Faculty Connection is an online set of real-world resources and shared peer knowledge, the goal of the Faculty Connection site is to put relevant and applicable tools and information at the fingertips of technology educators.
The UK Academic Team is responsible for offering IT students and faculty members free access to software, for enhancing knowledge and skills by providing curriculum materials and other learning opportunities, for helping students achieve their dreams by organizing an international competition, and finally for assisting last year students through career resources and job opportunities at our customers and partners.
With this blog we want to inform you on our latest initiatives.
Enjoy reading and stay tuned!
Do you want to provide your students and educators with the latest and greatest developer and platform software tools?
Have you heard of DreamSpark?
Microsoft DreamSpark provides no-cost access to Microsoft designer and development tools for verified students and educators around the world, to support and advance their learning and skills through technical design, technology, math, science and engineering activities. Academic subscription volume licensing customers receive an online subscription to DreamSpark at no additional cost for instructional use by their teachers and students organization-wide in their classrooms and labs. In addition, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) departments in higher education institutions may qualify for an online DreamSpark Premium subscription at no additional cost as a benefit of their Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES) or Open Value Subscription – Education Solutions (OVS-ES).
What are the benefits of the DreamSpark program?
Much more than a software subscription, membership includes:
1. DreamSpark software subscription that includes Microsoft platform, server and developer tools software as well as betas, new releases and tech support.
2. Special license rights allowing an organization or department to install DreamSpark software on any number of departmental lab machines for instructional and research purposes.
3. The ability for students taking at least one credit course offered by the member organization or department to install the software on their personal machines for use in coursework and personal development projects.
4. Instant online access to all DreamSpark content.
5. No-charge access to e-academy’s License Management System (ELMS) for automated distribution of software and product keys to eligible users via the Web.
Why is DreamSpark being offered to Academic VL Subscription customers?
Microsoft believes in the power of technology to transform education, foster local innovation and enable jobs and economic growth for everyone. Microsoft DreamSpark is just another way of helping this next generation of young leaders seize the opportunity to harness the transformative magic of software. By offering DreamSpark with a VL subscription agreement, we provide customers with a cost-effective way to get all of Microsoft’s productivity, collaboration, and developer tools under a single agreement.
Do those (STEM) departments have rights *anyway* to Dreamspark Premium as a result of our Campus/EES Agreement and so need not pay a further subscription?
All Campus/EES Agreement customers that qualify as STEM department get a DS Premium subscription at no additional cost. This is a benefit of the agreement. You will need to give them the appropriate promo code. If you have more than one STEM department, they can use the same promo code to enroll each department in a subscription.
If you have two classes of department/faculty - STEM and other. What rights do they have, flowing from the University's Campus/EES Agreement?
STEM department can avail of the DS Premium at no cost. The rest of the institution can get the DreamSpark (standard) subscription again as a benefit of their Campus/EES Agreement. The promo code is available in the Agreement welcome letter sent from your LAR.
Do all departments have rights to DS Premium?
No, only ALL STEM departments
Do all departments have right to DreamSpark?
Yes
Who has rights to DreamSpark Premium?
Only STEM departments have rights to DS Premium
Can I provide a single Institutional Download site for all educators and Students?
Just to stress you can have a single ELMS (Institutional online store) and set up different user groups per department to control software access, i.e. the whole institution gets DS software, the STEM department get the DS Premium product catalogue. The license admin for the institution can give admin accounts to each department if needed. Two things to keep in mind: each admin must enroll in a subscription with the promo code to get the account, or they will not have access to MSDN Subscription Portal which is the only place where you can get Windows bits and keys for labs. And you will not be able to get reporting at a department level. Only the institution all up so you may need to appoint/make responsible a member of staff as a institutional over license manager.
How does this benefit my students?
With the DreamSpark Membership, your students get the professional-level developer and designer tools they would use to build real sites, apps, and games for Xbox Live®/360®, Kinect™, Microsoft Windows® Phone, and more. Students get a head start on a career, or do better in class. Tomorrow’s tech superstars can be found in dorm rooms and in Microsoft tech clubs on campuses around the world. They will create thousands of next-gen apps, tools, and games. That’s why we’re giving students and institutions the top development and design tools to be used for instructional use at no charge. 6. My institution has an academic VL agreement.
How do I take advantage of the online subscription of DreamSpark?
1. New customers signing any of our academic VL subscription agreements will receive information about how to activate their online subscription of DreamSpark in their volume licensing program welcome letter.
2. Existing subscription customers have received notification about DreamSpark and information about how to transition from their current MSDNAA membership to a new DreamSpark membership at their next renewal. There is no impact to their existing membership. For any questions about your existing subscription or this transition, please contact: www.dreamspark.com/Support/RSC
How do my STEM departments take advantage of an online subscription of DreamSpark Premium?
STEM departments covered with an academic VL subscription agreement are eligible to receive a subscription to DreamSpark Premium at no additional cost. If you believe your department is eligible, talk to your reseller about how to activate your subscription.
What are the allowed uses of DreamSpark subscription software?
Software acquired through the DreamSpark subscription may be used by your institution’s students, faculty, or staff:
1.To develop, support, conduct, or take courses, labs, or programs offered by the institution
2. in non-commercial research on behalf of the institution
3. or to design, develop, test, and demonstrate software programs for the above purposes
What are the restrictions on use of the software?
DreamSpark software may not be used for commercial purposes or to develop or maintain the institution’s own administrative or IT systems.
What are the restrictions around the use of the Windows operating system license available through DreamSpark Premium?
The Windows operating system license available through DreamSpark Premium is an upgrade license and may only be installed on a device that already has a Windows Operating system installed on it. It may be installed on a “naked PC” only if the device is owned or leased by the institution and the device will at all times remain physically located in the labs operated by the STEM department with a DreamSpark Premium subscription.
Can students continue using the software upon graduation?
The institution must stop providing DreamSpark subscription benefits to students, faculty, or staff when they cease being eligible, per the use rights. However, students who have received software under the DreamSpark subscription may continue to use the software when they are no longer students (either upon graduation or leaving the school)
Full Customer FAQ which you can download and read through
With a FREE Apphub account for every DreamSpark subscriber and XNA Game Studio, included as part of the Windows Phone Developer tools, you can create games for Windows, Xbox 360, and Windows Phone. Follow these step-by-step instructions for getting access to all of the dev tools you need to get started. http://bit.ly/p303vU
Learn how to build great games for Windows Phone with XNA Game Studio. Build a game in minutes with the power of the XNA Framework and Content Pipeline. http://channel9.msdn.com/events/BUILD/BUILD2011/APP-791T
Get started developing a game
Follow the Game Development tutorial. http://bit.ly/JP9qJF
Stay up on the latest in the industry
The International Game Developers Association http://www.igda.org/
TIGA is the non-profit trade association representing the UK's games industry. Our members include independent games developers, in-house publisher-owned developers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses, universities, individuals and students. TIGA's vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. We do this through Government lobbying and maintain a voice in the corridors of power at both the Westminister and Scottish parliaments http://www.tiga.org
Teaching Material and Resources
Educator and Teacher FREE - Curricula Resources
If you are interested in learning more about how to build a private cloud using System Center 2012 can now go through fourteen guided labs that show the main features and describe the components that make up a Microsoft private cloud. The labs are accessible from a web browser, with no local software installation required. A 150-page comprehensive private cloud evaluation guide is also included.
Register to access fourteen interactive labs and gain hands-on experience with the Microsoft private cloud.
Register to receive 3 emails with resources for further guidance
Choose from 14 guided labs and experience the Microsoft private cloud right in your browser window
Come back at any time to continue working through the labs
GET STARTED NOW
A Microsoft private cloud dramatically changes the way your business produces and consumes IT services by creating a layer of abstraction over your pooled IT resources. This allows your datacenter to offer true infrastructure service capability as well as optimally managed application services.
Microsoft private cloud solutions are built on System Center and Windows Server.
System Center 2012 empowers you with a common management toolset for your private and public cloud applications and services. System Center helps you confidently deliver IT as a Service for your business.
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (optional download) will give you improved powerful virtualization capabilities that can transform how you deliver IT services to your end users and enable you to lay the foundation of a private cloud infrastructure.
Need more information? See the product details page.
Interested in a Microsoft private cloud software download evaluation? Click here to get started.
We’re excited to announce that the Windows 8 Release Preview and the new developer tools are available to download now.
Check out the Building Windows 8 blog post about the release and review these key resources for developers:
· Hundreds of new and updated design resources, technical articles, and samples for Metro style app development visit the Windows Dev Center:
· Take a look at Windows 8 app developer blog:“What’s changed for app developers since Consumer Preview” for an overview of what’s new in Visual Studio, the platform, and the Dev Center and how to get your existing apps up and running on the Release Preview.
· Windows Store for developers blog “Changes to the Store in Release Preview”.
Over the past few weeks we have been travelling across the country to run Windows 8 events.
Here are some recommended links to help with planning & designing Metro style apps…
· Watch 8 traits of great Metro style apps session from Build, to understand the key platform features and Metro design principles
· Read Planning Metro style apps, which walks you through the planning process to ensure your app has clear goals and a compelling “great at” statement
· If you have an existing site/app, read these design case studies to explore how to reimagine your web site or iPad app using Metro design principles
· Point your designers at the UX guidelines, checklists, PhotoShop templates etc on http://design.windows.com.
Key topics to help you design your first app are:
Navigation design
Touch interaction
Presenting commands
Semantic zoom
Branding
Live tiles
Grid system and app silhouette
Text and typography
Additionally there is lots of content, tools, samples and downloads on http://dev.windows.com. You can download the app samples and use the forums to ask questions.
Here are set of great Bookmarks in alphabetical order
Imagine Cup 2012 is on its way to Sydney, Australia where the best of the best will come together to find out who will claim this year’s cup. National finals are taking place now around the world as the most elite contenders are selected to compete on-site at the worldwide finals in July. Check out the Imagine Cup blog to find out which teams have advanced to the finals, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest news about which teams will take home the coveted Imagine Cup this year! Be sure to also sign up for news on next year’s elite Imagine Cup competition.
F#
The F# for Education and Innovation workshop will be held at the University of Pisa on June 28, 2012. The free, one-day workshop provides a forum for attendees to learn and explore the use of F# 3.0 for education, research, and industry. Don Syme, from Microsoft Research Cambridge, will present the keynote session. The workshop will highlight the latest developments for information-rich programming in F# 3.0, delivered through Microsoft Visual Studio 11 and Try F#. The workshop is preceded by a free F# tutorial session on June 27. If you are interested in attending this workshop, please register here F# for Education and Innovation Workshop
With only Four weeks to go! TechEd Europe in Amsterdam! Will you be there to get up to speed on Microsoft latest technologies and tool sets? http://europe.msteched.com/
Follow all the latest discussion on Twitter #TEE12
TechEd Europe on Facebook
Reserve Your In-Person Experience At TechEd Europe 2012
With TechEd North America selling out, consider joining thousands of your global peers at TechEd Europe 2012 in Amsterdam, NL from June 26-29th. Use the extra time to plan your travel, organize your agenda, study for exams, arrange connections with others from around the globe, and optimize your in-person attendance at one of Microsoft’s premier technology events. Register now.
Learn All About Running Applications with SQL Server's Data Platform at TechEd Europe
Dive into the 40+ learning opportunities from the Database & Business Intelligence track and see how to get the most from your SQL Server as well as analyze the data using the Microsoft BI platform. Hear from Brent Ozar as he boils it all down to speed in his session Building the Fastest Microsoft SQL Servers. Enjoy the return of BI Power Hour, an entertaining session by Matthew Roche and Riccardo Muti. Explore performance with Denny Cherry in Optimizing Microsoft SQL Server Performance in a Virtual Environment. Spend 75 minutes on the Hadoop stack with Gert Drapers as he speaks on Big Data, Big Deal? And be able to answer, “Who accessed your sensitive tables in the last week?" or "What has your administrator changed in the past month?" after hearing Il-Sung Lee talk about Auditing in Microsoft SQL Server 2012.
Last week Geoff and I attended a number of University graduation showcase events across the country, firstly thank you for the invites and its great to see the outcomes of students projects and the use of Microsoft Technology. A number of students and academics also asked me some interesting questions in relation to the development of Windows 8 and specifically how to include some aspects of Windows 8 Metro into the curriculum. One of the easiest ways of implementing Windows 8 into your teaching is to simply add in a small work item of converting an existing app to Metro as a learning exercise, this may also be great a MSc or MPhil project for an existing application or service.
There are a lot of useful resources out there on porting existing applications to Metro apps, a successfully ported app will of course run beautifully on Windows 8 and this may be a great way of introducing/exposing students to the Metro UI and design principles:
Design-focused articles
Porting a website
Porting a Windows Phone app
Hope the above give you some food for thought of how you may start thinking about the opportunities of Windows 8 and the Metro UI.
.NET Gadgeteer can be used in schools to help students make gadgets and learn C# programming along the way. These lesson plans give teachers all the material needed to run 8 1-hour sessions using .NET Gadgeteer. You will also need the hardware, details of which are given at http://netmf.com/gadgeteer.
The material consists of 8 sessions relating to 3 projects:
The aim of each session is: