Microsoft: How technology can solve the big problems at your school

Microsoft: How technology can solve the big problems at your school
The education sector has greatly benefited from the advent of smart and connected technologies in classrooms in recent years. Thanks to recent advances in software and hardware, students can benefit from more immersive learning experiences in a variety of subjects, and teachers can prepare and assess work done more effectively than ever before. But all of this technology must be chosen carefully to ensure it truly benefits staff and students, and with school budgets often closely monitored, making the right decisions can be crucial. With its decades of experience in the software industry and its growing presence in the hardware industry, Microsoft believes it has a key role to play in shaping the class. technology of tomorrow "Education is extremely important to Microsoft," Chris Rothwell, director of education for Microsoft UK told TechRadar Pro at the recent BETT 2020 event in London. "We want to put more emphasis on how technology can help solve some of the challenges in education and make sure we continue to build capabilities that allow us to take advantage of their technological innovations." "There's more of a focus on how we help teachers move forward, become familiar with technology and what it can do and how it can help them work and teach more effectively." Rothwell notes that while technology is becoming more prevalent in learning institutions at all levels, there are still many challenges to overcome to ensure that students are making the most of these latest tools."I feel the appetite and interest in how technology is helping to solve some of these problems in education have evolved," he notes. "The conversations have gone from simple technology to the problem, you just need devices and then you feel good... what we're starting to see with customers is a little more pragmatic conversation than we I am. almost certain that this technology can play a role in helping to address some of the challenges that we see. How can we do this now? " "Yes, it's about teaching and learning, but it's also about how people work and how an organization is run. I would probably say that education is catching up thinking about the role that technology plays in helping people to work and indeed organizations to function. " At BETT 2020, Microsoft showcased a multitude of technology solutions that it believes can help schools achieve more than they ever dreamed possible. This ranged from the free Office 365 software platform for education to affordable laptops costing just €175, aimed at schools watching their budgets. "There's no shortage of people who care deeply about trying to get a good education," Rothwell notes. "And yet it's such a nuanced and interdependent sector that it really depends on where you are, who you are, and so picking and choosing the right solutions is really important." Microsoft recently released its Staff of 2030 report, which took a look at exactly what future teachers will need in terms of technology needs, especially since Generation Y and Generation Z are expected to be a significant part of the workforce soon. teachers. The study found that the most significant benefits of educational technology were enabling more engaging learning experiences, but also some concerns about the use of technology in education. class, with respondents expressing concern that this would lead to a loss of traditional skills and knowledge. Integrating the right technology into the learning process will be essential to educating the students of tomorrow, and for the future, Rothwell has no doubt that Microsoft will have to adapt as school needs evolve in the coming years. "If you think about the pace of technological change, I think it's going to be something that we'll always need to keep an eye on how we're tracking," he says. "The world is becoming more digital and therefore people need to be able to think about, implement and use digital technology in a way that actually helps them get things done... so how do we build skills capabilities? digital technologies along with things that people are going to need, like creativity and IT resilience?" "We want to think about how we help individual clients and teachers prepare for this world."

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