Today, we’re introducing new features designed to help educators and students save time, create impactful content, and enrich learning experiences with Copilot for Microsoft 365. We’re also excited to announce over a dozen updates, including the global expansion of Khanmigo for Teachers, Minecraft Education Lesson Crafter, Learning Accelerators, Teams for Education enhancements, free access to Figma through our new partnership, and much more value coming to Microsoft Education.
Next week, we’ll showcase over 20 updates and resources at ISTELive 24 in Denver, Colorado, US. Join us at the event to learn more, visit our booth, and attend numerous sessions to discover the latest from Microsoft Education.
Enhancing Copilot for Microsoft 365 in Education
We’re thrilled by the early adoption of Microsoft Copilot in educational institutions, providing AI-powered assistance with data protection at no additional cost. Now, we’re expanding the value of Copilot for Microsoft 365 by introducing a new set of capabilities tailored for educators and students. These features, available in private previews in the coming months, include a guided content generation experience to streamline the creation of assignments, lesson plans, lecture slides, and more. Educators can align their content to over five million educational standards from 35 countries through EdGate.
Additionally, educators can now use Copilot in Forms to generate quizzes, correct answers, and provide step-by-step solutions for students. These quizzes can be aligned with educational standards later this year and easily assigned to classes in Teams for Education. AI-generated feedback will allow educators to quickly assess student work and provide personalized feedback based on rubrics, assignment instructions, and individual progress.
For students, Copilot will offer interactive practice experiences to help with subject retention. With features like flashcards and guided chat experiences across Microsoft 365 apps like OneNote, students can test their knowledge, ask questions, and receive immediate feedback.
We’re also launching built-in learning and teaching extensions in Copilot to guide users through relevant tasks, such as creating interactive lectures or receiving feedback on their work. These tools will provide contextual, persona-based support.
To maximize the value of Copilot, we’re introducing education data integration, which will generate more helpful insights and content by incorporating data from Teams for Education and, in the future, Learning Management Systems (LMS). This will streamline experiences across platforms, enhancing the impact of AI-powered capabilities.
Getting Started on Your AI Journey for Free
We’re committed to supporting educators and students with free tools and resources. Our blog highlights products like Copilot and GitHub Copilot, available at no cost. Additionally, through a partnership with Khan Academy, Khanmigo for Teachers is now free for all US educators and will soon expand globally. Khanmigo, an AI-powered teaching assistant, simplifies class prep without requiring complex prompts.
At ISTELive 24, Minecraft Education will preview its new Lesson Crafter tool, which allows educators to generate custom lesson plans tailored to their students’ needs. This web tool will be available for free in the coming months, offering an easy way to integrate immersive, game-based learning into classrooms.
To promote AI literacy, we are offering several resources:
- For pre-service educators: A collaboration with ISTE and ASCD focused on AI skills for pre-service educators.
- For educators: AI learning paths, classroom toolkits, and Minecraft Education resources.
- For education leaders and IT: Microsoft Education AI Toolkit with updated use cases and research.
Empowering Educators and Learners with Learning Accelerators, Teams for Education, and LMS Integration
Our newest Learning Accelerator, Speaker Progress, will be generally available by July. This tool helps students enhance their presentation skills with real-time coaching on aspects like pace, pitch, and filler words. A rehearsal report will provide targeted feedback to help students improve. Additionally, Math Progress will preview in July, helping educators create and analyze math practice while providing students with personalized feedback.
To streamline access to these tools, we’re integrating Learning Accelerators and Teams Assignments into LMS through a new LTI private preview, enabling educators to sync content and grades effortlessly.
Partnering with Figma to Prepare Students for the Future
We’re excited to announce free access to Figma and FigJam enterprise tiers for all Microsoft K-12 educators and students. Figma, a design and collaboration platform, fosters creativity and collaboration, preparing students for future careers. This offering is available today in the US, UK, and Japan, with plans for future expansions.
Bringing More Value to Microsoft Education
Starting next month, Clipchamp will be included in Microsoft 365 A3 and A5 licenses at no additional cost, empowering educators and students with accessible video editing tools. Additional updates include a new Computer Science curriculum from Minecraft Education, Visual Studio Code for Education available for free, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint – Student, which provides robust protection for student devices. We’re excited about the future of technology in education and look forward to sharing more updates and resources. Stay tuned to the Microsoft Education Blog for the latest news, and join us at ISTELive 24 to explore AI in education!
