Technology has made teaching and learning easier. It also makes it easier for students and teachers to connect with each other irrespective of where they’re located. Microsoft 365 offers a wide range of tools for students and teachers that they can use to amplify learning.
Microsoft 365 is one of the most popular and comprehensive productivity suites out there. If you have still not invested in Microsoft 365, here are some reasons to do so.
1 – Access It From Anywhere
Microsoft 365 runs on the cloud. This means, as a teacher or student, you can access your Microsoft 365 account from anywhere in the world using any internet-connected device. For example, students can use their smartphones to access learning materials provided by their teachers in the tool.
Since it is based on the cloud, the changes made in the learning materials are updated in real-time. You won’t even need to wait for the local computer to add your ideas.
Besides, under normal circumstances, teachers and students have to carry their hard disk or pen drive from home to school and vice versa to store learning resources. However, with cloud storage, everything is available at the tap of the finger.
In times of distance learning (like that of a pandemic), Microsoft 365 helps teachers and students stay productive while keeping their data safe and secure.
2- Auto Updates
Updating software is a time taking and tedious process. Plus, it is a technically challenging process, especially for people with no technical background. For example, as a teacher or student, you don’t want to spend a lot of time updating your systems.
However, Microsoft 365 is based on the cloud and doesn’t require you to spend time updating it. Both teachers and students can enjoy the latest technology without relying on the IT team for regular maintenance or upgrade of the system. This makes distance learning and remote teaching further easier.
3- Basic Career Skills
Students need to learn basic career skills to transition to the workforce smoothly. Microsoft understands this and therefore offers several training tools that students can use to learn baseline technology skills. It includes knowing how to use Teams for meetings, creating eye-catching presentations, using excel to make finance easier, etc.
4- Makes Collaboration Easier
Microsoft 365 has made it easier for students to collaborate on group projects. It offers several collaborative tools that make doing group projects more efficient. These tools allow group members to work at different times of the day, thereby improving the project structure. Microsoft 365 also enables you to involve your instructor in your project so they can leave comments to improve it.
5- Makes Communication Easier
Designed especially for Education, Microsoft 365 makes it easier for students to connect with their teachers. This enables them to learn and clear doubts at any time of the day. For instance, it has instant messaging and video conferencing features, taking Education to the whole next level. Students can use these features to communicate with their peers.
6- Completely Free
Yes, you read that right. Microsoft 365 is completely free for teachers and students. Teachers and students also get unlimited storage for up to five subscribers. However, you will need to follow certain steps to avail of the tool for free. Here’s how:
- Visit the Microsoft 365 office for Education page from your desktop or smartphone.
- Enter your school email address. Don’t enter your Gmail address as it won’t get you a free copy. If you don’t have a school email address, ask your university to create one for you.
- Then choose from one of the options: I am a student, and I am a Teacher.
- Now, you will see a message, “You have an account with us.”
- Tap on sign in to access your Microsoft 365 for free.
- After you sign in, you will see another message, “You already have an Office 365 license.” Tap on ok and download Office 365 for free.
Conclusion
Microsoft 365 offers various tools for teachers and students to make Education easy and seamless. Teachers and students can connect with each other at any time using any internet-connected device. If you have not yet started using it, now is the right time to do it.