This archive report was first published on 6 May 2021.
On May 6, 2021, Microsoft unveiled several new features in Teams designed to support educators and students in creating a holistic learning environment for the next chapter of education.
The new features aim to provide personalized learning for each student, organize the online classroom experience, and make assignments more engaging, organized, and fun. They also allow teachers to better understand student engagement and emotional wellbeing while encouraging class participation during synchronous learning for better hybrid and remote classes.
Top updates include the Reading Progress tool, which gives students a less stressful way to improve their reading skills, while helping educators save time and guide class progress. Supervised Chat in Teams for Education supports students' safety in both digital and physical spaces. Additional collaboration tools for Teams for Education make it easier for educators to streamline group work and issue assignments from third-party apps.
Microsoft has also introduced new updates for Minecraft Education Edition, including Minecraft for Camps and Clubs, which allows learners to use Minecraft: Education Edition outside the classroom.
According to Barbara Holzapfel, Microsoft's Vice President for Education, the new tools and updates are designed to support the five key areas that help teachers create a holistic learning environment: student centricity, skills focus, social learning, safety and security, and scalability.
“For the past year, teachers have leveraged technology in innovative ways to keep students engaged. Technology went from being a temporary lifeline to facilitate connection in remote and hybrid learning, to a fully integrated part of many virtual and in-person classrooms,” says Holzapfel.
A recent survey commissioned by Microsoft found that 82 percent of educators agree that the past year accelerated the pace at which technology has driven innovation in teaching and learning. In addition, 71 percent of educators say technology has helped them improve their instruction and expanded their teaching capacity.
