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Limitless Learning: How Microsoft's Educational Tools can Benefit Students Remotely and in The Classroom

Content of the article Public schools in Coquitlam (B.C.) could not have anticipated the pandemic.



The B.C. Article content But the B.C. schools were probably more prepared than other schools to face COVID-19's learning challenges.



In large part this is due to its partnership with Microsoft that allows for the enhanced use of the tech company's collection of interactive, educational cloud-based tools that enhance learning experiences in the classroom and beyond.



Stephen Whiffin, chief information officer and director of instruction for the Coquitlam School district, says that there has been a broad trend to implement technology in schools across Canada for a while.



Leveraging information technology to enhance learning for the district's 30,000 students has been a key goal for several years since.



"We'd been focusing for a long time on implementing Microsoft 365 Education because it provides a set of tools that most people are already familiar with."



He says that Microsoft's popularity is essential for educators and learners to be able to swiftly adopt the software. In the event that the pandemic struck, the school district was able to quickly move to a virtual, at-home learning format.



"All of our teachers had laptops and laptops that used Microsoft software and we had the IT infrastructure - which was also supported by Microsoft ready to ease this shift," says Whiffin.



The new hardware and devices the school board has purchased are powered by the most recent cloud-based Windows 10 operating system, allowing for smooth synching with Microsoft's Education tools. Another benefit is Microsoft offers IT management tools that allow administrators to manage connected devices and networks.



Article content It also offers its own Surface brand of touchscreen tablet/laptop/desktop hybrids for exceptional performance in educational settings, with affordable to premium price points.



Microsoft's tools for education are based on Office 365, the most frequently used software for business around the world. In collaboration with school boards, Microsoft offers a free version of its educational software to teachers and students across Canada. This gives users access to powerful tools like Teams, PowerPoint, Excel and Word on their devices at home for learning, as well as access to Minecraft: Education Edition. Parents and students also get access to add-ons specifically designed specifically for classroom use.



"For example, Microsoft Teams - a essential communication tool in the M365 suite - has special plug-ins for education to facilitate working in the classroom and remote learning," says Whiffin.



In addition, Microsoft's education program includes apps such as OneNote Class Notebooks, which lets teachers easily create virtual spaces for individual, group, one-on-one and classroom activities.



It's more than just software but it's about more than that. As Whiffin adds, Microsoft provides the total package, and that's vital in an age where learning is increasingly moving beyond the walls of the classroom.



"All resources should be aligned, not just for learning, but also to provide the infrastructure that supports learning in the classroom as well as at home.
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Article content All Microsoft 365 Education tools are secured by unbeatable security and privacy protections, Whiffin adds.



He says, "That was absolutely crucial to ensure that parents and teachers were confident that students could use these tools in a safe manner." "Without that trust it would have made it difficult to implement these tools in our classroom."



While Microsoft's 365 Education suite proved its worth in remote learning during the pandemic, the most telling illustration of its transformative potential is that students as well as teachers have continued to use them after returning to classroom learning.



"That's an affirmation of the quality of the experience and the efficacy of tools for enhancing education," he adds.



The main reason for the Coquitlam school district's success is Microsoft's unifying platform that addresses all the requirements of teachers, students and support staff.



Whiffin claims that Microsoft 365 Education offers one set of tools to help students learn regardless of whether they're using Excel to build presentations, PowerPoint to crunch numbers or Teams to connect in real-time.



To learn more about Microsoft 365 Education, or download the suite, visit this.


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