Findings from the 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report from Microsoft and LinkedIn show that the cybersecurity industry has an urgent talent shortage that’s expected to grow. MSLE aims to help educators build an effective and continuously updated curriculum to teach students these cybersecurity skills and prepare them for the workplace of the future.

Whether you need guidance on integrating security teaching into your curriculum or you’re an experienced security educator looking to discover additional resources and labs, MSLE has you covered.

Work with Microsoft Training Services Partners to be cybersecurity ready

In August 2024, we launched the MSLE Cybersecurity and AI Bootcamp, building on the popular MSLE Foundational AI Bootcamp. The MSLE Cybersecurity and AI Bootcamp is designed to prepare educators and faculty across multiple disciplines to use MSLE curricula and classroom resources to teach students critical security concepts, threat mitigation, and related AI skills. The bootcamp takes the form of flexible, train-the-trainer sessions, either in person or virtually, depending on your school’s or institution’s preferences.

“We know that it’s really hard for educational institutions to not only keep their curriculum up to date on technical topics,” explains Liz Butowicz, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Microsoft Training Services Partner (TSP) Black Dog Black Cat, “but also to skill their faculty and educators on delivering those new skills to their students. Microsoft developed the Microsoft Learn for Educators AI Bootcamps program to tackle these problems.”

Bootcamps are led by trainers from the global network of Microsoft TSPs equipped with official MSLE resources. They’re designed to train higher education and other post-secondary educators on how to use these resources within their existing course syllabi, create new courses or programs, and deliver Microsoft Certification exam preparation courses to their students. “Educators are often just presented with resources,” continues Butowicz, “and they need to figure out what to use. In the bootcamps, we can walk them through that and help speed up adoption of the material.”

The bootcamp structure and content can be customized to meet your institution’s specific needs, and it is typically divided into three sessions.

The three-part Microsoft Learn for Educators Cybersecurity and AI Bootcamp was fantastic, helping our faculty understand the AI-related teaching resources within MSLE they can now use in their courses. It can be difficult to find technical instructors, and the bootcamp helped build instructional capacity and can help educators transition into advanced teaching roles.

Jonathan W. Townes, Vice President of Career and Technical Education, Sponsored Grants, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Initiatives, Hinds Community College

Boost your cybersecurity curriculum with MSLE training resources

Even if you don’t feel the need for an instructor-led bootcamp experience, you can still use MSLE resources to help you learn new skills and build curricula around cybersecurity and AI-related concepts. With MSLE offerings, you can access tools and resources to enable innovative, experiential learning to augment students’ existing degree paths.

MSLE uses Microsoft Official Courseware (MOC), along with up-to-date training materials that feature an emphasis on real-world scenarios. The program includes instructional tools, test preparation content, interactive labs, and resources supporting Microsoft Certifications—all designed to integrate into your classes.

Microsoft’s teaching resources and materials, with self-paced study and certification options, [made] it ideal for teachers and students in any subject: science, math, and even humanities. The content can be used in any course or classroom and [can] help students prepare for future transitions into higher education or the workforce.

Jonathan W. Townes, Vice President of Career and Technical Education, Sponsored Grants, and HBCU Initiatives, Hinds Community College

MSLE also offers professional development, training resources, and support for educators and faculty at your institution through TSPs. This is coupled with community features, such as forums, networking sessions, office hours with community managers, and more. The program also offers discounted exam vouchers to help you get certified to teach cutting-edge technology subjects.

Take the next steps with MSLE

MSLE is here to help you get the training and skills you need to prepare your students for the opportunities of the era of AI and cybersecurity. To learn more about bootcamps or to find a TSP and discuss joining a bootcamp, check out the MSLE AI Bootcamp for Educators.

To access training materials, education resources, and more, join the Microsoft Learn for Educators program for free.

The post Level up your cybersecurity curriculum with MSLE appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

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

Build AI literacy and fuel STEM fascination with Minecraft Education

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

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

Discover the power of AI through Fantastic Fairgrounds

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

Harness AI to address global challenges in AI for Earth

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

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

Journey into the world of AI with AI Adventures videos

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

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

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

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

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

Teach foundational generative AI concepts with our classroom toolkit

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

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

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

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

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

Empower your classroom with AI literacy skills

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

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

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

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

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

Code the show, save the day with Minecraft

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join the global Hour of Code movement

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

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

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

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

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

Minecraft Education resources to support teaching and learning

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

Explore these popular resources to get started:

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

Deepen learning and student engagement with Minecraft Education

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

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

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

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

We’re over the moon to introduce two new stellar additions to our universe: the James Webb Space Telescope Challenge and Artemis: Moon Base One. These exciting new worlds join our existing Artemis mission series, creating an out-of-this-world journey that will take students from Earth to the Moon and beyond.

Unveiling the Universe with the James Webb Space Telescope

Have you ever gazed up at the night sky and wondered what secrets the universe holds?  Now you can introduce your students to the wonders of space with the new James Webb Space Telescope Challenge. Developed in collaboration with NASA and aligned with global science curricula for ages 8-14, this immersive lesson offers a hands-on journey through space exploration. Students will learn about the telescope’s mission, star formation, planets, galaxies, and exoplanet, as well as participate in a creative solar system-building challenge.

As students embark on their cosmic adventure, they’ll tackle essential questions that drive real astronomers: What exactly is the James Webb Space Telescope, and what can it do? How do stars and planets differ? And how can we model the vast structures of our universe?

Imagine walking into a virtual Solar System Room, where a magnificent diorama of our cosmic neighborhood awaits. With a simple click, students can interact with each celestial body, uncovering the secrets of planet sizes, types, and even their distinctive colors. Did you know that Mars is red due to iron oxide on its surface, or that Uranus appears cyan because of methane in its atmosphere? These are just a few of the fascinating facts students will discover.

But the journey doesn’t stop at our solar system. In the Star Formation and Types module, learners will dive into the lifecycle of stars, from birth in nebulae to their eventual fate. They’ll explore the characteristics of different star classes, from the scorching blue-white O-class stars like Zeta Ophiuchi to the cooler, orange K-class stars like Aldebaran.

The adventure continues in the Galaxy Room, where students meet the charismatic NPC Dr. Ceres. Under her guidance, they’ll unravel the mysteries of our Milky Way and venture into the realm of other galaxies. Black holes, nebulae, and the grand structures of the universe all come to life in this captivating virtual space.

But the real excitement begins with the Build Challenge. Here, students become cosmic architects, designing their own solar systems or even galaxies! They’ll grapple with decisions that mirror those of real planetary scientists: What type of central star (or black hole!) will anchor their system? How many planets will orbit it? Will there be asteroid belts? As they build, they’ll apply everything they’ve learned about planet types, sizes, and compositions.

Throughout their journey, students can document their discoveries using in-game cameras and journals, creating a record of their cosmic explorations. This simulated scientific expedition takes them to the farthest reaches of the universe, all from the comfort of their classroom or home.

The James Webb Space Telescope Challenge ignites curiosity, fosters scientific thinking, and inspires the next generation of space explorers. By the end of this experience, students will have gained not only knowledge but also a genuine sense of wonder at the vastness and complexity of our universe.

Sign up for a Special Classroom Event

Join us with your class for a special webinar with leaders from NASA and Minecraft to learn about this incredible tool and dive into astronomy with the pros. Sessions available in English, Spanish, and Arabic.

To the Moon and Beyond: The Artemis Missions

But why stop at observing from afar? With our Artemis mission series, students can take one giant leap for education and experience lunar exploration firsthand.

Our partnership with NASA brings the excitement of the Artemis program to life in the blocky world of Minecraft. Students will follow in the footsteps of astronauts, from the thrill of rocket launches to the challenges of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon.

A New Frontier: Moon Base One – The Ultimate Artemis Challenge

Imagine stepping onto the lunar surface, your heart racing as you contemplate the monumental task ahead: building humanity’s first permanent Moon base. This isn’t a scene from a sci-fi movie – it’s the thrilling finale of our Artemis series in Minecraft Education.

Artemis: Moon Base One brings the ultimate goal of NASA’s Artemis program to life in the blocky, imaginative world of Minecraft. Just as Artemis 3 aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon, our latest world challenges students to do the same, all while grappling with the real scientific and logistical challenges of lunar living.

We’ve designed Moon Base One as a rich, role-playing experience that puts students in the astronaut’s boots. Why? Because when learners step into the role of lunar pioneers, something magical happens. Suddenly, they’re not just reading about space exploration – they’re living it. The challenges of producing oxygen, generating power, growing food, and protecting against radiation become personal puzzles to solve. This approach ignites imagination, fosters empathy, and allows students to tackle real-world problems in a safe, virtual environment.

The beauty of Moon Base One lies in its flexibility. Students can choose to brave the lunar frontier solo, fostering independence and self-reliance, or team up with classmates to build a collaborative lunar colony. The choice between survival mode and creative mode adds another layer of customization. In survival mode, every decision counts as players manage limited resources and confront unexpected challenges. It’s a true test of problem-solving skills and resilience. Creative mode, on the other hand, gives free rein to students’ imaginations, allowing them to design ambitious lunar colonies without resource constraints – perfect for those big, bold ideas that could shape our future in space.

As students explore their lunar home, they’ll find themselves pondering questions that real NASA scientists grapple with daily: How can we sustain human life in such a harsh environment? What resources can we use on the Moon? How does reduced gravity affect our construction plans? What groundbreaking research could we conduct from our lunar base? These questions drive the experience, pushing students to think critically and creatively about the future of space exploration.

But Moon Base One goes beyond just building a cool space base (although that’s definitely part of it!). This experience develops crucial skills that are vital not just for space exploration, but for any future career. Resource management, scientific thinking, engineering design, collaboration, communication, adaptability, problem-solving – all these skills and more are honed as students work to make their lunar base a success.

By the time students complete their Moon Base One mission, they’ll have gained a deep appreciation for the complexities of space exploration and the incredible ingenuity required to make it possible. They’ll understand why establishing a lunar base is such a crucial steppingstone for humanity’s journey into space, paving the way for even more ambitious missions, like a journey to Mars.

Who knows? The lunar habitats your students design today might just inspire the real Moon bases of tomorrow. With Moon Base One, we’re skilling the next generation become part of humanity’s greatest adventure.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Explorers

The Minecraft Education and NASA partnership is predicated on the innate curiosity we have about the stars and the experiences on earth needed to cultivate the skills and mindset needed for the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. Critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity are all put to the test as students navigate these cosmic challenges.

By bringing cutting-edge space science into the familiar, engaging world of Minecraft, we’re making these complex topics accessible and exciting for learners of all backgrounds. Who knows? The first person to set foot on Mars might be inspired by building their first Moon base in Minecraft!

Ready for Launch?

The James Webb Space Telescope Challenge and all Artemis missions, including the new Moon Base One, are available now for Minecraft Education. We can’t wait to see the incredible discoveries and creations your students will make as they explore these new frontiers.

So, are you ready to launch your classroom into space? Download these cosmic learning experiences today and prepare for an educational adventure that’s truly out of this world. Let’s inspire the next generation of space explorers, one block at a time!

The post Craft the Cosmos: Inspire Tomorrow’s Space Explorers with Minecraft’s New NASA inspired Worlds appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

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

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

Starting the cybersecurity conversation

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

Key points to discuss about phishing

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

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

Examples of when to be extra vigilant

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

Primary school students

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

Secondary school students

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

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

Hands-on, minds-on experiences with Minecraft Education

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

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

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

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

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

Inspiring cybersecurity champions

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

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

Build your knowledge with cybersecurity training for educators

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Educational leaders are constantly on the lookout for new methods to improve student learning and equip them for future challenges and opportunities. With the swift progress in generative AI, a new range of possibilities has opened up for educational institutions.

The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) recognized the potential of AI to enhance computer science education, enrich learning experiences, and prepare students for the workplace of the future. They used Azure OpenAI Service to deploy a custom AI chatbot to support student learning and help students with complex coursework. Their experience offers a valuable example of ways to tailor AI to the unique needs and goals of your school.

Benefits of AI in higher education

From the University of Sydney’s AI assistants for teachers to Auburn University’s workshops on building custom chatbots. From enhancing research and practical applications at Georgia Tech to streamlining query responses at the University of South Florida, it’s clear that education continues to evolve with AI innovation.

Here are just a few examples of the many ways that AI can be used to differentiate instruction and enhance student learning:

• Personalized learning: AI can tailor educational experiences to individual students’ needs, providing personalized feedback and support.
• Scalability: AI tools can handle large volumes of requests, making them ideal for large classes and education at scale.
• Constant availability: AI-powered assistants can provide support around the clock, ensuring students have access to help whenever they need it.
• Efficiency: AI can help with routine tasks, allowing educators to focus on more complex and creative aspects of teaching.
• Data-driven insights: AI can analyze student performance data to start identifying areas for improvement and optimize learning strategies.

Supporting students with AI innovation

UC Berkeley PhD student, J.D. Zamfirescu-Pereira, together with master’s student Laryn Qi and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science faculty members Narges Norouzi and John DeNero, started looking into ways to build an interactive bot. The bot would be deployed on Azure OpenAI Service, specifically GPT-4 for the classroom, to support students taking the Intro to Computer Science class.

The team developed the 61A-Bot—named after the Intro to Computer Science course—to help students through the rigorous curriculum. The 61A-Bot acts as a specialized chatbot, helping students solve complex problems independently by providing hints whenever they encounter coding challenges.

“The Azure OpenAI Service provided remarkably high-quality hints generated by GPT-4 from a robust and scalable API that reliably handled heavy loads from hundreds of students working simultaneously near homework deadlines,” says John DeNero, Faculty Director and Associate Teaching Professor.

Deploying a custom AI assistant

UC Berkeley’s 61A-Bot is part of a broader trend of using AI and large language models (LLMs) in education. The deployment occurred over two semesters, where more than 2,000 students made over 100,000 requests to the chatbot. The bot offered one-shot, contextual feedback through both a “Get Help” button within a popular code editor and a “get feedback” feature within the command-line auto grader.

This innovative approach not only reduced homework completion times but also increased the availability of support options for students. Students who used the bot experienced significant reductions in homework completion times, seeing reductions of over 30 minutes. The immediate support provided by the bot was especially appreciated during late-night study sessions.

The benefits of 61A-Bot are far-reaching—from debugging help and personalized feedback to generating course materials and answering forum questions. The bot significantly reduced homework completion times and increased opportunities for students to receive real-time feedback. UC Berkeley has demonstrated how AI tools like those created by using Azure OpenAI Service are becoming integral to educational institutions.

Enhancing learning experiences with AI

As educational institutions continue to explore AI’s role in the classroom, it’s crucial to prioritize tools that make learning more efficient. The journey of 61A-Bot is a testament to the transformative power of AI and an example of thoughtful integration to enhance education.

A key ingredient of successful education is to ensure that students are spending their time effectively. AI tools that provide individualized guidance and feedback can help students make continuous progress in learning new material and tackle challenging assignments with confidence.

John DeNero, Faculty Director and Associate Teaching Professor, UC Berkeley

To evaluate the impact of introducing 61A-Bot, the research team sought to answer three key questions: whether the hints provided by the bot helped students improve their code, how effectively the hints captured problems in student code, and whether the issues resolved by students were the same as those addressed in the hints. The results were highly encouraging, demonstrating how the bot can help enhance learning experiences and support students in their academic journey.

Gaining practical experience

Through ingenuity and dedication, the faculty and students at UC Berkeley created a tool that not only helped make learning more efficient but also helped foster a sense of independence and confidence among their peers. Their tailored implementation of a specialized chatbot provided students with valuable opportunities to gain experience with AI in a secure, controlled setting, which will be increasingly important for their future careers.

“Generative AI needs to be deployed thoughtfully and carefully in order to have a positive impact on education, and this work is urgent because we’ve observed that many students will use AI on their assignments no matter what—whether it helps or hurts their learning,” says DeNero. “Therefore, quickly developing helpful ways of using AI is a critical need, and Azure OpenAI Service allowed us to make very fast progress at scale in UC Berkeley’s largest introductory computer science course.”

This is an exciting example of how schools can responsibly and securely incorporate generative AI tools into their teaching methods. By adopting this transformative technology, you can enhance educational outcomes and prepare students for the workplace of the future.

Explore and share these AI resources:

• AI in Education Report: Learn more about the need for bridging the AI literacy gap and starting AI conversations in our AI in Education Report.
• Microsoft Education AI Toolkit: Designed to guide school leaders through the process of integrating AI into their school’s operations and building robust plans for your organization.
• Worklab: Discover the latest research insights on the future of work and generative AI

The post UC Berkeley enhances computer science education with Azure OpenAI Service appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

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

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

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

Play digitally or on paper

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

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

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

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

Join the fun and continue learning

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

Create a comic book in 5 easy steps

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

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

Build your own instrument and hold a concert

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

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

Create a plan to improve your community

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

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

Recreate a famous landmark in Minecraft Education

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

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

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

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

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

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

Editor’s note: This blog was updated on September 11, 2024, to include additional AI tools.

Developments in AI are happening quickly, with many exciting new products and features launching. Wondering where to get started with AI tools in education? We’ve got you covered! We’ve compiled a list of free AI tools and offers to kickstart your AI journey.

AI offers opportunities to reshape how we approach creativity, problem-solving, learning, and communication in a time where these skills are more important than ever. It can help educators grow and focus on what matters most and help prepare students for a future where AI will play an increasingly important role in many careers. It’s also important to teach students how to use AI tools in a safe and responsible way, making sure they understand the benefits and potential impacts.

In addition to leveraging new products below, we recommend first building a strong foundation for understanding AI in education with our free training courses and resources. Take the courses in the AI for educators learning path to understand essential AI concepts and applications for your classroom. Use the Classroom Toolkit: Unlock generative AI safely and responsibly to help students gain skills like fact-checking, cultivating good digital hygiene habits, safeguarding their data privacy, and adopting strategies to manage their mental wellbeing effectively.

Take a step toward a more informed and inclusive future with AI. Let curiosity be your guide and explore these free AI tools from Microsoft.

1. Microsoft Copilot

Learn all about Microsoft Copilot, your AI assistant for education. Copilot offers AI-powered web chat, using the latest AI models, with sources and enterprise data protection. It’s available to education staff, faculty, and higher education students aged 18 and older at no additional cost. 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.

• Read Meet your AI assistant for education: Microsoft Copilot to get started.
• Save or print this quick guide to Microsoft Copilot to refer back to as needed.

2. GitHub Copilot

GitHub Education brings tech and open-source collaboration to students and educators worldwide. To empower the next generation, GitHub Copilot is free for all verified educators and students aged 13 and above. GitHub Copilot suggests code and entire functions in real-time from your editor, allowing you and your students to focus on solving bigger problems and building better software.

With GitHub Copilot Chat, students and teachers can not only get code suggestions, but also ask questions, get explanations, offer prompts for code, and more, all in the integrated development environment (IDE) while staying in the flow.

• Visit GitHub Education to start your journey.
• Read more about GitHub Copilot Chat for students and teachers.

3. Learning Accelerators

Learning Accelerators can help students catch up, keep up, and get ahead. With these powerful tools included in Microsoft 365 Education, students can start practicing right away, and you can start gathering data to help them build their skills.

• Use Reading Coach to provide personalized, engaging, consistent, and independent reading fluency practice. It allows learners to create unique AI-generated stories by choosing characters and settings from a curated collection of options. Reading Coach is available for free as a Windows application and a web app to use in the classroom or at home with a Microsoft account.
• Leverage Search Progress and Search Coach, two information literacy tools, to empower students to seek, evaluate, and use online sources responsibly—a critical step in helping them navigate AI-generated content and the wider information ecosystem with confidence.
• Try Speaker Progress to help develop students’ public speaking with AI-powered real-time coaching. It helps students build confidence, offer a private space to practice and refine presentation delivery, and develop critical communication skills. And as an educator, you can create, customize, and assign speaking projects to your students and collect insights about their performance over time.
• Visit Learning Accelerators: Tools for Students to get started with these powerful tools in your classroom.

4. Microsoft Teams for Education

New AI-powered features in Microsoft Teams for Education, a free communication app for schools, are available to all educators for no additional cost. They leverage AI to draft content like rubrics, assignment instructions, personalized reading passages, and learning objectives, all while keeping the educator in control.  

• In Assignments, get multiple suggestions for how to enrich your content, including creating rubrics and assignment instructions. After the content is created, you can make edits and generate different options. 
• Use Reading Progress, a powerful reading fluency tool, to track students’ reading skills, get actionable insights quickly, and focus students on specific areas for improvement. New enhancements in the tool—AI passage generation and AI comprehension questions generation—can help you save time and personalize learning.
• Visit Microsoft Teams for Schools and Students to download Teams and get started.

5. Minecraft Education AI Foundations

Build AI literacy and digital citizenship with Minecraft Education’s learning content and teaching resources. In fun, immersive worlds and videos, students explore how AI can help us solve real-world problems, demystify the risks and opportunities of AI, and build confidence through game-based learning. Use Minecraft’s lesson planning resources to spark classroom engagement and inspire AI learning.

• Watch and share AI Adventurers, a new animated video series with classroom-ready teaching materials, a parent guide, and free movie poster to capture young imaginations and spark discussion.
• Discover Fantastic Fairgrounds, the new Minecraft world for students ages 8-14, to bring AI concepts to life through fun, values-driven gameplay.
• Teach standards-aligned STEM lessons that build AI literacy like Hour of Code: Generation AI, AI for Earth, and Hour of Code: AI for Good.
• Use the Minecraft Prompt Lab for educators to learn how to use Copilot with sample prompts to create engaging game-based learning lessons and assessment materials.
• Visit aka.ms/MinecraftAI to get started!

6. Khanmigo for Teachers

Khanmigo for Teachers, a pilot AI-powered teaching assistant, is free for educators in more than 40 countries in English due to our new partnership with Khan Academy. Khanmigo streamlines class prep and gives teachers more time and energy to spend with students. As your planning ally and instructional collaborator, Khanmigo leverages Khan Academy content to simplify AI for teachers. No prompting is required. Khanmigo will help create engaging lesson hooks, provide insights on student performance, recommended assignments, and support for refreshing your knowledge.

• Read the article Enhancing the future of education with Khan Academy to learn more and get started today.
• Save or print this quick guide to Khanmigo for Teachers to refer back to as needed.

AI tools are quickly transforming the way schools foster creativity, approach challenges, and enhance learning. We’re here to help you find the tools and resources to feel inspired and level up your teaching skills. Get started with these free AI tools from Microsoft and seamlessly integrate AI into your teaching and learning.

The post Get started with free AI tools from Microsoft Education appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

We’ll highlight some of the recent product updates and capabilities to help you boost student engagement, improve your instruction, and simplify your tasks. We’ll also share professional development opportunities to help you develop and enhance your skills. Let’s dive in and see what’s new in Microsoft Education.

Simplify your workflow with new tools, features, and capabilities

1. Get free access to Khanmigo for Teachers for US educators

We recently announced a new partnership with Khan Academy to help turn the promise of AI in education into reality and increase access to innovation. As part of the partnership, Microsoft is enabling Khan Academy to provide free access to Khanmigo for Teachers to all US educators, we’re collaborating to explore opportunities to improve AI-powered math tutoring with a new open-source small language model, and bringing high-quality education experiences to more learners.

Read about our collaboration with Khan Academy and learn how US educators can get started with Khanmigo for Teachers for free. You can also save or print this quick guide to Khanmigo for Teachers to refer back to as needed.

2. Discover new Minecraft Education, Reflect, and MakeCode experiences inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2

Engage your class with new experiences from Microsoft Education inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2. Create an open and accepting classroom with these new activities from Minecraft Education, Reflect, and MakeCode.

• Dive into a world where emotions come to life and find what brings you joy in a new Minecraft Education build challenge inspired by the movie, complete with a lesson plan and a custom world.
• Explore new brain breaks in Reflect that include stories, games, and coloring pages featuring characters from the movie.
• Celebrate the release with a new Bubble Popping arcade tutorial from MakeCode that features art and characters from the movie.

3. Teach computing skills with Visual Studio Code for Education

Consistent with Microsoft’s commitment to preparing students for the future, we announced the release of our latest product to empower the next generation of developers—Visual Studio Code for Education, a free online computer science education platform. Visual Studio Code for Education is designed for students and educators and provides integrated curriculum and a sandbox coding environment for everyone, with zero setup.

Get started with Visual Studio Code for Education and see how it can be a valuable resource in your classroom!

4. Practice summer reading with Reading Coach

School may be out for summer in many places across the northern hemisphere, but learning doesn’t have to stop! Have your students practice their reading and personalize their own stories using Reading Coach online during the summer break. Reading Coach provides personalized, engaging, 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.

One of the newest features, “Unlock characters and settings,” empowers learners to get a new character or story setting for every 20 minutes of reading. Learners can even trade characters and story settings from a whole new collection. Get started with Reading Coach online for school or home use and scroll further to learn about the new Reading Coach training course for educators on Microsoft Learn.

5. Leap into summer learning with a free game from Microsoft

Help your student stay sharp over the summer break with our free game for students, Leaps and Logs. In this summer learning game, players take on challenges across various subjects including English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Coding, and Arts/Music. The free summer learning activities in Leaps and Logs can be completed by students of most ages (age 8 or older recommended) and players can engage with Leaps and Logs in two different ways: digitally or on paper (with access to a device for embedded task links).

Visit Leap into summer learning with a game from Microsoft for full game directions and the Leaps and Logs game board.

6. Check out the new AI enhancements in Microsoft Teams for Education

New features in Microsoft Teams for Education, a powerful communication app for schools, leverage AI to help you draft content like rubrics and assignment instructions, all while keeping the educator in control.   

• Using generative AI to create rubrics in Assignments: With generative AI integrated into Assignments, enter what you want the rubric to assess, and Assignments will suggest criteria and complete the rubric for you.
• Using generative AI to create instructions in Assignments: Get multiple suggestions for how to enrich the content, such as adding more details, adding learning objectives, emphasizing key concepts, and even making your assignments more interesting. After the content is created, you can make further edits and updates as you go.

Visit What’s New in Microsoft EDU | May 2024 to learn about all the new updates in Microsoft Teams for Education.

7. Explore the new wild wisdom activities collection in Microsoft Reflect

We’re excited to introduce the wild wisdom activities collection in Reflect, featuring stories and coloring pages centered around nature. Reflect is a Learning Accelerator that helps students build important social, emotional, and academic skills by offering quick check-ins, intentional brain breaks, mindfulness activities, and actionable data. Each story in the wild wisdom collection is paired with a corresponding coloring page and highlights the fascinating behaviors of various animals—from dolphin friendships to elephant empathy, and penguin teamwork.

Explore the engaging stories and coloring pages in the new wild wisdom activities collection in Reflect.

8. Enrich teaching and learning experiences with Microsoft Forms updates

Microsoft Forms helps educators assess student progress and create engaging, interactive learning experiences for their students. Check out these updates in Microsoft Forms to easily access your responses and insert a form into a Stream video.

• Form or quiz data sync to Excel: You can now access all your responses in Excel for the web. New responses will sync automatically in real-time, while also leveraging Excel’s robust functions to analyze and evaluate your class’s performance.
• Embed Forms and callouts into Stream videos: You can now insert a form or quiz directly into a Stream video. As the video plays to a specific moment, the form or quiz will appear to the students. Once they’ve completed the form or quiz, they can continue watching the video, providing you with a new way to enhance engagement and assess comprehension in real-time.

Read What’s New in Microsoft EDU | May 2024 to learn about all the latest updates in Microsoft Forms.

9. Adding Universal Print value for educational organizations

Many schools have told us that they need simpler printing solutions and more predictable costs to manage their budgets effectively. To help educational organizations meet their printing needs, we recently announced licensing changes that will address both these issues. Organizations with Microsoft 365 A3 and Microsoft 365 A5 licenses¹ now receive 100 print jobs per license per month. This means that most organizations can use Universal Print with no extra cost if they have eligible licenses.

Read the article Adding Universal Print value for educational organizations to learn more about Universal Print and the new increased print volume.

Stay ahead with professional development opportunities and events

10. Take the new Reading Coach course on Microsoft Learn

Learn how to use Reading Coach, a free tool that uses AI and built-in fluency detection to personalize reading content and practice for learners, with a new training module on Microsoft Learn. The new course will help you understand how to access Reading Coach and use the tool in your classroom. It’ll also help you learn how to describe the core reading functionality of the tool, and how to best use the different reading modes to support your students’ reading fluency.

Take the new Build reading fluency with Reading Coach training module on Microsoft Learn and learn how to get started with Reading Coach.

11. Recharge and explore with summer learning for educators

Many educators in the northern hemisphere are getting ready to take a well-deserved break for the summer. We know that many of you embrace this opportunity to explore new things, so we’ve curated a list of exciting learning experiences to inspire you this summer. These free, flexible professional development resources for teachers allow you to move at your own pace and can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

Visit Recharge and explore with summer learning for educators to tap into our collection of free professional development resources for teachers.

Tap into new possibilities for innovation in education

12. Become an MIE Expert, Showcase School, or Incubator School for 2024-2025

The future is here, and it’s time to step into the spotlight as a beacon of educational innovation. The Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert nominations for the 2024-2025 academic year are open until June 17, 2024, and Showcase School nominations are opening soon. This is your opportunity to shine! Being part of these programs means actively participating in a global movement that redefines education through technology.

Check out the article Become an MIE Expert, Showcase School, or Incubator School for 2024-2025 to learn how to nominate yourself and your school.

Whether you want to discover new ways to engage your students, expand your learning, or tap into possibilities for innovation at your school, Microsoft Education has new features and experiences for you to explore. Happy teaching!

¹ Users with Student Use Benefit licenses can print with Universal Print, but these licenses do not contribute print jobs to the pool. See Product Terms for details about Student Use Benefits and Academic Programs.

The post Discover 12 new ways to enhance your teaching with Microsoft Education appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

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

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

What is Imagine Cup Junior?

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

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

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

Christina Thoresen, Director, Worldwide Public Sector Education, Microsoft

Celebrating innovation: Meet the winning teams

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

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

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

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

Honorable mentions for the Tech for Good competition include:

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

Prepare for the workplace of the future

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

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

Explore resources for building AI skills

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

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

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

Visual Studio Code for Education is a free online computer science education platform that provides integrated curriculum and a sandbox coding environment for everyone. With zero setup, anyone can be a developer and start learning to code with Visual Studio (VS) Code, the code editor preferred by software development professionals around the world.¹

Learn to code using real-world tools

Visual Studio Code for Education is a version of VS Code designed for students and educators. Using the same tools and platforms used by professionals, students will learn modern technologies and languages like Python and JavaScript that will help prepare them for the future.

Learn modern technologies and languages with Visual Studio Code for Education.

Coding for everyone

Visual Studio Code for Education is free and available online, so educators and students in any classroom can use it across devices and platforms. Choose from short bite-size lessons or full Python or Web Development courses with interactive assessments and coding challenges.

Visual Studio Code for Education is free, available online, and includes courses with interactive assessments and coding challenges.

Accessibility built-in

To ensure that every student can learn to code, accessibility features like Immersive Reader, high contrast, zoom, and screen reader support have been built into Visual Studio Code for Education from the beginning.

Immersive Reader in Visual Studio Code for Education. Accessibility features have been built into the product to ensure that all students can learn to code.

Courses and coding activities

Visual Studio Code for Education currently offers the following courses:

• Introduction to Python: A full year introductory-level course appropriate for both secondary school and university level classes. The course covers the fundamentals of the Python programming language like functions, if statements, for loops and structures.
• Intro to Web Development: A semester-length introduction to web design course focused on using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This project-based curriculum introduces students to the design thinking process to create websites for a client to solve a problem or serve a purpose.  Students will learn basic HTML syntax, explore styling with CSS, and add dynamic web elements using JavaScript.

In addition to these courses, there are also bite-sized, 45-minute or less, fun coding activities available—like a Python Fortune Teller or a Spooky Manor text-based adventure game. These activities focus on specific elements of a programming language and support student creativity, exploration, and expression.

Visual Studio Code for Education offers full courses and bite-sized coding activities to fit the needs of educators and students.

Projects in Visual Studio Code for Education

If you would rather use your own curriculum or lessons with Visual Studio Code for Education, you can also use a project workspace that supports both Python and Web development projects. With zero setup required, students can start editing and running code in the browser. For web projects, students can preview their websites and publish them to the internet.

The project workspace in Visual Studio Code for Education supports open-ended Python and Web development projects.

Safe and secure for students and schools

At Microsoft, we value, protect and defend student data privacy and school security with rigorous governance practices and a privacy-by-design approach. To learn more, see Frequently Asked Questions about Visual Studio Code for Education.

Microsoft and Visual Studio Code for Education protect and defend student data privacy and school security with rigorous governance practices.

Created with educators

Visual Studio Code for Education was designed by educators, for educators. As part of an Advisory Board, a group of a dozen educators worked with the engineering and design teams to provide feedback and guidance on computer science education as the product was being developed.

The Advisory Board was an incredible opportunity to help create a tool that can help fill a necessary gap in teaching computer science.

George Lias, CS Teacher, Fredericksburg, Virginia, US

I love that Microsoft is taking seriously the feedback from the teachers who will use their product. I feel that I am heard during the session, and that my feedback is seriously considered and incorporated where possible.

Amy Pezzoni, CS Teacher, Modesto, California, US

We continue to work with CS educators as we explore new features and curricula. Learn more about the Advisory Board, access educator resources, and join fellow learners and educators at the Visual Studio Code for Education Community.

How to get started with Visual Studio Code for Education

It’s quick and easy to get started teaching with Visual Studio Code for Education:

1. Open a web browser to https://vscodeedu.com
2. Sign in using a Microsoft or Google account.
3. Browse the catalog of courses to select a full course or coding activity to follow along with or create your own website or python project.

To verify connectivity and access to Visual Studio Code for Education on your school network, we encourage you to visit Visual Studio Code for Education Domains and Connectivity.

As you plan your professional learning, be sure to sign up for one of our free “Getting Started with Visual Studio Code for Education” or other course-specific webinars. Check out our events and workshops for educators to sign up and learn more about the professional learning opportunities available.

Get started with Visual Studio Code for Education and see how it can be a valuable resource in preparing students for the future!

¹ https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2023/#section-most-popular-technologies-integrated-development-environment

The post Teach computing skills with Visual Studio Code for Education (new!) appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

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

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

Two ways to play Leaps and Logs

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

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

Playing digitally

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

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

Playing on paper

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

How to share with students

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

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

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

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