Teacher's Blog
The Point2Player from Point2Educate can now be downloaded and used in your school entirely freely. It provides access to the Naace ICT Framework Toolkit, Microsoft's Learning Suite and a range of other content without having any impact on your budget.
Naace and Point2Educate:
Naace and Point2Educate are working together to provide primary and secondary schools with free access to a wide range of Open Source software tools and other resources to support the Naace ICT Curriculum Framework. The Framework can be used by schools to audit their current provision for ICT and to plan any changes that may be needed in order to deliver a full, broad and balanced ICT curriculum with clear progression from EYFS to Key Stage 3.
Microsoft and Point2Educate:
The Learning Suite by Microsoft is a set of innovative applications for education that create a robust, creative and collaborative learning environment for students and educators. These tools are now freely available to you from within the Point2Player, making them even easier to access. Microsoft group these tools into four categories aligned to how you work: Create, Colloborate, Research & Study and Teach. To make the best use of these tools and resources, sign up for the Partners in Learning Network here
There’s more…
Point2Player have eighteen educational Open Source software titles available for immediate use including Hot Potatoes, Libre Office and Scratch. They also provide direct links to a range of free online tools for schools, including Office 365 and Microsoft SkyDrive. Once you've tried the Point2Player and had the chance to assess the value it offers, you may be interested in other software and resources that they offer. If so, you'll find the eStore built into the Player, so that you can order and then start using your purchase immediately.
What next? First take a look at the Getting Started Guide here.
Want to download and install it now? Get started…. Download it now..
BETT Show is the leading event for educational technology, and one of the world’s largest ICT in education exhibitions. Microsoft will be a major exhibitor at BETT and will be holding talks and demonstrations on Windows 8, Office 365, Partners in Learning, Shape the Future, IT Academy and much more at stands E270 and D270. Web.
PiL School Tour Tue, 29 Jan
Educators, school leaders, policy makers and education experts embark on a tour to see how innovative use of space and technology turns teaching and learning into a fun and engaging experience, and drives stellar learning outcomes. Invitees to the PiL Leadership Workshop, the ELB, the School Technology Innovation Briefing, and Playful Learning can sign up for the Tour during the registration process. Web.
UK Government invites Ministers of Education and their advisors for a 3-day global leadership summit debating future practice in education. The event is an internationally recognized ministerial forum and participation is by official invitation only. MSFT cannot invite people to the EWF but if profile fits - senior national officials, state or regional ministers or ‘others who are exerting a significant national influence – we can put a suggestion forward. New this year, we found a way for subs to participate. If you have MoE at EWF you can sign up for a ticket slot. Also we have meeting space for non-EWF delegates available. Web.
Education Leaders Briefing Wed, 30 Jan
Senior education policy makers and key policy influencers join education thought leaders Sir Michael Barber, Tom Vander Ark, Kirsti Lonka, Wayne Houlden and Anthony Salcito as well as 3 young social entrepreneurs from Mexico, Chile and Singapore for an education talk show, which will be rounded up by a cocktail reception and networking dinner with edu experts as table hosts. Table topics TBA shortly. Web.
Join technical and business decision makers from education organizations for a half-day interactive workshop about latest trends in education technology, followed by round-table discussions with experts to unravel the complexities of schooling systems and work out practical steps for scaling innovation in education. Web.
Organizations responsible for professional development (curriculum design, deployment, certification, assessment, etc.) participate in a 3-day workshop and use Microsoft resources to build educator capacity and prepare students to be workforce ready. Web.
PiL Pathfinder, Mentor & World School Tour Leaders engage in a one-day professional development workshop with Katelyn Donnelly from Pearson Learning and co-author of Michael Fullan’s ‘Oceans of Innovation’, Tom Vander Ark and Bruce Dixon on leadership in education. Web.
Playful Learning Workshop Fri, 01 Feb
Designed to help teachers (PiL / non-PiL) use ICTs more effectively and creatively the workshop will offer fun, engaging demos of how to use Windows 8, Microsoft Office, OneNote, Skype, Xbox and many other solutions in and outside the classroom to design engaging learning experiences. Web.
W8 Appathon Mon, 29 – Tue, 30 Jan
Educators become developers. 20 PiL Innovative Teachers from Europe will be invited to turn their idea for a Windows 8 Education App into reality during a 2-day boot camp, with the top apps being promoted on the Partners in Learning Network. Nomination managed by Corp. Web.
NEW Microsoft Learning Educator Roundtable at BETT
Join Lutz Ziob, General Manager for Microsoft Learning for a 1h-round table discussion during BETT Show on Thursday, 31st of January from 10:00 – 11:00. The discussion will explore how new technologies influence students in the classroom and how the role of educators is changing. If interested, contact me at v-matwal@microsoft.com
Graphic from UK Office 365 for Education Partner Novotronix
Guest blog post from James Marshall (UK Education Cloud blog)
If you’re in the UK (other countries are available) you’ll probably look out of your window this morning and see something like this:
Teachers and pupils up and down the country tune into their local radio stations eagerly awaiting news of school closures, crossing fingers and toes that theirs is on the list. Traditionally when snow hits and schools close it’s seen as a free day because communication grinds to a halt.
I’ve heard stories of broadband connections to schools being swamped and failing as people scramble to get to the school website for updates, only to find an error as the server’s offline or the, hitherto totally reliable, mail server develops a problem meaning you can’t send any email. Maybe it’s time to look at different ways to keep the school functioning when the mercury falls below zero?
Office 365 for education
Office 365 for education can help get you out of this sticky situation in a number of ways:
For more info on Office 365 for education, visit the UK Education Cloud Blog! You can sign up for Office 365 for education for free today! Every signup gets a 30 day free trial of the enhanced A3 plan, which includes a downloadable copy of Office Professional Plus 2010.
Thanks,
James.
Blog posts in this series:
Look out for future posts that will explore other key tools and features of Office 365, however more Office 365 for education innovids and resources can be found on the Partners in Learning Network – Join for free today.
Guest blog post from Tim Bush (Microsoft School’s Blog)
Wow - I can't believe Bett 2013 is nearly upon us. It only seems like yesterday that we were packing up our stand at Olympia after a fun and rewarding 4 days at the show. In this case, time definitely does fly!
So, with a fairly wide remit at Bett 2012 that was built around the theme of 'Anytime, Anywhere Learning… for all', what's on the cards for Microsoft @ Bett for 2013?
Well, with the move to Excel, we are all definitely going to need to find a new café for that much needed bacon sandwich in the morning (Franks Sandwich bar, you will be missed). On a more serious note, though, we are super excited about many of the new opportunities that the new venue, and the fresh new approach by the Bett organisers for the 2013 show, provides to help us add greater value to our community.
More specifically, the theme for Bett 2013 is going to be a 'New Era for Digital Learning'. With a number of sub-themes that align to this umbrella theme, such as Windows 8, Office 365 for education, 1:1 Computing and tablets in education, we will be discussing how technology can help create more engaging and emotional connections with learning that is steeped in real world problem solving.
Furthermore, in response to the tremendous amount of innovation in the technology available in classrooms, we will also be extending our focus on supporting teachers in the resulting shifts in pedagogy, practice and management needed for us to deliver on the promise of a new era of digital learning through Partners in Learning (PiL) and our Windows in the Classroom seminar programme.
Microsoft @ Bett 2013: So what about the detail…
New for Bett 2013 is the Bett Arena, and we are proud to be sponsoring its inaugural year. We have been busy working closely with the folks at Bett to curate an amazing line-up of insightful, entertaining and informative speakers that will add a new dimension to visitors experience at the show. With a mix of household names and passionate in-sector speakers, visiting the Bett Arena is going to be an essential part of your day at the show.
Our very own VP for Education, Anthony Salcito, will be presenting in the Arena on the opening day of the show and we are also running a computer science in the curriculum panel discussion. More details on both of these will be available via the blog at a later date.
Moving beyond the Bett Arena, Microsoft's presence is very much focused around sharing best practice and solving your problems. With the Microsoft Learn Live Theatre, we are delivering a wide range of keynotes across all 4 days of the show that address the sub themes associated with the show.
These include:
As with previous BETT events, Learn Live Theatre sessions will be delivered by a mix of teachers, network managers and Microsoft Staff. We feel privileged to work with some amazing teachers and I highly recommend taking the time to visit the theatre to learn more about how the likes of Charlotte Beckhurst, David Rogers, Janet Hayward and Kristian Still are using technology to raise attainment and help their students realise their full potential.
Full details regarding the schedule for the Learn Live Theatre sessions will be made available in a future blog post.
In addition to the Learn Live Theatre, we are also hosting a Windows 8 stand for 2013. This space will complement the Learn Live Theatre by giving a more direct focus on Windows 8, devices (including Surface RT) and apps.
The Windows 8 stand will include representatives from a selection of our OEM community - Acer, Toshiba and Asus- and the partners behind our Top Apps in Education. Our Surface RT device will also be available to trial on the stand. I personally can't get over the build quality of this device and can't wait to make it available for you to test on the stand. It really is a thing of beauty!
The Windows 8 stand will also feature an intimate theatre where we will be showcasing short presentations around the core focus of the stand - Windows 8, Devices, Apps, WMS and Windows Phone 8.
But what about the demos?
Across both the Microsoft Learn Live Theatre and Windows 8 Stand, we will be signposting to our partner community who are exhibiting at the show to help demonstrate how our technologies, in conjunction with the experience and expertise of our partners, can help make a difference within your institution.
We will be making a handy flyer available on our stands that list all of our partners, combined with their area of expertise and stand number, so you can easily find someone to answer your questions or offer a demo. Additionally, we will be signposting to relevant partners at the end of each Learn Live Theatre presentation. Our Microsoft @ Bett Microsite (available soon) will also feature a list of the partners at the show if you want to plan your visit ahead of time.
Microsoft staff will be available on both stands if you have a question or need guidance on which partner to speak with. Just shout and we will be happy to help!
Treasure Trail
More details on our theatre agenda and overall presence at Bett 2013 will be shared via the blog over the coming weeks, but just wanted to take this opportunity to share some information about our Treasure Trail. The Treasure Trail will be run in conjunction with participating partners and will offer visitors to the show the ability to win some amazing prizes that range from a Surface RT Device, Xbox 360 and a PC.
Entry cards can the collected from the Microsoft Stand. Visit each participating partner stand, answer the question, and you will receive a stamp. When completed, the card should then be dropped off at the Microsoft Stand. We will be carrying out 2 draws per day at 4pm on the Microsoft Learn Live Theatre (Wednesday – Friday).
Pop by the Microsoft stand for the entry card or if you have any questions about the competition.
Stand Number
Other than to say keep an eye out on the blog for more information about all the latest news regarding our presence at Bett 2013, I just wanted to share the stand numbers for our stands at the show.
More news to follow and if you have any immediate questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via Twitter - @tbush
Look forward to seeing you at Bett 2013!
Tim
For more details on BETT, please visit the Microsoft School’s Blog.
Today’s workforce and workplace is mobile. In order to prepare students to succeed, we need to encourage and enable them to become mobile learners and active participants beyond the walls of the classroom. They can and they want to learn in different places, not only in the real-world, but also in virtual environments or a combination of both. Blended learning combines the traditional face-to-face classroom with online instruction. Office 365 for education is a great way to prepare your students to succeed in all types of environments.
In Lync you can connect with others through instant messaging (IM), video calls, online meetings, and phone calls. Oakswood Junior have used Lync to set up an online numeracy support group. Making use of Lync students are using the chat feature to provide support to one another on homework issues. Lync can be accessed by students at home and in school and teachers are using the status tool feature as an ‘Assessment for Learning’ strategy to monitor progress. Hence, if students set their status to red they require assistance, if they show green they know the answer and are available to help others and if they display amber they are still working on the learning activity.
Check out this two minute innovid tutorial below to see how easy it is to start teaching in the cloud with Office 365 Lync:
Your academic institution can use Office 365 for free. If you’re waiting for your institution to get Office 365, you can apply for your own 30-day trial version, which you can use to build your virtual classroom. Sign up for your free trial at this web link.
Work better together! We are really excited that Microsoft Office 365 is available for FREE for education. Office 365 will help transform the way students and educators work in real time on assignments and group projects. Easily share information, view and edit documents in a browser or in Office. Check out this video that shows 21st century collaboration at it's best...
To demonstrate how teachers are utilising Office 365 in the classroom we are creating ‘Teaching in the Cloud’ innovids (tutorials) that will help show you how to get started with your very own Office 365 experience. Today’s post will explore how teachers are using Office 365 SharePoint in their classroom.
Teachers have used the class and group site features of Sharepoint 2012 to deliver lessons to students of different abilities. The class discussion tool is often used as a starter activity to get all students contributing to questions and ideas that shape the basis of the lesson. Wiki pages are used to help deliver differentiated learning resources, and students are given opportunities to work in real time on assignments and group projects using the office web apps.
Check out the 2 minute Innovid tutorials below that have been created by teachers to show how easy it is to start teaching in the cloud with Office 365 SharePoint.
Look out for future posts that will explore other key tools and features of Office 365, however more Office 365 Sharepoint innovids and resources can be found on the Partners in Learning Network – Join for free today.
It’s hard to believe that teacher’s have already completed a third of the academic year, and after what we hope has been a great Christmas break, are now ready to start the spring term with a renewed energy.
If in this term you are looking for some great advice, examples and best practice in the use of Microsoft technologies and programmes; then our school partners might be able to help you!
Schools across the UK are hosting a series of training events, please see below for this term’s offerings. All events are FREE to attend, please contact the school directly or by the email contacts listed here.
We have had a great year at Microsoft Partners in Learning, the highlight coming from Laura Ispsen, WWPS CVP, and Anthony Salcito, WWPS Education VP who announced that Partners in Learning will be funded a further $250 million with a five-year renewal, that reaffirms its commitment to education.
With this in mind, I thought it would be great to reflect on some of the Partners in Learning 2012 highlights:
We will be blogging again in the New Year, look out for news on the Microsoft Expert Educator Program which recognises an exclusive roster of our best educators. Another first-have is the Microsoft Innovative Schools World Tour. Via the Tour, education leaders and industry policymakers are able to visit schools and learn from them while using Microsoft tools and technology such as Windows8 and Office365 and don't forget we will have news on Bett 2013, it can’t get better than that!
Here’s to a great Christmas break and a fabulous New Year. We hope that our readers are enjoying the festive period and making the most of the ‘season to be jolly.’
Sir Ranulph Fiennes is leading a team of explorers to conquer the last great polar challenge: crossing Antarctica in winter. The 2000-mile journey across the continent has for many years been considered too perilous to try and the expedition's six-man "Ice Team" will have to overcome one of earth's most hostile environments if they are to succeed, exposing themselves to temperatures dropping close to -90c and operating in near permanent darkness.
Their remarkable attempt aims to raise $10m for Seeing is Believing with match-funding from Standard Chartered, provide crucial scientific data and form the basis of an invaluable education programme.
The expedition offers an unprecedented opportunity to generate diverse, engaging, real-time educational content for schools that will galvanise children's interest in a host of subjects. From physics and maths to geography and meteorology, The Coldest Journey will be the backdrop and inspiration for a wealth of resources available to children across the Commonwealth and reach up to a hundred-thousand schools.
Educational materials to match curriculum needs from Early Years to post-16 will be made available and cover topics from environmental sciences, history, geography, initiative and team workshops, to the fundamental questions concerning the aspirations of mankind.
An interactive map will enable students to identify the current position of the ship and the expedition team, and over the coming months there will be live feeds from Antarctica, including interviews with Sir Ranulph and the crew, and real science data collected on the expedition ship and traverse.
Microsoft has been working in partnership with the Commonwealth Foundation to develop the password-protected platform, which will be continually updated and managed using cloud technology during the expedition. For a modest fee, this education sub-site will be accessible to more than 43,000 schools in the UK and a further 57,000 across the Commonwealth's 54 nations. All proceeds from the subscription go directly to making the expedition possible, with any surplus paid to Seeing is Believing.
Add a Shout badge to your Microsoft profile:
The Partners in Learning Network would love to know how you have used the coldest journey.org educational resources in your classroom. Share your practice and experiences in our Shout community and upload a ‘Water-Matters’ learning activity to www.pil-network.com to qualify for the badge.
Windows 8 also sees the availability of Windows to Go – think of Windows to Go as a snapshot of your computing environment that you carry with you wherever you go and on whatever computer you are using.
Using Windows To Go, users can travel light without sacrificing productivity, schools can enable new “Bring Your Own PC” scenarios, and staff can get up and running faster with more security.
Windows To Go enables IT administrators to provide users with a standard school Windows image that can include frequently used apps, settings, and school data on a compatible USB storage device. Users can boot and operate Windows To Go from any school or personal PC (Windows 7 or Windows 8 logo-certified), and continue to get a rich and consistent Windows 8 experience.
Here’s a great 2 minute overview of Windows 8 To Go by Mark Reynolds, Schools Business Manager (South), providing some ways it might be used in schools:
All information and resources can be found on the Partners in Learning Network – Join for free today.