Microsoft Education product news and announcement round up from October and November
Over the past two months, there have been a slew of new Microsoft Education product announcements, updates, and videos. We've tried to capture many of these in the list below. Please feel free to share these with other teachers, your school staff, and school IT Admins, and keep the feedback coming! What's new in EDU November 2017 https://educationblog.microsoft.com/2017/11/whats-new-in-edu-skypeathon-translator-minecraft/ October 2017: https://educationblog.microsoft.com/2017/10/whats-new-in-edu-hack-the-classroom-oregon-trail/ Office Teams For EDU major update: https://educationblog.microsoft.com/2017/11/teams-office-365-education-updates-november/ OneNote Staff Notebook - Collaboration Space permissions in Staff Notebooks: https://twitter.com/mtholfsen/status/937820901210406914 Class Notebook and Learning Tools Addin updates: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Education-Blog/Updates-for-OneNote-Class-Notebook-Addin-and-Desktop-Learning/ba-p/112773 "The Future of OneNote in Education" talk: https://aka.ms/onenoteconference2017 3rd party Learning Tools Study and student outcomes: https://educationblog.microsoft.com/2017/10/new-research-learning-tools-improves-reading-comprehension/ Word iPad Immersive Reader announcement: https://educationblog.microsoft.com/2017/10/new-research-learning-tools-improves-reading-comprehension/ Education Resources preview launch: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Education-Blog/Introducing-Education-Resources-a-source-of-Open-Educational/bc-p/119841#M60 LinkedIn Resume Assistant for Microsoft Word: https://blogs.office.com/en-us/2017/11/08/bringing-ai-to-job-seekers-with-resume-assistant-in-word-powered-by-linkedin/?eu=true New Whiteboard Preview: https://educationblog.microsoft.com/2017/12/microsoft-whiteboard-finally-arrives-in-preview/ Minecraft and Coding Minecraft Hour of Code: https://educationblog.microsoft.com/2017/11/minecraft-education-edition-hour-of-code-tutorial/ Deploy and Code in Minecraft: https://educationblog.microsoft.com/2017/11/deploy-code-in-minecraft/ Windows and Microsoft Edge Windows Fall Creators Update and Edge Read Aloud: https://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/2017/10/17/edgehtml-16-fall-creators-update/ Windows EDU Blog on Future Source Report: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/12/06/windows-pcs-see-strong-growth-edu-gaining-share-worldwide-us/ Inclusion in Action video series Andrew and Mitra - A mother witnesses her eight-year-old son with dyslexia read for the first time with the help of Microsoft Learning Tools Justin - A college student with athetoid cerebral palsy uses Office Online and his communication device to promote inclusivity and inspire others to do the same Veronica - A college student with low vision uses built-in accessibility in Office 365 and Windows 10 to create a perfect presentation on Sway—Microsoft’s digital storytelling app. Jack and Marisa - A blind teacher enables his students to create high-quality visual content with Office 365 Inclusive culture - Australia and New South Wales using Office 365Inclusive Classroom round up for Microsoft Education at ISTE 2019
Microsoft Education’s mission is to empower every student on the planet to achieve more. This mission is founded on inclusive principles and aims to enable 100% of all students. Built-in, mainstream, non-stigmatizing and free! Coming into ISTE, Microsoft Education is releasing a wave of updates for the Inclusive Classroom. Today’s round-up of new updates are grouped across reading, writing, math and communication.
Microsoft Power Women in Tech Award WINNER
Microsoft Power Women in Tech is a newly established award designed to highlight women in the tech industry who promote diversity and inclusion. The award spans Microsoft's partner network in Western Europe and one winner per country in 11 countries has been selected. In Sweden, the winner is Beatrice Silow, who works as Communications and Culture Manager at Nexer Group. A big and well-deserved congratulations to Sweden's winner - Beatrice Silow! Read the full article hereRandom Acts of Connection – Small Ways to Foster Belonging in Everyday Life
On Building Community. "According to a study in Psychological Science, people who feel they belong to a community or group experience 30% less stress and loneliness, which positively impacts their overall health and emotional well-being." Belonging isn't solely about significant moments—it is also formed through small, daily interactions that remind individuals they are part of a larger community. Simple actions can create meaningful connections and improve someone's day. Here are some ways to practice random acts of connection: Start with a smile – A warm smile or friendly nod can make someone feel acknowledged. Give a genuine compliment – A kind word can positively impact someone's day. Engage in small talk – A brief conversation with a neighbor, barista, or coworker can create moments of connection. Invite inclusion – Notice someone new? Invite them into a conversation or shared activity. Express gratitude – A sincere “thank you” strengthens bonds and fosters appreciation. Connection is influential—when one makes the effort, others may follow. We are more the same as humans than we are different. What is one way you can foster belonging today? #RandomActsOfConnection #BelongingMatters #CuppaCommuniTea #MicrosoftCommunity 🍵 Today I am drinking a cuppa Darjeeling from Harney & Sons Fine Teas - Millerton, NY. "The Queen of Indian teas with earthy notes paired with citrus and fruit tones". A Fave.Building Futures Through Community: Creating Pathways into Tech
For the team behind Experts Live Denmark - organized by the Microsoft MVP & RD community in Denmark - this belief has shaped how they think about community: not just as a place to share knowledge, but as a space to open doors into the industry. That thinking is what led to the collaboration with ReDI School of Digital Integration Denmark. ReDI supports women with migrant and refugee backgrounds through digital education, mentorship, and career guidance. But as the organizers of Experts Live Denmark recognized early on, skills alone are not enough. The missing piece is often access to real environments - to people, conversations, and experiences that make the industry tangible. This is where the collaboration comes in. From Learning to Real-World Experience Rather than treating volunteers as event support, the approach has been to create an experience that reflects how the tech community actually works. As MVP Morten Knudsen says: “Our collaboration is not just about inviting volunteers to an event. It is about empowerment, mentorship, visibility, and long-term career support.” anjali Hinda at the Experts Live Denmark 2026 appreciation Dinner For volunteers like Geetanjali Hinda and Poorva Tumbde, that difference was immediately visible. Geetanjali describes it as a turning point: “It felt like a direct bridge between learning and the professional tech community.” What stood out most was not just the scale of the event - but how it felt to be part of it: “There was no clear divide between volunteers, learners, and experienced professionals. Everyone was approachable and willing to engage.” That openness is intentional. From the organizer perspective, creating an environment where people feel able to engage—not just observe - is what turns an event into an entry point. And for Geetanjali, it changed the experience entirely: “I didn’t feel like I was just supporting the event. I felt like I was contributing to it.” Confidence Comes From Participation For many entering a new country and job market, confidence can be one of the biggest barriers. Geetanjali speaks candidly about that reality: “Being a job-seeking expat, you tend to lose your confidence.” Working in a fast-paced, real-world setting helped shift that: “It reminded me of my communication and coordination skills… especially when dealing with last-minute changes.” More importantly, it changed how she approached her role: “I became more comfortable taking initiative and stepping in where needed without waiting for direction.” And something unexpected emerged: “Even without a formal role, I found myself thinking proactively and focusing on solutions.” This shift - from waiting to contributing - is exactly what the experience is designed to enable. Seeing the Industry Up Close For Poorva, the journey began through ReDI School itself: “It has been a meaningful bridge… helping us connect with and better understand Danish work culture.” Through that connection, she stepped into Experts Live Denmark and experienced the industry firsthand. What stayed with her most was the energy of the community: “The event brought together more than 1,400 attendees from diverse cultural backgrounds… What stood out to me was the passion shared by everyone involved.” But beyond the atmosphere, the experience helped expand her perspective: “I gained a better understanding of emerging technologies, the increasing role of AI… and how innovation is shaping the future of the tech industry.” Exposure to real conversations, real challenges, and real expertise helped turn abstract interest into something more concrete. Learning by Doing A key part of the experience is hands-on involvement. Poorva highlights the practical side: “I gained hands-on exposure to publishing a WordPress website, automating email communications using Microsoft Forms, and understanding the intricacies of event logistics.” At the same time, Geetanjali’s experience reflects another dimension—learning how to operate in dynamic environments. Together, these experiences provide something difficult to replicate elsewhere: Applying skills in real scenarios Understanding how collaboration works in practice Navigating uncertainty and adapting in real time Building confidence through contribution From the organizer perspective, this is the goal. Not just to expose participants to the industry - but to help them practice being part of it. More Than Technical Skills Both experiences point to a broader realization. For Poorva, it came through exposure to sessions and experts. For Geetanjali, it came through participation and interaction. As she puts it: “Being part of the tech industry is not just about technical skills, but also about collaboration and mindset.” This is a critical shift. Because entering the industry is not only about what you know - it’s about how you engage, contribute, and connect. Why This Collaboration Matters From the perspective of Experts Live Denmark, the collaboration with ReDI School is about creating continuity in the journey into tech. ReDI provides the foundation: Skills Learning Initial network The community provides the next step: Real-world exposure Practical experience Professional confidence By connecting the two, the gap between learning and working becomes smaller - and more navigable. Looking Ahead For both Poorva and Geetanjali, the experience did not end with the event. It shaped how they see their next steps. Geetanjali reflects this clearly: “Going forward, I want to combine my technical development with active participation in professional communities… showing up with a mindset of contribution, accountability, and curiosity.” That mindset - more than any single skill - is what enables long-term growth. And it is exactly what collaborations like this aim to support. Because building a strong tech community is not only about sharing knowledge. It is about bringing more people into it - and helping them find their place within it. Experts Live is a global network of community-driven conferences that brings together Microsoft executives, MVPs and community members sharing practical, real-world knowledge through sessions, conversations, and networking. Experts Live Denmark is happening again on February 9-10, 2027.
