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Microsoft Education’s New Training Resources

by Microsoft Education Team
written by Microsoft Education Team
Microsoft device in the classroom

Educators and staff have proven their resiliency and capability to adapt to an ever-changing landscape over the past year. From navigating remote and hybrid classroom settings and adopting new technologies, their flexibility has enabled students to learn in any environment. To help with the continuous transformation of schools, Microsoft is excited to empower educators and staff with new training resources.

Now more than ever, institutions have an opportunity to innovate and redefine traditional classrooms for their students. Providing new resources and training enables educators to enrich their teaching experience regardless of how the year evolves.

Microsoft device in the classroom

Microsoft Education is happy to provide numerous opportunities for free training like Microsoft Education Center (MEC), a self-paced learning resource for educators. Or, if educators and staff prefer to learn from professional development specialists who can customize training to their needs, check out our Global Training Partner finder experience to connect with the right company in your area. As we are more and more dependent on various devices in both hybrid and remote classrooms settings, we help educators and staff leverage technology effectively by taking advantage of our device and training offer. 

The proper training enables teachers to create innovative classrooms that continuously improve learning outcomes for students. Learn more about the resources that will provide confidence to educators and staff looking to improve learning outcomes this season and beyond.

Click here for more TechNotes articles on Microsoft devices, tips and tricks, software, and more.

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Microsoft Tips and Tricks

Remembering Microsoft Internet Explorer (1995–2021)

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Last month, Microsoft announced that it would no longer support the Internet Explorer browser beginning in 2021. Once the dominant way to access the web, IE has been a vital part of the Information Age, and has seen a dramatic rise and fall in popularity.

Editor’s note: Random-Access Memories is a periodic series highlighting the ways in which major historical events have influenced and can be explored through ed tech. Got an idea for a future edition of R-AM? Drop us a line.

If your first experience browsing the internet occurred between 1995 and 2005, it’s likely that you used Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser to access the burgeoning corners of the now-ubiquitous web. Starting next year, however, even IE diehards will have to move to a new browser.

In an announcement last month, Microsoft revealed that they would no longer support the once-standard browser beginning on August 17, 2021. Instead, users who wish to navigate the web in a Microsoft-made browser will have to use Microsoft’s Edge product. 

…on August 17th, 2021, Internet Explorer 11 will no longer be supported for Microsoft’s online services like Office 365, OneDrive, Outlook, and more. Microsoft is also ending support for Internet Explorer 11 with the Microsoft Teams web app later this year, with support ending on November 30th.

“Microsoft will bid farewell to Internet Explorer and legacy Edge in 2021,” Tom Warren. The Verge.

The Verge does note, however, that “Microsoft is hoping that the new Internet Explorer legacy mode in the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser will help” IE fans who wish to enjoy an Explorer-like interface.

Exploring Explorer

When it launched with Microsoft’s Windows 95 operating system, most people weren’t using IE, preferring to stay with the then-popular Netscape and smaller browsers like Mosaic, Lynx, and Opera. In 1995, Netscape held 90% of the browser market. 

Less than a decade later, thanks in large part to the prevalence of computers running Microsoft operating systems, Explorer had a 95% share of web browsing. But that same year, 2004, a new upstart emerged: Mozilla Firefox. And Google subsequently launched their Chrome browser in 2008. Today, as browsers are increasingly used on mobile devices, Apple’s Safari has also gained ground, and IE’s share of the browser market as of August 2020 was only 1.2%.

The history of Internet Explorer is so integral to the history of the internet that the topic has its own Wikipedia page. A retrospective on the browser from Version Museum, an online tech museum, reads like the history of a political dynasty, rather than a piece of software:

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser has a compelling life story and was a principal combatant in both major browser wars. Of course, IE won the first war against Netscape, but lost the second to Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari.

“Design History of Internet Explorer,” Version Museum

While Microsoft retired the Internet Explorer name in 2015, the move to discontinue online support for IE and introduce a totally new browser engine marks the “final nail in the … coffin” for the once-dominant software.

A New Edge

Microsoft’s new browser is called Edge, and while IE-lovers can enjoy an Explorer legacy mode within the Edge, it is its own browser.

In a move that might make the previous decades’ “browser wars” seem quaint, the new cross-platform Edge browser (available on most devices and operating systems) is based on the open-source Chromium project, which forms the skeleton of Google’s Chrome browser. The goal, according to company executives, was to make Edge as accessible as possible.

Will you be using Microsoft Edge? Have fond memories of Internet Explorer or other thoughts on web browsers? Let us know in the comments!

Spuken / CC BY-SA

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Microsoft Learn
Microsoft Tips and TricksTechnical Support

Microsoft Learn: Beef Up Your Technical Skills

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Microsoft announced updates to their online professional learning and certification options recently, and you will want to explore these and use them to speed up your learning in 2020. Here’s a quick look at what’s now available:

  • Microsoft Learn website offers a new, fresh interface with available resources for you.
  • Learning path offers a guided tour through a variety of individual modules.
  • Get Microsoft certified and show your achievements through industry-recognized Microsoft certifications.
  • See documentation, tutorials, and code examples for a variety of stakeholders.

See this all via the Microsoft Learn website. Before you go visit them, here is what’s available that may interest you.

What’s Available in Microsoft Learn

As a K-12 educator focused on educational technology, I’m always looking for ways to learn the tech faster. Some of the tech learning paths and modules provided by Microsoft include:

  • Signing Up for Azure
  • Azure Fundamentals
  • Azure Architecture and Service Guarantees
  • Principles of Cloud Computing
  • Introduction to Microsoft 365 Core Services and Features
  • Get Started Building with Power BI

But wait, there’s a lot more!

Microsoft Docs Lessons

The Microsoft Docs area includes tutorials on PowerShell, Xamarin, Microsoft Graph, and more. For example, in PowerShell (a technician’s best friend), you will see sample scripts and a PowerShell Gallery. A cross-platform list of PowerShell tools is also available. This could be a gift to those beginning to learn PowerShell.

Free Microsoft Curriculum Resource Collection

If you want to learn more about Microsoft resources, be sure to check out our other blogs. Type “Microsoft” in the search box at the top of this page. And you may find even more free Microsoft curriculum options via this Wakelet collection.

Image Source

Feature image. Screenshot by author.

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software updates
Educational TrendsTechnical Support

Summer Software Updates from Adobe, Google, and Microsoft

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

In a world of digital software, it seems as if patches, updates, and upgrades are happening constantly. For educators, it can be nearly impossible to keep up. Sometimes we know about the updates, and sometimes apps and programs are updated automatically. Ever feel behind the times? TCEA is here to help.

Below are some recent updates for popular educational software. Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you can’t stay up to date.

The Spark of Creativity

Adobe updated its Spark family of graphic-design products for social, web, and video. The updates include features targeted to educators. According to Campus Technology:

The latest release added functionality of benefit for education users. The program, which is free for students and schools, whether K-12 or higher ed, now supports live collaboration through the web. Students and instructors can begin a project and invite others to work on it by adding their email and sending an invitation to make edits. Shared projects appear in a new tab in the project organizer, and edits made to the project will be visible to collaborators.

Notably, these changes only apply to desktop and laptop versions.

Noteworthy Updates

Microsoft has released a number of recent updates for various programs. In June, it announced 30 updates for OneNote and Class Notebooks, including the ability to pair OneNote with TurnItIn and a way to create math quizzes right in OneNote. You can check out all 30 updates here.

The company’s Teams for Education digital hub is also getting a major facelift, according to a Microsoft announcement. You can read about new features, and see a few in action, at Microsoft’s Education blog.

Searching for New Features

Google has also heralded a number of updates for Google for Education, including rubrics, a new grades page, and changes to Google Forms.

From Silicon Angle:

“Instructors enrolled in the beta program can create a rubric and attach it to an assignment, giving students full visibility into how their work will be evaluated,” Brittany Mennuti, a Google Classroom product manager, wrote in a blog post. “Instructors can then use rubrics while grading to select rating levels and give consistent and efficient feedback.”

 

Meanwhile, Gradebook, a feature previously available in beta that allows teachers to track student’s grades over time and evaluate their performance, is now generally available.  …

 

Google is also making available a “locked mode” in Google Forms… With locked mode, students are prevented from being able to navigate away from the quiz until all of their answers have been submitted, helping them to focus on the task in hand.

What software updates have you been watching? Which changes would you like to see explored in TechNotes? Let us know in the comments.

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woman with oculus rift virtual reality mask on face and controls in hands
Microsoft Tips and Tricks

Your Must-Have Microsoft Gadgets and Apps for the Holidays

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Are you making a list and checking it twice? As you prepare your list for Santa Claus, give some thought to these Microsoft gadgets. Here are three Microsoft tools that are definitely on my list. Since it’s the season of giving, I’m following those up with three of my favorite apps. Here’s wishing you happy tech-ing!

Gadget #1 – Microsoft Surface Go Tablet

The Surface Go is portable and compact. It makes on-the-go work simple. Featuring Windows 10 enhanced performance, it’s ultra portable and convenient. What’s more, the LTE version is now shipping, making access in a non-WiFi area possible. While the WiFi version may provide what you need in K-12 setting, the LTE version offers more. You won’t get stuck trying to access critical work files when the WiFi in your building fails. Parents, students, and staff are eligible for special pricing.

You can get the 64GB/Intel 4415Y / 4GB RAM/WiFi version for $359.10. Compare that to the 128GB model with 8GB RAM WiFi for $494.10. The LTE model of the 128GB model with 8GB RAM is $611.10. For each of these models, you will need to pay extra for the Surface Go Signature Type Cover and Surface Pen.

Order now.

Gadget #2 – Oculus Rift + Touch

Ready to immerse yourself in virtual reality? Give the Oculus Rift plus Touch ($399) a try. (Just make sure to check your computer’s compatibility first). You get a headset, controllers, and six free games with this device. The games include Robo Recall, Lucky’s Tale, Quill, Medium, Dead and Buried, and Toybox. Here are some of the claims about the VR immersion experience from the Rift website.

  • The headset is light, adaptable, and comfortable. When you‘re in VR, the headset goes away, and you go somewhere incredible.
  • Touch brings the magic of hand presence to life in VR.
  • Rift users enjoy integrated audio. This design takes VR immersion deeper than ever.

Gift Oculus Rift + Touch and embark on a virtual journey of discovery.

Gadget #3 – Razer Blade Gaming Laptop

Need a gaming laptop and productivity workhorse? Sending a child off to college in the fall of 2019? Check out the Razer Blade – 15.6″ Full HD GTX 1060 Max-Q Gaming Laptop (256GB SSD). Boasting a 256GB solid state drive, the Razer Blade comes with 16GB of memory. You can save 20 percent on HyperX gaming accessories when buying this laptop. The laptop is eligible for discounted pricing for students and military personnel. The cost is about $1,709.10.

The 8th Generation Intel Core processors deliver power and responsiveness. Make photo and video edits with ease. Switch between programs and windows quicker than ever. Consider getting a few games to go with it.

Change someone’s life with the Razer Blade Gaming Laptop.

Now that you’ve seen my top three gadgets, here are a few of my favorite apps you may like for your Android or iOS device.

App #1 – Microsoft Launcher

Curious about Microsoft Launcher? It’s an app for your Android phone. You can rely on it to open items from your Windows PC. Items you can open include calendar, documents, and recent activities.

One of its best features is that it continues on your PC. Let’s say you take a picture on your phone. Want to move that picture to your computer? Launcher makes it easy. Working on an Office 365 document? Keep editing on your device of choice with Launcher.

Put Microsoft Launcher to work for you. Note that this link will not work unless you are using a personal Google account. This is because it connects to the Android Google Play Store. This free app is Android only.

App #2 – Friendly

Managing many social media profiles? Want to block fake news stories via keywords? Give Friendly for Facebook a try. I switched to Friendly as my go-to app on-the-go for Facebook, Twitter, and Medium. It allows me more control over several Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The keyword filtering feature lets you hide posts and articles containing certain words. Any posts that have those keywords will not appear. You can choose to seek out posts with keywords. This makes it easy to highlight topics (e.g. micro-bits, TCEA, cats, OneNote) you do want to see more of.

Start with Friendly for Facebook. This app works on Android or iOS. This app has in-app purchases, but they won’t set you back much.

App #3 – Xodo

Need a quick way to view or sign PDF files on the go? Xodo’s handy app (Android or iOS) makes it a cinch. Use the app to edit, annotate, sign, and share PDFs. Rely on the Xodo web app, too. It makes merging many PDFs, from either your computer or Google Drive, easy. You can insert, delete, reorder, and rotate pages in a PDF document.

Manage your PDFs with Xodo.

Gift Yourself Microsoft Gadgets and Apps

I hope you enjoyed the chance to see some of the gadgets Santa Claus may drop under your tree this holiday season. And don’t forget to play around with the apps to see what might work well for you. Let me know what you think. I’d love to hear what’s on your Microsoft wishlist this year!

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Microsoft Tips and Tricks

Remote Work with Microsoft Tools

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Work from home? If you teach in K-12, probably not. But remote work is a growing trend. Let’s explore Microsoft tools that make it easier.

Let’s review statistics about remote work.

Remote Work Statistics

Here are a few studies  on people who work from home:

  • Eighty-six percent of those asked said they “hit maximum productivity” when working at home alone.
  • Thirty percent said it allowed them to do more in less time.
  • Twenty-four percent surveyed said they could do more in the same time.
  • Eighty-two percent of workers reported less stress.
  • Researchers observed a fifty percent decrease in employee turnover.
  • Eighty-seven percent of remote workers felt more connected via video chats.
  • Twenty-three percent of employees (2015) reported doing some work at a remote site.

Without technology, this kind of work would be difficult.

Remote Work with Microsoft Tools

If you work in an Office 365 environment, here are some essential tools for you.

  • Get Feedback with Microsoft Teams: Now that Teams is available for free, just like Slack, give it a try. Use Microsoft Teams to get feedback on work projects, shared documents, and more. Add tabs to Microsoft Teams to pull data from anywhere (e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive, Flipgrid). See TCEA Resources for Teams.
  • Make Your Digital Workspace with Microsoft OneNote: If you are not using OneNote to organize yourself, you need to start soon. Educators, take advantage of OneNote’s power. Use integrated Class or Staff Notebook functions. OneNote is the “one-stop shopping” solution to creating curated content, and more resources. View TCEA Resources for OneNote.
  • Be Mobile-Friendly with Microsoft Sway: With responsive web design, you can work alone or together. Create mobile-friendly presentations and newsletters. A clear interface makes placing audio, images, and videos a cinch. Open TCEA Resources for Microsoft Sway.

Keep It Organized

If Teams, OneNote, and Sway make teamwork potent, Forms and To-Do serve as organizational helpers.

Is Remote Work in Your Future?

Chances are, you will find yourself working from many places. Some may be your office or classroom. Embrace these tools. Lower your stress, connect with the team. In short, get more done.

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Good TeachingMicrosoft Tips and Tricks

Turbocharge the 5E Model with Microsoft Office 365

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Ready to blend Microsoft’s Office 365 tools into inquiry-based lessons? Give those lessons a kickstart with Office 365 tools. Take your first steps with blended learning. Turbo-charge the 5E Model with Microsoft Office 365. Make learning more engaging!

Turbo-Charge the 5E Model with Microsoft Office 365

Made of five stages, the model can be better seen with specific examples. Let’s explore these below.

1- Engage

Boredom has a dire effect on learning. Bored students perform less well on tests (Source). In one study, over half of students said school is boring. The 5E Lesson seeks to engage students. This ensures they will retain learning. How can you make this happen with Office 365 tools? One way send students on virtual field trips.

Source: Dance of the Lemurs virtual field trip

Use the new Whiteboard app to speak with others at a distance. Students share ideas and images, having a visual conversation. This can happen, no matter their location (Source).

2- Explore

Empower students to curate content. Creating content on their own or in small groups becomes a natural, next step. Using OneNote Class Notebook, students can investigate aspects of a topic. OneNote makes arranging inputs (e.g. image searches, videos, text) child’s play. Learners can expand on concepts. They learn to pursue interests that deepen knowledge. Cognitive conflict forces students to engage in novel ways of thinking. One way to assist this process is to use digital breakouts. Watch this video by Nico Paphitis. It introduces OneNote Escape Rooms. Create a digital breakout using OneNote. This easy entry to escape rooms captures student interest. Students study details, like pieces of a puzzle. They work in teams, escaping school boredom as they learn.

Unsure of how to begin? View this step by step for math. Other examples abound. A few appear below. You may explore Jeanie Ingram’s ($2.00) tutorial guide. Those guides shown below are free.

Be sure to watch Jill R’s four part video series. You will learn how to craft your own OneNote, digital breakouts.

3- Explain

As learning facilitator, share your expertise with pupils. Scaffold student learning with Microsoft Sway. This can help them analyze aspects of an object, situation or event. A T-Chart makes it easy to compare and contrast ideas. You can create T-charts in Microsoft tools (e.g. Powerpoint, Microsoft Word). Available chart ideas and templates appear online. You can encourage students to make infographics. Use these Powerpoint templates to get you started.

4- Elaborate

Enrich a lesson for gifted students. Extend a lesson for students who need more. Students move at their own pace. Our lessons support them no matter their pace. HyperNotes, adapted from Hyperdocs, offer that opportunity. An excerpt from HyperNotes? Use Hyperdocs with MS Office 365: 

Ready to get hyper about Microsoft Onenote HyperNotes. These activities tap into a student’s sense of independence. They capture the fascination with multimedia. Set students up to create content. Sharing it with other learners is a click away.

5- Evaluate

Ready to measure student learning? Have students use Office 365 tools to create visual representations of their ideas. These creations can take many forms. Creations can be Microsoft Excel graphs of data. They may be live data summaries in Microsoft Forms. For example, students can design digital ebooks with Powerpoint and then export them to ePub ebook format. 5e model office 365

Putting It All Together

You may have read of all these approaches in TCEA TechNotes blog entries. Remember, the 5E Model can be combined with Office 365 tools. It’s easy to imagine any one approach as the only one to use. Blend them to create engaging lessons that showcase student learning.

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Microsoft iOS apps
iOS Tips and TricksMicrosoft Tips and Tricks

Microsoft iOS Apps on Your iPad

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“We are an Office 365 school district. Our superintendent just bought iPads. I’m coming from a G Suite for EDU background. How hard is it to use Microsoft apps on the iPad?” asked Virginia, a district instructional technology coordinator in a Texas school district. Like Virginia, I remember early difficulties with using Google Suites for Education on the iPad. Students could create work, but how would they get it off the device? With Microsoft iOS apps, those difficulties aren’t present. Let’s explore the OneDrive workflow on iOS devices.

What OneDrive looks like on an iPad. Note that Scan, Upload, Take a Photo or Video options. These allow you to create and/or save content straight to OneDrive. This saves space on your iPad.

Where to Start

One mistake often made when working with Microsoft apps is not starting with the OneDrive app. The Microsoft OneDrive app serves as a username and password clearinghouse for all the other Microsoft apps on iOS. For example, while you can attempt to open the OneNote app and access your digital notebooks, you may find this workflow easier:

  1. Open OneDrive app.
  2. Navigate to the notebook you want to open.
  3. Open it.

The OneDrive app, after verifying your username and password, will open the appropriate Microsoft app (OneNote in this example). In a few moments, the OneNote notebook you selected will begin to synchronize (or save a copy) to your device. From that point forward, you can open OneNote instead of going to OneDrive to access the notebook. If you should close the notebook or remove it from OneNote on your iOS device, you can always re-open it via OneDrive.

Let’s take a moment to explore other documents and Microsoft apps.

Microsoft OneDrive

Folks may see OneDrive as only cloud storage (like Dropbox or Google Drive), but OneDrive can do much more. Some examples of how it can be used in the classroom include:

  • Showcasing student work
  • Sharing student work as examples via a OneDrive link
  • Creating web-based documents that are shared online
  • Enabling students to start work at home/school and then finish it on the go
  • Collaborating on the same document

One important idea to keep in mind is Create your initial version of a file using OneDrive, including OneNote notebooks. In the web version of OneDrive, you are able to create all sorts of documents, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Excel Survey, Visio drawing, and link.

Since OneDrive functions as a username and password keeper for other Microsoft apps, you want to make sure to choose the correct account to use. If you are using OneDrive (and Microsoft apps) as part of your work, choose OneDrive for Business. If you are using OneDrive with a free Microsoft account (think “personal”), then choose OneDrive.

One benefit of OneDrive that is often overlooked involves how it handles photos and videos. In the iOS version, you are able to take a photo or create a video that saves directly to OneDrive. Learn more about iPad possibilities with OneDrive. Read more about OneDrive, as well as see free online courses in the Microsoft Education Community (MEC).

What Microsoft Apps Are Available on the iPad?

Now that you have some background about OneDrive, you’re ready to dive into the other Microsoft apps. Some of the apps you can get on the iPad include Excel, Office 365 Admin, Office Lens, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Sway, Teams, Visio Viewer, and Word. Get them via email or a text message to your phone.

My Favorite Microsoft Apps

Hands down, my top Microsoft apps for iPad include the following:

  • OneDrive – Store tons of resources online in OneDrive. Use it to access and open any documents stored on iOS. OneDrive’s ability to save video recordings direct to cloud storage, bypassing the limited storage on my iPad, make it a must-have app. Learn more.
  • Office Lens – Need to digitize a whiteboard diagram or capture a digital copy of a picture? Then Office Lens makes that easier. For iOS users, you have the added bonus of a built-in optical character recognition (OCR) combined with Immersive Reader. That means your students can scan a page of text and then Office Lens can read it to them. You can snap a picture of a page of text, then convert that image to editable PowerPoint or Word file. Wow! Learn more.
  • Outlook – Looking for a great email program that works with all email services (e.g. G Suite, Gmail, Yahoo, Office 365), not just Microsoft? Then Outlook is your email program. Learn more.
  • OneNote – This is a must-have notes app on any device. The ability to draw with various color pens and insert audio, images, files, links, and more are beautifully executed. Learn more.
  • Teams – The latest version of Teams boasts many features for free. The EDU version makes access to assignments, files, notes, and OneNote Class or Staff Notebooks a click away. You can even blend Flipgrid topics into the available tabs. You can create channels within a Teams’ space to organize adults or students. Learn more.

Office Lens and Immersive Reader in Action

Shown below, you will see use of Office Lens to scan a news article for use in Immersive Reader. The latter component can read the scanned document to the student:

Description: Office Lens can send a scanned page of text, including newsprint, to any of the options shown in the image above. Send it to Immersive Reader, and Office Lens will read the text to you.

Description: Ignoring illegible characters, consider the quality of the newsprint. In this screenshot, Immersive reader is reading the text aloud.

Microsoft iOS Apps

Now that you’ve had a chance to get answers to your question, what are your preferred Microsoft apps on iOS?

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Teams
Microsoft Tips and Tricks

Microsoft Teams Updates

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Want to learn all about Microsoft Teams? Perhaps you want to differentiate assignments for students in your class. Or manage your virtual classroom space. Then Microsoft Teams may be the tool for you. Take a moment to review some of the latest updates for Microsoft Teams, a classroom collaboration tool that facilitates lesson management, easy sharing of resources, and more.

Did You Know?

Have you signed up for the 2018 TCEA Microsoft Academy? If not, you can do so online.

Let’s explore my top three favorite Teams updates.

Update #1 – Differentiate Assignments

Differentiating instruction involves making adjustments for “student’s learning style, readiness, and interest” (Source). They allow you as teacher to connect with all learners while tailoring assignments for each student’s learning style. You can use Microsoft Teams new feature to create tiered levels of assignments that address individual students’ needs. This means you can create an assignment, customizing it for various students who may need either a simplified or more advanced task.

Update #2 – Resubmit Assignments

“The mastery of how to think requires trial-and-error learning,” says Professor James Pennebaker from the University of Texas at Austin (Source).”When people are trying to learn new skills, they must get some information that tells them whether or not they are doing the right thing. ” Students can now submit assignments and then receive feedback from the teacher. Afterwards, students can resubmit the assignment. Providing feedback becomes more effective if teachers do the following:

  • Provide specific feedback. Teams makes this much easier since it allows for the teacher to enter detailed feedback that the student needs.
  • Give immediate feedback. Teachers can review student work just-in-time and then respond as quickly as possible or necessary. Teams make fast feedback possible.
  • Set growth in a larger framework. Students need to understand how progress on specific tasks translates into overall movement toward overarching goals. Teams makes organizing tasks and goals easier with its integration into OneNote Class Notebook.
  • Empower student ownership of their learning. Students learn best when they own the process rather than perceive it as teacher-directed.

Update #3 – Schedule Assignments

“Am I able to create and schedule assignments in advance?” asked Molly, a teacher in one of my Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) sessions. Microsoft Teams has now made that possible. As the teacher, you can share assignments with students to match your scope and sequence.

Teams Updates

These Microsoft Teams updates empower teachers to do more with assignments. Stay tuned for more updates that enhance the functionality of this amazing tool.

 

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Microsoft
Microsoft Tips and TricksProfessional LearningSTEM/STEAM

2018-2019 TCEA Microsoft Professional Learning Opportunities

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Are you an Office 365 school district and wondering how to maximize professional learning opportunities? Then bookmark this blog entry so you can check what exciting professional learning opportunities are upcoming this spring and summer. In this blog, I’ll share some of the events taking place that you will want to attend. Remember that in addition to these activities, you can always request a dedicated session, like Area 2 has done for a two-day Minecraft: Education Edition Academy.

Did You Know?

Want to sign up? Go to http://ly.tcea.org/attend to register for Lunch and Learns! TCEA Lunch and Learn events do require a TCEA membership ($49). If you have one, then the event is free.

Benefits of Attendance

What is in it for you? Attending TCEA Microsoft workshops and academies garner several benefits, including:

  • Membership in the free, Texas-wide community of Microsoft Innovative Educators (MIE). You get to interact with educators in public/private schools, as well as Microsoft, who are committed to accelerate your learning. Come learn with us!
  • Earn digital badges and certificates via the Microsoft Educator Community (MEC). All workshops, academies, and events earn you points that enhance your status in the MEC. And those certificates and badges can be easily printed to share with your employer.
  • Share your insights with others about using Microsoft products in your work. How are you using Microsoft Teams to transform communications in your district? Assist others as you learn more yourself.

If those aren’t enough reasons, you will also get access to a wealth of professional learning via TCEA, a non-profit education association dedicated to advancing teaching and learning through the use of technology.

Did You Know?

Join the TCEA MIE Facebook Community and connect to Texas educators from all around Texas, as well as Microsoft folks.

2018 Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Attend these regional events in Fall, 2018. Registration is open now. Click links to access information form and registration link for each session.

October, 2018

November, 2018

Questions about content?

The facilitator for all sessions listed above is Miguel Guhlin, MIE Certified Master Trainer. Reach him via email at mguhlin@tcea.org or on Twitter @mguhlin

Professional Learning for Summer 2018

Robyn Hrivnatz, Keynote Speaker, 2018 TCEA Microsoft Academy

An amazing amount of TCEA learning opportunities abound. Let’s focus in on a few where Microsoft professional learning will be available.

Webinars

Not able to join us for face to face sessions? Then be sure to jump start your learning with online professional learning offerings via our Lunch and Learn series as well as other offerings. See you soon!

Did You Know?

TCEA features a team of MIE Certified Master Trainers, Certified Minecraft Trainers, as well as Google Certified Trainers and Administrators. They are ready to help you learn, whether that involves a technology audit or amazing professional learning experiences.

But wait, there’s more! Check out this collection of one hour, free webinars from Microsoft on a variety of popular topics. Topics include the following:

  • Six Steps for Building a Collaborative Classroom with Microsoft Teams
  • Bring the World to Your Students with Skype in the Classroom
  • Build a Digital Classroom with OneNote
  • Authentic Assessments with Forms, Sway, and More
  • Ten Things You Can Do with Office 365 Online that You Never Knew

Don’t wait. Time to get busy learning.

Past Events

  • 9/27/2018 – 1-Day Physical Computing and Its Role in Education – FREE EVENT
     Location: Arlington, TX
  • 9/13/2018 – MIE 1-Day Office 365 Teacher Academy (BYOD) – FREE EVENT
    Location: Arlington, TX
  • 9/1/2018 – MIE 1-Day Office 365 Teacher Academy (BYOD) – FREE EVENT
    Location: Edinburg, TX
  • August 2-3 – Two-Day Minecraft Education Edition Teacher Academy: This exciting two-day event, closed to the public, will be available for Burleson ISD teachers. If you would like a similar event for your district, please let us know. Location: Burleson, TX
  • July 12-13 – 2018 TCEA Microsoft Academy: The keynote speaker will be Texas educator and Microsoft Fellow Robyn Hrivnatz. In addition to sessions that will have an immediate impact on your classroom and use of Microsoft tools, attendees at the Academy will also be able to earn badges. Digital badges will be available in the Microsoft Education Community. Two  six-hour academies will be available. The first is the Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Certified Trainer six-hour session. The second is the Minecraft: Education Edition Certified Teacher. Location: Austin, TX
  • July 17-18 – Minecraft Teacher Academy: Attend one of the all-day Minecraft: Education Edition academies being held at the Denton ISD Technology Integration Academy (TIA). You can register online at the TIA Conference website.
  • July 24-26 – Technology Learning Extravaganza: Come join us for three days and gain a wealth of knowledge and first-hand learning experiences in our Technology Learning Extravaganza in San Angelo, July 24-26. The sessions will provide educators learning opportunities to enhance knowledge in a variety of Microsoft-related areas such as Office 365, OneNote, Minecraft, Makecode, and more. Location: San Angelo, TX
  • July 31 – MakeCode for Micro:bit and Minecraft: Education Edition: The micro:bit is sweeping the globe as an accessible, inclusive approach to computing education that combines the magic of making with the power of code. The maker education movement has proven to engage and interest girls and other nontraditional CS student populations through creative, personally meaningful projects. Learn how combining the maker mindset with computational thinking can result in transformational learning experiences for all students.By the end of this session attendees will know how to construct and download simple programs to their micro:bit, and they will know where to find curriculum & resources for their classrooms. You will also learn how to use MakeCode to control the Agent in Minecraft: Education Edition. This is a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) hands-on session for all levels (no prior computer science experience required). Location: Austin, TX
  • June 4 – MIE 1-Day Teacher Academy: Ready to begin your journey as a Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE)? You will get certified as an MIE and receive support and guidance on this journey. Location: Laredo, TX (Area 1)
  • June 10-12 – Elementary Technology Conference: Read more about this conference online. There will be several Microsoft sessions offered at this event. Location: Galveston, TX
  • May 9 – PBL in the Minecraft: Education Edition Classroom: In this session, you’ll learn how to design Problem/Project-based Learning (PBL) experiences in virtual worlds like Minecraft: Education Edition. Participants will also experience PBL lesson-based design opportunities. They will develop a lesson plan, build a sample student product, and engage in world building. Location: Amarillo, TX (Area 16)
  • May 15 – Productivity Tools for Administrators: This conference will feature a variety of Microsoft tools that can enhance your productivity as an administrator, an administrative clerk, classroom teacher, or docent. Sessions offered will allow you to earn MEC points and/or digital badges and certificates. Location: Austin, TX (Area 13)
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