{"id":908,"date":"2019-12-17T06:00:56","date_gmt":"2019-12-17T14:00:56","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2024-06-04T14:08:43","modified_gmt":"2024-06-04T21:08:43","slug":"whats-new-in-edu-a-look-at-your-favorite-resources-from-the-year-and-the-inspiring-ways-in-which-youre-using-them-in-the-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/education\/blog\/2019\/12\/whats-new-in-edu-a-look-at-your-favorite-resources-from-the-year-and-the-inspiring-ways-in-which-youre-using-them-in-the-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s New in EDU: A look at your favorite resources from the year and the inspiring ways in which you\u2019re using them in the classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the first half of the school year wrapping up in most places and the holidays upon us, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the resources we introduced in 2019 that you said were most helpful to you and your students. And we wanted to make sure you didn\u2019t miss anything that could have a positive impact on your instruction going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning Tools<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reviewing engagement across our social media channels, it\u2019s clear you liked this year\u2019s updates to Learning Tools<\/strong><\/a>, free Microsoft resources that make classrooms more accessible and support students with reading, writing, math and communication. Learning tools are available in Microsoft products you use every day in the classroom. For more on how to incorporate Learning Tools into your classroom, check out this post<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re particularly grateful to you for sharing your stories about the benefits of Immersive Reader, which improves the readability of content and is integrated into Microsoft products as well as third-party applications. You noted that this integration was particularly helpful for students with dyslexia and other reading-related learning differences. Maria Mercedes Gazaneo, a teacher in Buenos Aires, explains eloquently here<\/strong><\/a> how previously reluctant readers have come around to loving reading with the help of Immersive Reader. At Microsoft Education, it\u2019s our mission to empower every student to achieve more, and we\u2019re so glad this tool, coupled with your commitment to your students, is helping advance that goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Product Updates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As far as product updates go, you told us loud (especially so at the rocking Flipgrid party at ISTE) and clear that the newly designed Flipgrid<\/strong><\/a> was a hit and is helping you elevate student voices in and beyond the classroom. We have you to thank. From FlipgridAR<\/strong><\/a> to the new Shorts Camera<\/strong><\/a> to Disco Library Playlists<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>every improvement to Flipgrid was created, driven, and inspired by your innovative ideas and feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flipgrid gives students a VOICE! Flipgrid allows those that are quiet and nervous the opportunity to share their ideas and thoughts in a manner that is conducive to their learning styles. It appeals to every student in the classroom. <\/em><\/p>\nNatasha Rachell, Education Technology Specialist with Atlanta Public Schools<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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You also told us the new PowerPoint Presenter coach<\/strong><\/a> is another tool that is helping students develop strong communication skills. In case you haven\u2019t tried it yet, the AI-powered tool lets students practice presentations and then provides guidance on pacing, language and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks for letting us know you loved Microsoft Teams<\/a><\/strong>\u2018 new Simplified UX<\/a><\/strong>! The redesign is among many improvements to make teaching, assessment, and collaboration effective and easy, all while saving you time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Speaking of saving time, Grade Sync<\/a><\/strong> is now integrated with PowerSchool, enabling teachers to sync assignments and grades directly to PowerTeacher Pro. But wait, there\u2019s more! The new teacher gradebook with individualized student progress, weekly assignments summary email for parents and guardians and many others. Check out this post<\/strong><\/a> for more detail on all the Teams updates from this year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several exciting updates to Minecraft: Education Edition<\/a><\/strong> came your way this year too, based on helpful feedback from our educator community. Immersive Reader was integrated along with single sign-on and multiplayer join codes for an easier classroom experience. We launched Minecraft lessons and immersive worlds with NASA<\/strong><\/a>, World Wildlife Fund<\/strong><\/a>, and partners in New Zealand<\/strong><\/a>. Finally, a new Minecraft Hour of Code introduces students to coding with a lesson on preventing forest fires and artificial intelligence! Check out the free coding lesson<\/strong><\/a> in Minecraft: Education Edition, no license required. We talked about Hour of Code in last month\u2019s What\u2019s New in EDU, available here<\/strong><\/a> if you missed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just ahead of the current school year, we made dozens of updates to OneNote and Class Notebook<\/a><\/strong> based on your input, and we\u2019re glad to see you\u2019re using those successfully. They include the ability to distribute pages to specific students, integrating OneNote and Class Notebook with Teams, and making it possible for students to generate math practice quizzes in OneNote. We\u2019re glad to hear these updates are helping you personalize instruction and promote student-centered learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I found OneNote to be a huge help, both in note taking and Immersive Reader. Also linking Microsoft Lens to OneNote has made other subject content \u2018interactive.\u2019 My learners were amazed, and this teacher applauds the ingenuity of Microsoft to cater for inclusive education.<\/em><\/p>\nViola Van der Westhuizen, a teacher in South Africa who works with youth in the criminal justice system<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we\u2019ve seen those social media posts indicating you like the latest Microsoft Excel<\/strong><\/a> update, allowing you and your students to take a picture of data, say in a textbook, and then upload it and open it in Excel, where it\u2019s converted into a table. We hope that\u2019s helping your students develop analytical skills and solve real-world problems using data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partnerships<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re thrilled to workwith educators like you every day, as well as other partners committed to fosteringinclusive learning environments that help all students succeed. This past year,we teamed up with some inspiring collaborators, and we\u2019re so glad to see you celebratingthose partnerships with us on social media. Just some of these include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n