What's New in Microsoft EDU | November 2024

November Topics:

• M365 Copilot
• Reading Coach 
• Classwork improvements and Teams for Education AI 
• Speaker Progress
• Teams for Education updates
• OneNote updates 

M365 Copilot updates

Teaching and Learning Agents

Copilot agents are specialized AI assistants designed to enhance the capabilities of Microsoft Copilot by connecting to an organization's knowledge and data sources, to help educators and learners perform a variety of tasks, automate repetitive workflows and provide insights to inform decisions.

We will be providing a set of agents focused on teaching and learning. The agents will assist in learning a new topic, create a lesson plan, test yourself in a specific topic, help with learning activities and so much more. We will be providing guidance on how to use these agents to create your own with your set of instructions, knowledge and activities.  

These agents will be added to the agents already available in the Microsoft store. Read more about those here. 

When: Private Preview Now.

OneDrive updates

There are a set of new M365 Copilot features available now for all education customers with a M365 Copilot license. Copilot transforms the way you interact with your files, offering AI-powered capabilities that boost productivity like never before. 

• Summarize files quickly: Faster extraction of key information in OneDrive is a productivity booster. With Copilot in OneDrive, you can summarize one or multiple files in your OneDrive web app without opening each file. You can also generate an FAQ from a -document to use or share as a resource. For example, summarize new documents that have been shared with you or easily summarize notes right before a meeting all with one-click! 

• Effortless File Comparison: Locating the right data or understanding the differences between multiple files is time-consuming. Now, with Copilot you can select up to five files―even mixing formats such as Word docs, PowerPoints, and PDFs―and quickly see the differences across all the files, helping you make decisions faster. 

• Get answers on specific files: Have a question about a document, or need to get quick insights before a meeting? Ask Copilot a question on any document without having to open a single file. Get the information you need from the documents you choose, gaining valuable insights in seconds. 

When: Available now 

Reading Coach

Later this month, the Reading Coach standalone app will become Generally Available in multiple languages, and with new engagement features. 
 
Reading Coach is a FREE reading fluency application that provides personalized, engaging practice. It can be used in the classroom or home with a Microsoft account as a Windows application or on the web that can be accessed from any web connected device, including Chromebooks, iPads and any browser-enabled device. 

Reading in multiple languages

Add your own content in up to 81 languages include 14 different English dialects. Reading Coach will listen to you read in the language of your choice, note mispronunciations and coach you on challenging words. This feature is especially useful for readers learning a new language be it English or any other. 

Reading in multiple languages with Reading Coach

Readers can also create stories using AI in 14 languages. Like in English, the stories have multiple chapters and learners can pick their own path through the story.

Find it easily

Users will be able to find Reading Coach more easily at www.microsoft365.com alongside the rest of the M365 applications when logged in as a consumer or Entra ID education user.

Zero-friction access

Reading Coach is available for free and enabled for all M365 Education users. No action is needed to enable the application. IT Administrator can disable the application from the M365 Admin Center or follow instructions provided in the message center post to opt-out of the Default ON rollout at GA before December 5th. 

Reading streaks and progress over time

Earn Reading 3-day, 5-day and 7-day streaks to earn rewards in Reading Coach. Readers can also see their progress over a week, 30-days and all-time through an easy-to-read dashboard made usable for learners of all ages. 

Reading streaks and progress over time in Reading Coach

When: Dec 5th, Generally Available 

Classwork improvements and Teams for Education AI

Immersive Reader in Classwork

Students in Classwork can now view module titles and descriptions within Immersive Reader. Immersive reader provides an interface that lets every student read content in a way that works best for them while improving reading fluency. Learn more about Immersive Reader here. 

Immersive Reader in Classwork | Microsoft Teams for Education

When: Available Now 

Student View in Classwork

A new student view is now available to educators in Classwork. By clicking “Student View” you will see exactly what your students see, giving you a quick view of what students will see and allowing you to show your screen in class without revealing modules that aren’t ready. Student View also gives educators access to the Immersive Reader in Classwork.

Student View in Classwork | Microsoft Teams for Education

When: Available Now 

Streamlining Generative AI in Instructions

Our latest update to Teams Assignments streamlines the process of using Generative AI to create assignment instructions. With this enhancement, you’ll receive tips early on about how to get high-quality output, guiding you toward clear and effective instructions.

Additionally, you now have the option to adjust the grade and language level of the AI-generated instructions. This new flexibility allows you to tailor the content to better fit your students’ needs, ensuring that instructions are appropriate for their skill level and understanding. 

Streamlining Generative AI in Instructions | Microsoft Teams for Education

When: Rolling out in Nov 

Speaker Progress

We heard your feedback and are thrilled to announce the release of two highly requested features in Speaker Progress: screen sharing and support for additional languages. These top customer requests are now a reality, and we can't wait for you to experience them! 

Screen recording support has rolled our worldwide! Students can now upload a PowerPoint presentation and share their screen while delivering a Speaker Progress presentation. This new feature allows them to select the presentation of their choice and present with the help of their slides and notes. As they present, they can still see their video and receive real-time tips from Speaker Coach. This feature will enhance the presentation experience and help students stay organized and confident, ensuring a more engaging and effective delivery. 

Speaker Progress PowerPoint presentation | Microsoft Teams for Education

Additional language support is also rolled out worldwide! We have added several new languages to Speaker Progress including Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Polish, Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish. We have even more languages coming including Japanese, German, French, and Dutch. We will keep working hard to add more languages to Speaker Progress to make presentation and public speaking coaching available to even more geographies and languages! 

Turn on Speaker Coach settings for language support | Microsoft Teams for Education

When: Available Now! 

Teams for Education updates

Export Rubrics to Word in Teams Assignments

Based on teacher feedback, we’re excited to introduce the ability to export rubrics to Word within Teams Assignments, making it easy to print and share assessment criteria with students. This feature complements our existing Generative AI capabilities for rubric creation, simplifying the grading process even further. 

To use this feature, simply create or select a rubric, attach it to an assignment, and choose the new Download as Word option. We hope this update helps streamline your grading workflow and enhances student access to assessment guidelines. 

Export Rubrics to Word in Teams Assignments | Microsoft Teams for Education

When: Available Now! 

Rename General channel

Up until now, every team in Microsoft Teams had a default General channel. All team members are part of this channel, and it can’t be archived or deleted.  

We’ve heard from users that they wanted the option to retitle this channel to something more meaningful. So, we made it happen! The General channel can now be renamed by the team’s owners. It will then show up in alphabetical order like other channels in the teams and channels lists for all members.

How it works

1. To rename an existing team, open Microsoft Teams and navigate to that team. 
2. As the team owner, select the More options button next to the General channel. 
3. Select Rename channel. 
   Renaming a Teams channel | Microsoft Teams for Education
4. In the Channel name field, give the channel a meaningful name, and then select the Save button. 

Few tips & tricks 

• The General channel can also be renamed from the Manage channel settings page or the context menu from the onboarding page channel header. 
• General is a reserved string, and no new channels can be named General. 
• The first-created channel in a new team will have the same description as the team by default. 

When: Generally Available 

EDU Policy Wizard in Teams admin center

Admins will be presented with the EDU Policy Wizard on the Teams admin center homepage. It looks similar to the existing wizard that can also be launched from the tile on the Teams Admin Center homepage. Admins will be able to select their institution's tenant type (K-12 or Higher education) and apply policies by specifying different sets of user groups.  

Parents app will now be enabled for educators if the tenant is K12.  

Read more about the wizard here. 

When: Rollout starts in Nov 2024

Weekly guardian email digest setting in Teams admin center

To better align with related features, we are updating the location of the Weekly guardian email digest setting in Teams admin center from Education > Assignment settings to Education > Parent and guardian settings.

NOTE: Please note that the above links require authorized access to Teams admin center.

When: Generally Available now 

Weekly guardian email digest setting in Teams admin center | Microsoft Teams for Education

OneNote updates

Enhance your inking with handwriting straightening in Desktop OneNote on Windows 

Handwriting straightening transforms your handwritten inked text, making it more visually organized and coherent. It also improves ink legibility in your notes without taking away from your handwriting’s style and personality and offers a great way to quickly clean up notes before reading them back or sharing them out. 

How it works

1. In OneNote on Windows, open an existing notebook that contains ink, or select the Draw tab and add ink to a page using a digital pen. 
2. Select the ink you want to straighten either by tapping on a line of text or using the Lasso Select tool, and then select Straighten. 

Straightening handwriting in OneNote

When: Available now 

Pick any color with the new Eyedropper tool in OneNote

With the new Eyedropper tool in OneNote, you can easily choose a color from any image, shape, or inked notes found in the app. The tool also allows you to build your own personalized set of pens in the drawing toolbox. 

Pick any color with the new Eyedropper tool in OneNote | Microsoft Teams for Education

How it works

1. Select the pen icon in the drawing toolbox. 
2. Select the Eyedropper tool in the dropdown menu. 
3. Use the Eyedropper tool to pick any color from your canvas and save it in the Recent Colors section of the dropdown menu for later use. 

When: Available now 

More improvements to ink annotations on PDF printouts and images in OneNote

Earlier this year, we released the ability to keep ink annotations with images and PDF printouts. Based on your feedback, we are making additional improvements: 

• Better tracking of annotations for scenarios where PDF printouts and images might be moved due to content layout updates. 
• Enhanced ink annotation tracking for in-line content. 
• Fixed general issues and polished overall experience.

How it works

1. Go to the Insert > File Printout or Insert > Picture to insert a PDF printout or an image. 
2. Start inking on the PDF printout or the image. 
3. Tap to select both the PDF printout or the image and the handwritten ink using touch, your digital pen, or your mouse. 

When: Available now 

And finally, just to recap all the news we have for you this month, here’s a quick review of all the features that are generally available or are rolling out now: 

1. M365 Copilot updates 

• Agents 
• OneDrive 

2. Reading Coach general available coming  

3. Classwork improvements and Teams for Education AI

4. Speaker Progress updates

• Add PowerPoint to Speaker Progress assignment 
• New language support 

5. Teams for Education core updates

• Rename General channel 
• EDU Policy Wizard in Teams admin center 

6. OneNote Desktop update

• Enhance your inking with handwriting straightening in Desktop OneNote on Windows 
• Pick any color with the new Eyedropper tool in OneNote 
• More improvements to ink annotations on PDF printouts and images 

Have any feedback to share with us? As always, we'd love to hear it!  

Mike Tholfsen 

Group Product Manager 

Microsoft Education