsoft.” From now until April 30, 2024, participate in the AI skills challenge for educators and benchmark your progress against fellow educators and friends.
• Flip AI for educators series: Flip offers free professional development training sessions that provide easy-to-follow instructions, best practices, and inspiration on various topics, including AI! You can catch up on the great AI for educators series events that have already happened, and be sure to register for upcoming professional development events as well.
• Microsoft Education AI Toolkit: The Microsoft Education AI Toolkit provides education leaders with relevant background knowledge, strategies, and recommendations for launching AI initiatives in K-20 settings. It also includes customer stories and technical profiles that showcase how institutions around the globe are already using AI for teaching, learning, and administration. What’s inside of the toolkit provides those in charge with the necessary information that they need to jumpstart their own AI journey. Learn more about the Microsoft Education AI Toolkit and how to use this resource in this article: Kickstart your school’s AI journey with the Microsoft Education AI Toolkit.

Get started using Microsoft Copilot in education

• Introduction to Microsoft Copilot: Learn all about Microsoft Copilot, your AI-powered assistant for education. Get an overview of how to use Copilot, as well as ideas and inspiration for how you can use Copilot to save time, differentiate instruction, and enhance student learning. You can save or print this quick guide to Microsoft Copilot to refer back to as needed.
• Copilot resources for education: Dive deeper into what Copilot can do with resources for education. Whether you’re an educator, IT professional, or parent/guardian, you’ll find helpful resources to get started using Copilot.
• Copilot lab: While it’s not specific to education, the Copilot lab is a great resource to help you learn more about Copilot, how to write a prompt, and ideas of how to get started using Copilot.

Improve your students’ AI literacy, too!

By fostering AI literacy, together we can shape a future where everyone can navigate and benefit from AI advancements.

• Classroom toolkit: Unlocking generative AI safely and responsibly is a creative resource that blends engaging narrative stories with instructional information to create an immersive and effective learning experience for educators and students aged 13-15 years. The toolkit is designed to assist educators in initiating important conversations about responsible AI practices in the classroom, such as the critical topics of content fabrications, privacy considerations, bias awareness, and mental wellbeing.
• Minecraft AI Prompt Lab: Embracing the ever-changing world of education calls for innovation and tech-savvy teaching methods. The Minecraft AI Prompt Lab is a new series of resources that demonstrates how to use Microsoft Copilot with  Minecraft Education to design amazing learning experiences. Crafted for educators like you, this game-changing guide is here to revolutionize the way you deliver educational content with Minecraft. In Prompt Lab: Module 1, learn how to write prompts, develop learning content and assessments, and generate creative ideas for lesson plans will help you unlock the power of game-based learning with Minecraft Education. In Prompt Lab: Module 2, learn the basics of Code Builder, the in-game coding feature of Minecraft Education.

• Minecraft Hour of Code: Generation AI: 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. Students will venture through time to create helpful AI-powered inventions to solve problems and make daily life easier. Learn coding basics and essential principles of computer science, all while encouraging thoughtful discussions around responsible coding and AI development. With free downloadable educator resources exploring the amazing potential of AI has never been more exiting or immersive!

Online safety and information literacy are the foundation of AI literacy

• Microsoft Family Safety Toolkit: To help young people, educators, and families navigate the digital world, Microsoft has also released an online safety resource, the Microsoft Family Safety Toolkit. This 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. Bonus resource for young children: PBS Kids launched an educational series on AI supported by Microsoft.  
• Search Progress and Coach: Empowering learners to seek, evaluate, and use online sources responsibly is a critical step in helping them to navigate AI-generated content and the wider information ecosystem with confidence. This short course on our newest Learning Accelerators, Search Progress and Search Coach, showcases how educators can help foster information literacy skills through any research-based assignment in Microsoft Teams for Education.

Let’s celebrate knowledge, curiosity, and the transformative power of AI. Join us this National AI Literacy Day to explore these resources and take a step towards a more informed and inclusive future with AI. Whether you’re an educator looking to bring AI into the classroom or a parent guiding your child in the digital world, these resources will equip you with the knowledge to embrace AI’s potential responsibly. Let’s celebrate the day by committing to lifelong learning and curiosity in the ever-evolving field of AI.

The post Smart learning: AI resources every educator should know appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Dive into our curated list of educational resources from Microsoft designed to make your Earth Day lessons not just informative, but transformative. Let’s collaborate to build a world of conscious minds for a greener tomorrow.

Dig deeper using Search Progress

This Earth Day, elevate your classroom’s digital and environmental education by using Search Progress in Microsoft Teams for Education. Designed specifically for building information literacy skills, Search Progress is a fantastic way to lead students on a journey through the history and significance of Earth Day. Try some of these guiding questions to get them started:

• What are the origins of Earth Day, and what global events led to its creation?
• How has Earth Day evolved since its inception? How have its goals and activities changed over time?
• What impact has Earth Day had on environmental policies and practices at the local, national, and global levels?
• How do different cultures and societies around the world observe Earth Day, and what unique practices or traditions have they developed?

Search Progress and Search Coach help students learn how to form effective search queries, find trusted sites with NewsGuard, and think critically about their results in an ad-free environment.

As they delve into the origins, milestones, and impact of Earth Day, students can develop a deeper understanding of the environmental movement. Search Coach will guide them towards reputable sources, aiding in the development of essential internet navigation skills. By engaging with this tool, students will not only learn about environmental stewardship but also hone their ability to distinguish fact from opinion, a critical skill in today’s information-rich world. You can customize search settings to ensure students are led to credible websites and factual content, in addition to the integration of NewsGuard which assesses the reliability of online sources.

Sending your students on an Earth Day exploration is the perfect opportunity for them to practice forming effective search queries and critically analyzing their findings, preparing them for informed and responsible internet use. Plus, you can track the development of your students’ information literacy skills when you use Search Coach alongside Search Progress. Creating a window into students’ search activity and behaviors, Search Progress provides a deeper understanding of their research habits and interests, helping you identify ways to improve the quality of their search queries over time. 

Craft a passion for the planet with Minecraft Education

Environmental literacy is a crucial skill in today’s world. For Earth Day, help build your students’ environmental awareness one block at a time with activities for all ages from Minecraft Education. Explore all these standards-based climate and sustainability lessons while helping your students build a passion for the planet. Celebrate Earth Day 2024 in your classroom with Minecraft’s Earth Day resources.

Celebrate Earth Day 2024 in your classroom with standards-based climate and sustainability lessons from Minecraft Education.

Research climate change while learning the principles of AI. With Minecraft Education AI for Earth students will learn principles of AI while taking their first steps into this exciting realm of computer science.

You can also bring the wondrous natural world into your classroom, no matter what subject you teach. See our planet from the perspective of sharks, leopards, Arctic foxes, and more in the Planet Earth III world inspired by inspired by the landmark series from BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit. Learn more and download Planet Earth III.

Additionally, learn how adaptation over time enables animals to survive in particular environments and in extreme conditions. With Frozen Planet II: Frozen South from Minecraft Education and BBC Earth, learners will develop an understanding of the impact that climate change is having on some of the animals living in Antarctica. Learn more and download Frozen Planet II: Frozen South.

Share Earth Day projects, reflections, and ideas with Flip

Flip, a free web and mobile app from Microsoft, provides an interactive platform enabling students to share and learn from one another’s short videos. For Earth Day 2024, consider organizing a Flip activity where students can share their environmental projects, reflections on what they have learned, or ideas for promoting sustainability in their community. This method promotes peer learning, fosters community spirit, and encourages collective environmental responsibility. Promote interaction by suggesting students comment on each other’s videos to foster a dialogue within the classroom.

Celebrate Earth Day 2024 with Flip using the Earth Day, environmental, and sustainability topics in the Make a Difference collection.

For Earth Day, get started with the Make a Difference collection from Flip. You’ll find Earth Day, environmental, sustainability topics to drive discussions and reflections for all grade levels. Topics in this collection inspire students to:

• Create a short video to showcase an environmental project and the impact they hope it will have on the environment.
• Reflect on one change they’ve made in their lifestyle to be more environmentally friendly. Share what inspired this change, how they implemented it, and the effects it has had on their daily life.
• Present an idea for a new product, app, or community initiative that promotes sustainability or addresses an environmental issue. Explain the problem their idea solves, how it works, who it helps, and how it promotes environmental awareness and action.

There’s also a new Earth Day lens in Flip that students can use in their videos. Inspire your students to use this special lens to share their voice and make a pledge to the planet.

Encourage your students to use the special Earth Day lens in Flip to express their opinions and make a pledge to the planet.

Starting with Flip is straightforward and free. Simply establish a class, add a topic, and students can start creating video responses using engaging video tools designed to amplify every student’s voice. Additionally, explore Flip’s extensive library of on-demand events, which can complement your students’ interests or age group.

Harvesting the future with FarmBeats for Students

Explore the intersection of technology and agriculture, where advancements are creating intelligent ecosystems for crop management. Cutting-edge tools like sensors and AI are revolutionizing the way agricultural professionals understand and oversee their fields, leading to more informed, efficient, and sustainable practices in food production and resource management.

The FarmBeats for Students program uses a cost-effective kit based on micro:bit technology, complemented by free, extensive curriculum and engaging activities that can be accessed from any device with internet capabilities. This kit empowers students to collect real-time data on their plant projects and visualize the data directly in Microsoft MakeCode. This innovative program introduces students to the concepts of precision agriculture, a system that helps farmers use water, nutrients, and other resources wisely to grow healthier crops. Learn more about FarmBeats for Students and download the program overview.

Using FarmBeats for Students, students build a garden monitoring system and gain direct experience with topics like digital sensors, data analysis, and AI. These agriculture projects for students not only expose them to modern farming techniques, but also instill a respect for sustainable food production and environmental care.

Take engagement further by joining the FarmBeats Beat Hunger Challenge 2024 group on Flip. Through this challenge, participants aim to harness technology to transform students’ ideas into practical solutions for improving agricultural products and services. This Earth Day, let’s empower students to use their creativity and innovative thinking to address global food insecurity. Learn more and join the group on Flip.

Planting seeds of change on Earth Day

Maximize the impact of your Earth Day lessons by tapping into these innovative resources and environmental projects for students from Microsoft Education. Integrate cutting-edge technology with interactive, hands-on learning to ignite your students’ passion for environmental stewardship. Encourage them to become informed, eco-conscious change-makers who are equipped to shape a better future.

Don’t just stop there—amplify their success. Transform your classroom’s achievements into shining examples for the world to see. Share the vibrant stories of your students’ Earth Day projects across social platforms and within your educational community. Celebrate and document their journey, challenges, and breakthroughs to inspire a wave of positive change among educators and students alike. Let’s make Earth Day 2024 not just a day of awareness, but a starting point for lasting change.

The post How to celebrate Earth Day 2024 with your students appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Let’s delve into eight innovative tools from Microsoft Education that can simplify your PBL journey, making it both easy-to-manage for you and engaging for your students.  

Microsoft Education tools for PBL excellence

• Start with Microsoft Copilot: Leverage an AI-powered assistant to brainstorm and plan projects.  
• Collaborate with Microsoft Teams for Education: Organize multiple teams and projects, keeping everyone on track. 
• Enhance research with Search Coach and Search Progress: Provide guidance to your students through their research. 
• Check-in with Flip, Microsoft Forms, and Microsoft Reflect: Monitor progress and encourage positive team dynamics. 
• Showcase student work with PowerPoint and Speaker Coach: Enable students to present their projects confidently.  

High-quality PBL to deepen knowledge and skills 

In project-based learning, students embark on exciting projects that help them learn important knowledge and skills aligned with their curriculum and emphasize the 4Cs: critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication. Instead of just memorizing facts, PBL takes learning to the next level. By engaging in meaningful projects, students apply what they’ve learned in real and tangible ways, deepening their understanding and teamwork skills.  

Explore how you and your students can achieve success with PBL using tools from Microsoft Education. 

Copilot: Your AI assistant for education 

Copilot is a dynamic AI-powered tool that can support educators like you in the classroom. Streamlining tasks and personalizing the learning experience, Copilot can help you generate: 

• Ideas for project topics based on learning objectives and student interest. 
• Research questions, activities, or resources.  
• Structure of the project including timelines, goals, and due dates. 
• Guiding questions to scaffold student inquiry. 
• Prompts for self-reflection and peer feedback. 
• Adapted instructional materials for students.  

Copilot can help you generate ideas for PBL topics according to learning objectives and student interest.

Watch the video Meet your AI assistant for education: Microsoft Copilot to learn more about getting started with Copilot. 

Microsoft Teams for Education: Your project management system  

Handling several teams and projects simultaneously can be a lot to manage but Microsoft Teams for Education, a powerful communication app for schools, has you covered. Start by creating a new channel for each student group to help everyone stay focused and informed. It’s like giving each group their own special space. This way, everyone can: 

• Work together. 
• Keep files in order. 
• Manage tasks and important dates.  

Discover how to organize conversations, assignments, and add channels in Microsoft Teams for Education to streamline PBL for your class. Additionally, learn about new features that leverage AI to draft content like rubrics, assignment instructions, and learning objectives, all while keeping the educator in control.

Microsoft Teams channels are a great place to keep student groups organized and focused on their project. 

Enhancing search skills with Search Coach and Search Progress

Being able to find, assess, and share reliable information is a must-have skill for students as they explore research sources online. Search Coach and Search Progress, two complementary Learning Accelerators seamlessly integrated into Microsoft Teams for Education, are all about empowering students to search the web with a keen eye and a critical mind.  

Search Coach is like having a wise guide by their side, helping students develop information literacy skills by asking the internet the right questions and picking out the most trustworthy sources. By providing real-time feedback, Search Coach helps students refine their search queries and find credible sources. 

Search Progress acts like your behind-the-scenes PBL assistant, giving you a peek into how your students are getting on with their online research. It offers valuable insights into their search strategies, helping you understand their paths to finding information. Search Progress lets you track your students’ search journey, seeing how they interact with the resources they find.  

Insights in Search Coach provides a real-time view of student search activity and behaviors, including how many searches were attempted, how frequently they only view the first result, and more. 

To learn more, explore the Search Progress and Search Coach product guide and take the course Develop search strategies with Search Coach and Search Progress from the Microsoft Learn Educator Center.  

Tools for fostering positive classroom dynamics

Keeping track of student progress, making sure everyone works well together, and helping students think about their own learning or giving feedback can feel like a big task! Using tools like Flip, Forms, and Reflect can make it so much easier to keep track of both individual students and group progress.   

Enter the world of Flip, a dynamic web and mobile app that’s free to use. Here students can record, edit, and share video reflections. It’s a fantastic way to engage students in their learning. Whether it’s checking in on their progress or encouraging them to give peer feedback, Flip turns these tasks into fun experiences. Imagine students producing a video diary of their PBL group experience, enhancing both learning and feedback processes.  

Turn to Forms easily create surveys and polls to: 

• Check-in on how the whole group is doing. 
• Find out what questions or needs students have. 
• Gather their thoughts about their own learning in self-reflections.  
• Collect feedback they have for their classmates.   

These check-ins can help you adapt teaching strategies to meet students’ immediate needs, creating a responsive learning environment.   

Reflect can help you keep a pulse on PBL group dynamics by asking students how they are getting along, collaborating, and distributing workloads. You can ask students how they feel about their teamwork, whether they’re sharing the work fairly, and how they feel about the progress they’ve made. This preemptive approach helps resolve conflicts and ensures a harmonious and inclusive classroom atmosphere where everyone is heard.  

With Reflect, you can gain a fuller understanding of the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of your class and then act on any trends that you spot.

Your student innovation showcase

In PBL, the real magic happens when students create something that’s truly their own. This authentic product not only gives their learning purpose but also boosts their confidence and motivation especially when they share their work with others outside their classroom. It’s their chance to shine and show off their unique skills in new and exciting ways. Microsoft has some great PBL tools to help them sparkle even brighter!   

For example, PowerPoint with its Designer feature enables students to quickly create professional-looking presentations in a flash choosing from a bunch of smart design suggestions. Then, they can turn their presentations into videos, sharing their knowledge and hard work with friends, family, and maybe even the whole world.  

We all know talking in front of an audience can be nerve-wracking. That’s where Speaker Coach comes in, acting like a friendly guide through the world of public speaking. Speaker Coach helps students develop good public speaking practices by: 

• Offering personalized tips and encouragement to polish their speaking skills.  
• Providing a summary of suggestions. 
• Suggesting speech refinements like wordiness, euphemisms, and informal language.  

By practicing with Speaker Coach, students receive feedback that’s private and tailored to their abilities, which can help them confidently present their project to the community—sparking conversations and inspiring action.  

The rehearsal report in Speaker Coach includes focused feedback on metrics known to influence how an audience perceives a presentation. 

Simplify your next PBL project with Microsoft Education

Simplify your project management with eight PBL tools from Microsoft Education that enhance learning and streamline your process. Discover how these tools can transform your project-based learning approach into a journey of discovery and innovation today. 

For a deeper dive into more Microsoft Education tools to empower you and your students, explore our roundup of Comprehensive quick start guides for Microsoft Education tools.  

The post 8 transformative tools to elevate project-based learning appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

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.

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.

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.

John Hattie’s Visible Learning study measured the impact that different factors have on students’ academic growth. According to the meta-analyses, setting learning goals has a positive impact on learning outcomes. Simply put, when students set goals, they are building lifelong skills that they can use to make positive changes in their lives.  

Harness the power of positive change in your classroom—embark on the journey of transformative goal-setting with Microsoft Reflect today!  

Setting goals with students informs teacher practice, engages and motivates students during the learning process, and creates a partnership between the teacher, student, and parents.”

Sanée Bell, Ed.D., Educational Leader and Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning in Katy ISD, Texas, United States

Setting up for success with new year’s goals 

Reflect is available as a web app and within Microsoft 365 Education tools like Teams for Education, PowerPoint, and OneNote. You can use any of these platforms to create check-ins for your students. Additionally, Reflect has created a collection of experiences and resources that you can share with your students to transition into a successful 2024. Explore the Reflect Activity Hub for ready-to-use activities, lessons, and materials!  

Goals vary from person to person and are unique to the individual. Reflect has created several worksheets to help you and your students set goals and practice other positive habits in the new year. Check out the Reflect worksheets—print the PDFs or digitally embed them in a OneNote page distributed to students: 

• SMART Goal Planner—guide students through setting meaningful goals, breaking them into actionable steps, and monitoring progress to improve planning and perseverance.  
• Gratitude Clouds—provide students with a structured and meaningful method to practice gratitude, fostering a sense of appreciation, and promoting positive thinking. 
• Reflect and Grow—goal setting is important in short intervals as well as long ones. By helping students process a day’s events and emotions, they can foster emotional awareness, and enhance communication skills.  

Take a brain break 

According to a 2021 study on the brain’s consolidation of skill, resting at set intervals increases a learner’s ability to develop new skills. The study also suggests that the majority of skill learning takes place during “offline,” or non-practice time, and that micro-breaks are 4 times as effective for skill learning than overnight rest. This all means that intentional breaks every 10-15 minutes for elementary students or 20-30 minutes for secondary students can have a significant academic and social impact for learners. 

Reflect has curated a collection of short, inclusive brain break activities designed to promote mental fitness, refresh the mind, and refocus.  

• Take a breath: Pause for a moment to breathe mindfully and reset focus. 
• Stretch break: Stretch and boost focus with a quick two-minute stretching routine. 
• Coloring book: Combine emotional intelligence and art to explore a range of emotions and creativity. 
• Memory game: Develop emotional vocabulary by matching emotions and with Feelings Monster cards.  

Reflect also partnered with Calm—the leading mental health brand with the #1 app for meditation, sleep, and relaxation—to integrate science-backed content designed to help users meet their new goals of sleeping more, stressing less, and living better. Explore all of the Calm activities in the Reflect app.  

For educators and students who want more activities—stories, music, lullabies, exercises, and meditations designed specifically for kids—they can enjoy a 40% discount on a subscription to Calm.  

Explore Reflect’s partner collections 

Reflect has partnered with several of your favorite classroom tools to expand social and emotional learning. Through these partnerships, you and your students can have safe spaces for reflecting, setting goals, and discussing emotions.  

Minecraft Education is a popular immersive learning platform for all young people. Introduce your students to Reflect World, a space designed to help students develop social-emotional skills through a creative and immersive experience. This world is an ideal start for beginner users in upper-elementary or middle school grades. Exploring the colorful Reflect World requires collaboration, problem solving, and communication. 

Reflect teamed up with Kahoot!, a game-based app for learning and trivia games, to help students develop vital SEL skills. With nearly 50 Kahoot! games available in four different languages, you can find the right activities at the right time.  

• Setting goals: Goal setting is a vital skill. It helps us to stay on track and create the life we dream of! Your students can use Reflect to stay on track with your goals by thinking through the reasons that we set goals and strategies for reaching goals. 
• Start the school year strong: Don’t let the title fool you. This game is perfect for the return to school in January with questions focusing on classroom community and goal setting. 
• Gratitude: Gratitude means being filled with appreciation. Your students can show gratitude for the good things in their lives—big or small! Being grateful can help them feel better and build stronger relationships. 

Microsoft Flip, a free web and mobile app for recording, editing, and sharing video assignments, and Reflect pair together perfectly. Using Flip and Reflect together can help students share and discuss feelings and challenges in a safe, accessible, and inclusive environment. With built-in tools like Immersive Reader, designed to make all written text accessible, all students can engage in the conversation. Start off with these discussion topics: 

• Taking on challenges: Help students understand that challenges are a part of the path to excellence. Framing challenges as part of the process can keep them motivated and set them up to encourage each other through complicated tasks.  
• Kindness for myself: Use this topic to jumpstart conversations about growth mindset or accepting feedback. It could be a helpful warm-up for a writing workshop where students edit one another’s work. Setting students up to accept and mobilize feedback without feeling down about themselves is vital to establishing perseverance. 
• Working towards a goal: Use this topic before having students write their own goals. It can jumpstart their understanding of why goals are important and what types of goals they could consider, as well as get them thinking about how working towards a goal is an ongoing effort. Often, we write down or set goals mentally, but don’t follow through. Having students recognize that problem through role play can help them recognize it in themselves!  

Join Microsoft Education in fostering a positive beginning to the new year for you and your students. Reflect brings together an array of resources and experiences, supporting the cultivation of healthy habits and a dedication to personal growth. Explore the Reflect Activity Hub for ready-to-use activities, lessons, and materials and build a culture of well-being with your students this year.

The post Reflect activities for student engagement 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.

We at Microsoft strive to take concrete steps toward ensuring equitable education, inclusive careers, and representation through media that fosters diverse perspectives and supports tribal sovereignty. Throughout the year, we honor and value Indigenous communities as we recognize that the history and present-day experience of AI/AN people is marked by cultural perseverance, innovative adaptation, revitalization, and enduring resilience.

Understand and honor Indigenous cultures with Flip 

Join Flip for a live conversation and resource share on November 15, 2023, at 3:00 PM PT to learn about the diverse cultures of Indigenous and Native peoples. Explore how to understand and honor Indigenous heritage, language, customs, and traditions in your classroom and beyond. In this session, you’ll gain insights from the ideas and examples provided by fellow educators and Flip Discovery Partners. Additionally, you’ll discover resources and activities to help you teach about and celebrate the history, achievements, and contributions of Indigenous and Native peoples. Learn more and register for this free Flip event. 

Celebrate Indigenous cultures with Minecraft Education

Microsoft Canada has unveiled a new world for Minecraft Education, created in collaboration with the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation and the School District 43 (Coquitlam) Education team in British Columbia, Canada, to raise awareness about the unique perspectives and artistry of coastal peoples in the Pacific Northwest.  

In this immersive, multidisciplinary experience, students (grades 2 through 12) travel back in time to help a coastal community prepare for winter using sustainable harvesting practices. Through participation in these practices, students will gain an understanding of Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge and the interconnectedness of all living and non-living things. Additionally, Students will learn about and perform harvest tasks and build their own self-sustaining village. Check out A Pacific Northwest Coast Experience and download the world to get started. 

You’re also invited to join us for a special learning series to explore A Pacific Northwest Coast Experience. This free series includes a professional development workshop for educators and two co-taught lessons for students, starting on October 30th at 3:15 PM PT. Learn more about the free learning series and register today. 

Learn from elders and knowledge keepers, perform harvest tasks, and build a self-sustaining village with A Pacific Northwest Coast Experience in Minecraft Education.

Explore more Minecraft Education worlds that honor the experiences of Indigenous cultures while building academic skills: 

• Extend student writing and critical thinking skills through Anishinaabe culture, community, and teachings (grades 3 through 6) with Manito Ahbee Aki | Minecraft Education. 
• Engage students in history and art while they develop their literacy skills as they research and illustrate a story told by a Native person (all ages) with Indigenous Stories | Minecraft Education. 
• Build students’ historical and environmental knowledge while learning about the indigenous language, culture, and people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) (all ages) with NGĀ MOTU – THE ISLANDS | Minecraft Education. 

Combat misinformation and foster AI/AN-inclusive learning in your classroom 

Over time, an overgeneralization of Indigenous people and nations has failed to recognize the diversity of native cultures found across the globe. Likewise, instruction about Native Americans is often taught through a lens from the past, rather than recognizing the active and diverse tribal nations that exist today. To support you throughout the year, we have cultivated a collection of resources to pair with your favorite Microsoft solutions.  

Explore these guiding principles, instructional strategies, and resources to help you enrich your teaching and correct inaccurate learning about Indigenous peoples. 

• Understand the impact of words to ensure that accurate terminology is used to prevent stereotypes or cultural misunderstandings. Immerse yourself in these essential understandings from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian then share them with students to provide some additional background knowledge before diving deeper. Download the “Framework for Essential Understandings about American Indians” PDF and create a Reading Progress assignment in Microsoft Teams for Education so students can hear the text read aloud using Immersive Reader and answer built-in teacher-created or AI-generated comprehension questions.

• Move beyond school or classroom land acknowledgements by creating an action plan that establishes concrete steps for supporting Indigenous communities in the future. Begin by providing place-based education to help students understand the past and present of the land on which they live. Continue adding to a page in the Collaboration Space in OneNote Class Notebook in Teams for Education as students engage in further collaborative reflection. 
• Utilize resources, oral histories, and narratives that are developed by or in collaboration with Indigenous people and/or nations that provide diverse perspectives. Consider recording yourself reading books published by Native authors with Microsoft Stream and create a playlist for students to choose from. Alternatively, locate videos of the authors reading their books and embed the links into Teams for Education to ensure students only access the content you vetted. 
• Incorporate diverse viewpoints and alternative narratives that honor non-colonist perspectives. Start by exploring resources on treaties, sovereignty, and Tribal governments from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian or use their Guide to Disciplinary Connections and Classroom Applications, which offers practical ways to apply alternate narratives across different subject areas. Many of these lessons include downloadable materials and/or discussion questions. Ask students to reflect on the materials and share their thoughts collaboratively in class or in Teams for Education using Conversations or Channels. Or use an Assignment in Microsoft Teams for Education so that students can edit and respond to materials independently. 
• Avoid comparing Native American tribes to one another or to Western, mainstream culture. Rather, foster opportunities for students to make personal and community connections. Try assigning a research project on the contributions of Indigenous peoples and nations of today using Search Progress. Ask students to choose a person to learn more about, like one of these twelve women, and reflect on their connections. 

Celebrate Indigenous histories and empower Indigenous voices during Native American Heritage Month and year-round. Join us in taking action to integrate diverse perspectives, correct inaccuracies, and foster inclusivity, honoring the rich history of Indigenous communities. 

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