Notes

Like those who Struggle with Language Barriers

Article content Joseph Filiplic changed the way he taught during the pandemic. He's not changing it back.



Content of the article "When everyone was studying remotely, students also worked from home. I noticed that a lot of my students were taking on other tasks at home. His J.J. Bowlen Catholic Jr High students were "bereavement helpers" for their younger siblings and other, he stated. "I needed to make sure I was communicating with my students, who were now being pulled in various directions and doing something that was completely new to them."



The answer is: He calls it an "flipped lesson style", which uses mostly Microsoft tools for education such as OneNote, OneNote, and Teams video-conferencing platform. "I would record all my lessons and put them on YouTube, then I would integrate them into Teams and OneNote," says Filiplic. The material and assignments for the course could be accessed on every device that is connected to it.



He was hopeful that his students could weather the pandemic without a hitch. However, to his delight they did more than just survive: they prospered. The students who had succeeded in a traditional school environment continued to succeed. He was now able to reach students who learned differently. Many students have difficulty with difficulties with language, learning disabilities and even shyness.



"I was aware from that point on that I wouldn't be able to go back to the traditional stand-and-deliver method. It's going to be more interactive from now on. It needs to be more cooperative," he says. So, when classes in person were resumed, the digital tools stuck. Filiplic continues to record his lessons on video and allows students to respond to him using Flipgrid. Students can also contact Filiplic or text him through Teams whenever they require. It's a lot like an office in the modern age, with flexible hours and self-motivated employees. "My students aren't locked in the four walls anymore," says Filiplic. "They realize that the lessons don't end when the bell rings. It has broken down a lot of barriers.



Filiplic says that the article content was a natural choice right from the beginning. Microsoft is the gold standard in the workplace. "I thought, okay, I teach social studies. But am I really teaching only this subject or am I also teaching my student how to contribute to society?" What happens when they get older? Everything was pointing toward Microsoft," he says.



Microsoft has always been a proponent of education as a business. This is evident in the recent release of Windows SE, a cloud-based edition of its operating system. The new platform will be available on budget-friendly tablets as well as laptops from Acer, Asus and Dell, as well as Microsoft directly under the Surface brand.



Paige Johnson, Microsoft vice president of education marketing she states that Windows SE has purpose-built features that will help students from kindergarten to eight in the ways we've heard them asking for. The new interface reduces visual distractions and places inclusive, customizable learning tools at the forefront. These include Microsoft Teams and OneNote, and features like Reading Progress - an AI tool that helps teachers evaluate student's fluency remotely - and Immersive Reader, an interactive reading comprehension and learning tool that makes text more accessible to learners of all ages.



Johnson says that Reading Progress is great for educators because it allows them to focus their teaching time where they're needed most. "For instance If I realized that all my kids mispronounced the word 'physical,' I might realize I'm not saying it enough out loud or that I need to assign more reading samples with the word "physical" in them.



Article content The company also offers free Microsoft 365 for students that comes with Flipgrid and an education version of Minecraft, the popular world-building video game.



For Filiplic the new releases will surely open new doors in a field that's filled with opportunities for teachers, students, and even parents - who can now keep track with their children's progress as never before. His YouTube videos have proven to be popular with teachers across Canada and he's been actively helping others to change the lecture model.



"I'm in my 17th year of teaching and I'm bursting with so much energy I feel like a new teacher," he says. "I'm extremely grateful to have found these tools, because I know that I'm able to reach more students than ever before. I can't go back. I won't go back."



This story was developed by Content Works, Postmedia's commercial content division, on behalf of Microsoft.
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