Resources and Examples for Transforming Education

Here you will find various examples on how technology helped institutions, educators and students to provide quality education and advance their teaching and learning experience. You will also find a number of resources related to teaching and learning in Higher Education.

Please share your experiences and examples too! If you have a successful project, a whitepaper or relevant resources, that you would like to provide, please contact the blog team.

Successful examples of advancing and providing quality education in Higher Education

Imagine Cup – Students drive innovation
Imagine Cup is a global student technology competition focused on finding solutions to real-world issues. The competition encourages the world's most talented software designers, programmers, game developers, photographers and filmmakers to tackle the toughest problems facing the world today. To see what students have done last year and to find out how you can change the world and participate Imagine Cup 2009, visit http://imaginecup.com/

The Department of English and Information Technology Services join forces to guide students through an educational journey of epic proportions.
‘We all learn in different ways, so it was really powerful to have material presented to us in formats that engaged different parts or our brains ... I’ve never experienced such seamless integration of subject matter and technology in a classroom.’ Matthew Shelton, Student, Vanderbilt University.

University Launches Online Courses, Measures Learning Outcomes with Education Portal
North Carolina’s Queens University of Charlotte wanted to better support its community’s need for online education. Queens knew that online offerings and Web-based support for faculty would enhance the school’s ability to attract faculty and students.

Ball State University
Ball State adopts Live@edu to deliver lifetime e-mail for 180,000 students and alumni.

‘Now, thanks to Microsoft Live@Edu, we have a means of staying in constant touch with graduates. We have solved the difficulty of keeping up with alumni on the move. Prior to signing up, estimates gathered regarding the expense of an e-mail system to serve our 160,000 alumni had ranged from $250,000 to $700,000 per year, depending on the level of service.’ O-Neal Smitherman, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer

White Papers

Windows Movie Maker in the English as a Foreign Language Class
Windows Movie Maker plays a key role in English language class for Japanese university students.

Scenario planning and the future of education
Scenario planning can help educators and policy makers develop creative strategies and unveil new opportunities.

More whitepapers and case studies at www.microsoft.com/education/highered

Online resources for teaching and learning in Higher Education

Students to Business
The Students to Business (S2B) program is a Microsoft® Community Initiative designed to connect Microsoft partners and customers with qualified students for entry-level and internship positions. 
The objective of the S2B program is to inspire local businesses to communicate the competency requirements for new talent, to evaluate the skills of students ready for an entry-level job or internship and collaborate with Microsoft and local education institutions to provide the curriculum and training needed to ensure students are prepared to meet the innovation needs of company’s around the globe.
http://www.microsoft.com/studentstobusiness/home/default.aspx

Useful templates, tutorials and programs for students
Have a look at www.microsoft.com/student and find useful templates for free download, tutorials with tips and tricks to help you study more effectively and hear from fellow students with real stories, experiences, and testimonials from colleges and universities around the world.

Microsoft Live@edu
With the Microsoft Live@edu site, you get communication services designed specifically for students and alumni of your college or university. With the integration of Windows Live services, you can organize life inside and outside of class, all online, all for free. http://my.liveatedu.com/

Free online learning with Higher Education Learning Program
http://www.microsoft.com/education/MSITAcademy/HELP.mspx

Microsoft Office OneNote free trial
Learn more about OneNote and how it can help organize information, improve productivity, and enhance collaboration.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/onenote/default.aspx?ofcresset=1

5GB Free pass-word protected online file storage with SkyDrive
http://skydrive.live.com/

Turn your photos 3D with free Microsoft Photosynth
http://photosynth.net/Default.aspx

DreamSpark
DreamSpark provides students free access to Microsoft professional-level developer and design tools, so can chase their  dreams and create the next big breakthrough in technology - or just get a head start on their career.
https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/