5 Ways Microsoft is Working to Improve Accessibility and Equity in Education and Beyond

Ensuring equity in education has long been a goal for educators. The need for efficient Internet at home during the pandemic highlighted the fact that we have a long way to go to address these disparities. Microsoft Education is trying to bridge this gap with several of their new products and initiatives. Microsoft Reimagine

Last December, Microsoft hosted a virtual event, Microsoft Reimagine. The event brought educators, changemakers and tech leaders together to share examples of inclusive education in action as well as offer resources and ideas on how to make learning more equitable. Other topics explored include the safety and security of school data, streamlining digital systems and harnessing computer science to prep students for the future. You can watch the event here.

Inclusive Tech Lab

Microsoft’s Inclusive Tech Lab is another branch of their work to increase inclusivity through technology. The Inclusive Tech Lab is intended to be a hub where Microsoft designers can collaborate with people with disabilities in order to create more accessible, innovative, inclusive tech solutions.

Microsoft Learn Educator Center

You likely already know that Microsoft offers a hearty catalog of resources for educators. Through the Microsoft Learn Educator Center, teachers and administrators can take modules on accessibility and inclusivity. From the nitty gritty, like learning how to better use Microsoft Reading Progress to increase fluency and courses on Dyslexia to broader subjects, like creating a more inclusive classroom and teaching special education via remote learning, this expansive library is a great resource for teachers.

Windows 11 SE

Windows 11 SE retains Windows’ dependable features while streamlining its design. Based on feedback from educators who saw the need for operating systems that are simpler and can be used on more affordable devices, Windows 11 SE was created to support students and educators in blended learning environments.

Designed for grades K-8 and featuring a cloud-first operating system, Windows 11 SE aims to limit distractions so students can stay focused. While the operating system includes several teacher standbys, like Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, One Note and Minecraft for Education, only administrators are able to download new apps. All the included Microsoft apps can be used offline, and OneDrive allows students to save files even when they don’t have internet access.

Windows 11 SE also includes features to support students with learning differences, like color filter and Immersive Reader, which supports students with difficulties reading. Through Microsoft Teams, second language learners have access to Microsoft Translator.

Surface Laptop SE

Designed for hybrid learning, the Surface Laptop SE comes preloaded with Windows 11 SE and Microsoft’s most affordable Surface PC to date. Battery life of up to 16 hours allows students to get through long days at school or home without losing power. The laptop comes equipped with a high-res camera for virtual meetings, and is designed to fit comfortably in students’ backpacks.

Reach out to us to discuss how Microsoft's latest tech innovations could benefit your school!

Microsoft 365: Highlighting Office’s Best Features

The beginning of another year means that it’s out with the old and in with the new. Among our many hopes for 2021 is embracing change: including new technological innovation. In honor of the upcoming 12 months of the year (and in an effort to highlight the best features of the new Office), we’re counting up our 12 best tips for Microsoft 365.

1. Restore older versions of the document. 365 automatically saves previous versions so that you can compare your current document to your older work. When using PowerPoint, the restore option even allows for users to see editing history, which can help maximize collaborative efforts.
   
   

2. Smart Lookup is the game-changing feature that every teacher needs. Without opening a web browser and searching, you can fact check and confirm a definition. After highlighting the word or phrase, right click and select “Smart Lookup”.  Bing Features will pull up relevant links without needing to exit the document.
   
   

3. Remember that happy and helpful little paperclip, Clippy? He’s had a major upgrade. In Microsoft 365, there’s a ribbon at the top of the screen that reads, “Tell Me”. Clicking here will connect you with an intelligent services feature that can provide feedback and help.
   
   

4. Now you can collaborate online and watch updates occur in real time with co-authoring. It makes working together efficient and easy. Access necessary items at all times by using your OneNote notebook and moving it from your desktop to your own cloud folder. From here, you’ll be able to access the document from different devices, as well as share it.
   
   

5. Make the most of your time by managing your calendar with Outlook. Block unavailable “you time”, and set recurring commitments for regularly scheduled events.
   
   

6. An often-dreaded electronic task- converting a file into a PDF- is now made simple. Use the Save as PDF feature on your document, presentation, or spreadsheet.
   
   

7. Microsoft Teams in app integrations in 365 let you effortlessly chat with coworkers. You can also share screens and have a video or audio conversation. Perfect for small staff meetings, which need to be remote.Never again will you send an email without the needed attachment!
   
   

8. Keep things efficient by inserting links into stored files instead of having to send the whole file. First, upload your document to 365’s cloud storage. Compose an email with outlook, and then insert the link to the file on your cloud.
   
   

9. Turn your mouse into a laser pointer for PowerPoint presentations by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+P.
   
   

10. Make your data visual and interactive with Power Map in Excel. Power BI helps turn excel data into a visual meant for analysis. Power Map also includes three different data filters.
    
    

11. No Internet? No problem. OneDrive storage is synched to your device, so you can work while offline. When you reconnect to the Internet, the new version will be uploaded automatically.
    
    

12. Nothing sounds more magical than an inbox that helps to de-clutter itself. The Clutter feature uses your mailbox rules to automatically organize high-priority messages, and move the unimportant things to a clutter folder for later viewing.

So there you have it: a subscription to Microsoft 365 includes the latest office apps, and at least 12 superbly fun features.

7 Microsoft PowerPoint Tricks For Every Day This Week

As a staple of the Microsoft Office suite, PowerPoint often gets a bad rap, mostly because it’s associated with speeches, presentations, and seminars--and they aren’t always the most exciting events (to put it mildly). Since it’s estimated that PowerPoint is a key software on over one billion computers worldwide, it’s safe to say slide-based presentations aren’t going anywhere.

The question, however, isn’t where PowerPoint can go; it’s what PowerPoint can do to make those presentations even better.

Here are our favorite Microsoft PowerPoint tips to make sure your presentation goes smoothly.

1. Launch your PowerPoint presentation with one click. To start your presentation off quickly and cleanly, all you need to do is save the file with a .PPS or .PPSX file extension and save it to your desktop. Instead of nervously launching from editing mode or from your email (for all the world to see), all you’ll do is double-click and get on with the show. (Keep your desktop free of embarrassing distractions for full professional effect).

2. State your case in black and white. PowerPoint presentations are meant to be an aid to your presentation--not necessarily be a word-for-word account of it. To keep them from being a distraction, press “B” or “W” on your keyboard to make the screen black or white. This will help your audience focus on you and what you are saying.

3. Doing a demo? Get a screenshot. If you need to replicate the feel of your computer screen while giving a presentation, use the PowerPoint Screenshot tool on the Insert tab. It will give you a thumbnail of each window you currently have open. Simply select, resize, and click--and it will automatically be inserted on your current slide.

4. Animate charts. Turn charts and graphs from boring to mindblowing with animation. Once you’ve set up the chart or graph as you need to, head to the Animations tab to turn on the Animations Pane. Pick an animated effect, add sound, adjust timing and, most importantly, change the “Group Chart” options from “As One Object” to “By Category.”

5. Employ Kiosk mode. For presentations that don’t require an active speaker, you can set the presentation to play in Kiosk mode, which will play it on a loop, no human required. You can also output the entire slide deck to a video format.

6. Duplicate without the CTRL C + V. Instead of quick keys to copy and paste reused elements, go one step lazier--hold the CTRL key while you click and drag on the element you want to multiply. Great for elements as well as entire slides.

7. Be zen with Venn. Venn diagrams are a useful visual aid, but they can be a pain to make--unless you know how to Merge Shapes. Simply layer your pre-created shapes as you want, head to the Drawing Tools, and select “Merge Shapes” from the menu. This feature also makes light work of inserting pictures and text into shapes and vice versa. 

There are so many ways to do more in Microsoft PowerPoint in less time. We can help you figure them out.

18 Excel Formulas and Functions for 2018

You already geek out over Excel’s amazing functionality and its features in Windows. Maybe you’ve already used it to create a calendar template. Maybe you color code your personal budget targets. Maybe you already use it to track student progress, grades, test scores, attendance, and days until your next school holiday. We’re not here to judge. We’re here to help you make the most of what this powerful spreadsheet application has to offer.

Basic Conditional Formatting

When you’re dealing with a mountain of data, conditional formatting can help you find specific information quickly and visibly by color-coding cells that match specific criteria. For instance, you can highlight any student who has missed more than three days of class or any test scores that fall below passing. Learn more here.

Formula-based Conditional Formatting

And sometimes, just a basic highlight isn’t enough. Sometimes you want your spreadsheet to help you identify the next step in your process, like setting up a conference with parents or an email to the student. Formula-based conditional formatting can help with that. Here’s how.

=SUM(): The first function you learn really adds up.

You already know how to add up cells in Excel, but did you know you can hit CTRL + [Cells you want to add] to instantly add them to an equation? This is a fast way to add across random columns or rows.

=SUMIF(): For more selective sums

Sometimes you want to add and gather data in a different way. The =SUMIF equation will look for certain data in a table and add similar items together. This could be helpful if you track attendance by day of the week and want to learn which days most kids come to class.  Learn more here.

=COUNTIF(): Add up occurrences of a value.

=COUNTIFS(): Add up occurrences of multiple values.

The COUNTIF() function allows you to count how many times a certain criterion occurs in your specified range. For example, if you add a letter value grade to each assignment, you can use the COUNTIF() equation to count how many As, Bs, Cs, Ds, and Fs a particular class or a particular student has. Use =COUNTIF(Where do you want to look?, What do you want to look for?).

More information on COUNTIFs here.

=AVG(): The average formula for above-average teachers

The average function works similarly to =SUM in that it allows you to grab the data within a column or throughout a sheet. If you use average test or homework scores to finalize grades, the =AVG function adds up (and divides evenly).

=MIN(): Find the lowest number in a range

=MAX(): Find the highest number in a range
This is a great way to find the range of cells quickly and accurately, especially if you are grading on a curve, or want to quickly obtain the range of test scores for a given exam.

=LEN(): Count characters in a single cell.
Never misjudge your Twitter character count again. This function will count the number of characters in a specific cell. Great for writing assignments with text limits.

=RANDBETWEEN: Generate a Random Number

Need help picking which student goes first with a presentation? Enter the RANDBETWEEN equation. Simply type =RANDBETWEEN(1,100) and it will return a completely unbiased whole number between 1 and 100  just like that.

=ROMAN: Convert to Roman Numerals

Perhaps not the most useful of formulas, but when C, V, L, and I are Greek to you, it can be a useful tool. Use =ROMAN(Destination cell with number you want to convert).

=ROUND(): Do a one-handed round-off

The =ROUND function allows you to round off numbers to a specific digit. Use =ROUND(number, digit) as the equation, keeping in mind that “0” digit will return a whole number, “1” returns to the tenths, and so on. =ROUNDUP() and =ROUNDDOWN() are equally fun, and further explained here.

=YEARFRAC(): Compare a date range to the entire year.

=DAYS(): Count the number of days in between two dates.

=NETWORKDAYS()

Still counting down to the end of the year? Excel can take the work out of that, too. Use =YEARFRAC(start_date, end_date, [basis]). For example, =YEARFRAC(1/1/2018,5/31/2018, 1).  Learn more about the calendar basis here. For the number of days or actual work days, use =DAYS(start date,end date) or =NETWORKDAYS(start,end) respectively. Place your date values in cells for increased flexibility and celebrate further with conditional formatting. 

These are our favorite Excel equations so far in 2018. Which ones did we miss of yours? We'd love to know and talk more about education tech, especially when it comes to Microsoft.

Five Onederful OneNote Tips for Teachers

Microsoft’s OneNote is basically today’s version of a Trapper Keeper; it organizes topics by subject, has a place to store the pictures, videos, and freeform ideas may otherwise fall through the folds, and, bonus, it can be duplicated, shared, locked, and loaded anywhere. For teachers, it means being able to pull every component of a lesson plan together, from quizzes and writing prompts to resources, reading lists, and class notes.

One thing is for certain, the more you learn about OneNote, the easier it becomes to teach. 

Make Note-taking a Team Sport

OneNote gives teachers the ability to frame out a lesson and let their students fill in the gaps with the note-taking. By sharing a note with the entire class, students can access, contribute, and collaborate in real time--and long after the class bell rings. Password protection for notes makes it all the more secure.

Go beyond typed notes.

OneNote allows you to “make a note” of something in almost any medium. Video, images, audio, digital ink--all of it can be noted, recorded, linked, saved, and shared in the OneNote platform. You aren’t limited to an 8.5” x 11” sheet, either; its infinite canvas ensures you’ll run out of ideas long before you’ll ever run out of room to put them on. Creating new sections is easy--and you can even color code them by subject, note type, or student.

Teach in the moment.

Have you ever had an “aha!” moment in class and wished you could share it more readily with your students? Enter OneNote. With its immediate syncing capability across devices, you can take a picture with your mobile phone and add it instantly to your presentation, allowing you to teach and collaborate with your students in real time, just in time.

Embrace your own teaching style.

One of most empowering aspects of OneNote is that it’s not just one thing, nor does it confine its use to one tool. “Learning is messy,” says Tom Grissom, the Director of the Instructional Technology Center at Eastern Illinois University and contributor to the Microsoft Education blog. “OneNote provides the free-from tools to help you--and your students--think through it.” he notes that OneNote excels at “gathering artifacts for learning” while also allowing the information to be redistributed and assimilated. 

Get it all down and get it all done.

OneNote is the perfect bucket in a brainstorm. It speaks Google tools as a first language; you can toggle between Google Docs, Google Sheets, and even Google Forms as part of your lesson planning and classroom management practices. And, since you can take it with you wherever you go, you never have to worry about losing a great idea or missing an opportunity to interact with a student because you aren’t at your desk. OneNote lets you check notes, grade papers, send assignment reminders, share videos, and inspire a new generation of learners with a few clicks. 

How do you use Microsoft OneNote in the classroom, along with other Microsoft technology? We've got a few ideas.

How To Password Protect Notes In OneNote For Windows 10

The password protection utilized in OneNote keeps your notes safe. Whether used in a scholastic, corporate, or business setting, the encryption and versatility of OneNote will give you control over who, and when, specific sections in your notebook can be accessed. 

OneNote is an incredible tool for getting organized and creative. The ability to lock, and unlock, specific sections within a notebook lends itself to many educational applications. Teachers can sharing the entire semester’s notes in one Notebook and unlock one section at a time. They can also place different versions of tests, quizzes, and study guides within each section, and then alternating between them and a new section to prevent hacking. 

If you haven’t used this capability before, it’s a relatively straightforward process. Locking down sections of your notebook is the easy part; coming up with a password you won’t forget, on the other hand, may be a bit more difficult.

Adding a section password:

When a notebook section has been protected with a password, all of its pages are locked and hidden from view. For additional security, password-protected sections will automatically lock after a designated period of inactivity.

1. Right-click the name of the notebook section that you want to protect.

2. Choose “Password Protection “

3. Choose “Add Password”

4. Type the desired password into the Enter Password box.

5. Retype your password into the Confirm Password box. Press Enter, and you’re set.

How to lock all password protected sections

If passwords have been applied to one or more sections in your notebook, they can all be locked simultaneously.

1. Right-click on any protected (but currently unlocked) section, choose Password Protection

2. Choose Lock Protected Sections. All protected sections will be locked immediately. 

In order to unlock a protected section:

Protected sections will be locked automatically when you exit OneNote. To unlock, simply:

1. Click on the section you want to unlock.

2. Type the password into the Password box

3. Press Enter. 

How to change the password for a protected section:

1. Right-click on any protected (but currently unlocked) section whose password you want to change.

2. Choose Password Protection

3. Choose Change Password. (If this option isn’t available, then you must create a password for that section.)

4. Enter the current password into the Old Password box.

5. Enter the new password in the New Password Box.

6. Re-enter the new password into the Confirm Password box. Press Enter.

NOTE: Each section in your Notebook is independent of the other sections. Changing a password for a section will only affect that section. The above steps must be repeated in order to change passwords for all other sections.

Removing the password from a protected section:

1. Right-click on any protected (but currently unlocked) section whose password you want to remove.

2. Choose Password Protection.

3. Choose Remove Password.

4. Enter the current password in the Remove Password window, and press Enter.

Important notes about passwords:

• Passwords cannot be applied to entire notebooks, only to sections within notebooks.

• All passwords are case-sensitive.

• Protected sections will not be included in notebook searches. Sections must be unlocked in order to be searched.

OneNote uses 128 bit AES encryption to secure password-protected sections. This is the same level of encryption that banks and the government use to protect military intelligence and personal banking records. If you forget any of your section passwords, no one will be able to unlock those notes for you (not even Microsoft Technical Support). Use caution when adding passwords to your notebook sections and when changing them. It is strongly recommended that you write down all passwords and store them in a secure location.

This is one of the many features that Microsoft offers. Want to learn more about what OneNote and what Windows 10 can offer for your classroom? Click below.

Microsoft Is Sparking Creativity In The Modern Classroom

Despite having a strong core offering for educational tools, systems, and management platforms, Microsoft has realized that no one technology partner has all the answers when it comes to how best to nourish and guide a nation of learners. As such, it has partnered with a number of organizations and applications from around the world to bring as much education to the table as possible.

And it’s all available at the Microsoft Store for Education.

Microsoft breaks down these partner apps into two themes: the Modern Classroom and Sparking Creativity.

Microsoft and the Modern Classroom

The goal of the Modern Classroom is to personalize education by providing students with the apps and platforms that feel most natural to the way they learn, and a lot of this is through gaming and collaboration. It also recognizes that fun shouldn’t be hard to manage or share; apps in this theme provide ways to facilitate activities while using analytics to track progress and ensure each student is making the most of each learning opportunity. Kids stay on task. Teachers stay connected. Parents stay informed.

Here are a few examples of Microsoft partner apps for the modern classroom.

• Classcraft, for classroom organization

• BrainPop, for content publishing

• Edmodo, for learning management

• Edsby, for communication and collaboration

• Explain Everything, for interactive whiteboards

• Pearson System of Courses, for e-readers and e-textbooks

Microsoft and Sparking Creativity

Now that you have a modern classroom, you can make the most of it with Microsoft partner apps that expose students to interactive curriculum along the STEAM spectrum. Science, technology, engineering, art, and math are represented well in the Microsoft Store for Education, fostering inspiration and innovation that go well beyond the classroom walls. Project-based learning not only helps develop skills in critical, design, and computational thinking; it also plays up a learner’s most crucial attribute—curiosity.

Here are a few examples of Microsoft partner apps for sparking creativity.

• SwopBots, a coding platform / adventure.

• PicsArt-Photo Studio, a powerful photo editor, drawing tool, and collage maker.

• Arduino IDE, an open-source electronics platform

• Fluid Math, a handwriting-based educational math app

• eMathsMaster, an online training software for non-Math teachers

Microsoft is making it easier than ever to connect more often and educate more effectively.

Want to learn more? That’s exactly why we’re here.