Transitioning from Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Business Basic: What Nonprofits Need to Know
As Microsoft begins transitioning out the Business Premium grant for nonprofits, many organizations are reassessing their licensing needs therefore this is an opportunity to streamline operations and continue leveraging powerful tools with Microsoft 365 Business Basic. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ What Is Microsoft 365 Business Basic? Microsoft 365 Business Basic is a cloud-first productivity suite designed for organizations that don’t need desktop Office apps but still want access to essential collaboration and communication tools. It includes: ✅Web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook ✅Microsoft Teams for meetings, chat, and collaboration ✅Exchange Online with a 50 GB mailbox per user ✅OneDrive for Business with 1 TB of cloud storage ✅SharePoint Online for document management and team sites It’s a cost-effective solution for nonprofits looking to maintain productivity while reducing licensing expenses. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Change Microsoft has announced the retirement of the Business Premium grant, which previously provided eligible nonprofits with free access to premium features like desktop Office apps, Intune, and advanced security tools. As a result, many organizations are now exploring Business Basic as a cost-effective alternative. Note: If your organization decides to continue using Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 75% through Microsoft’s nonprofit pricing. This can be a great option if you still need access to advanced features. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ How to Transition from Business Premium to Business Basic Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the switch smoothly: Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Usage Identify users who don’t need desktop apps or advanced security features. Use the Microsoft 365 admin center to review license assignments and usage patterns. Step 2: Purchase Business Basic Licenses Go to Microsoft 365 admin center > Billing > Purchase services. Select “Details” next to Microsoft 365 Business Basic and buy the number of licenses you need. Important: Although the process says “purchase,” eligible nonprofits receive the first 300 Business Basic licenses for free. You will not be charged for these licenses, even though they are added through the purchase flow. Step 3: Reassign Licenses Navigate to Users > Active users. For each user, go to Licenses and Apps, uncheck Business Premium, and check Business Basic. Save your changes. Step 4: Remove Unused Premium Licenses Once all users are reassigned, reduce or cancel your Business Premium licenses to avoid unnecessary charges. Go to Billing > Your Products Click on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, then click remove licenses Ensure that users have been unassigned licenses or that may cause an error Step 5: Communicate the Transition Let your team know what’s changing and what tools they’ll still have access to. Offer training or resources to help them adapt to web-based tools. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Business Premium vs Business Basic Comparison Feature Business Premium Business Basic Desktop versions of Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) ✅ ❌ Advanced security features (Microsoft Defender for Business, Microsoft Purview) ✅ ❌ Device management (via Microsoft Intune) ✅ ❌ Access and Publisher (PC only) ✅ ❌ Webinar hosting and attendee tools in Teams ✅ ❌ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ What You’ll Still Have with Business Basic Despite the changes, you’ll retain access to essential tools that support collaboration and productivity: Web and mobile versions of Office apps Microsoft Teams (chat, call, meet with up to 300 attendees) Business-class email with Exchange 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage SharePoint Standard security and support ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Making the Most of Microsoft 365 Business Basic Even without desktop apps, Business Basic offers a robust suite of tools to keep your team connected and productive: ✅ Web-Based Office Apps Use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook directly in your browser. Collaborate in real-time with colleagues on shared documents. ✅ Microsoft Teams Host virtual meetings, chat, and collaborate on files. Create channels for departments or projects to streamline communication. ✅ OneDrive and SharePoint Store and share files securely in the cloud. Use version history and co-authoring to improve productivity. ✅ Email and Calendar Access professional email with a 50 GB mailbox via Outlook on the web. Manage calendars and schedule meetings with ease. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Final Thoughts While the retirement of the Business Premium grant may require some adjustments, Microsoft 365 Business Basic still provides essential tools to help your nonprofit thrive. With thoughtful planning and a focus on cloud-based collaboration, you can continue to operate efficiently and make a meaningful impact—without breaking your budget.Introduction to Microsoft Copilot Pages
Microsoft Copilot Pages is a feature within Microsoft 365 that leverages AI to help users create, manage, and collaborate on documents more efficiently. It integrates with various Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, and SharePoint, allowing users to generate content, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance productivity through AI-driven suggestions and automation. Steps to Create a Copilot Page Access Microsoft 365 Copilot: Sign into https://microsoft365.com/copilot with your work or school account. This is for individuals who are Utilizing Copilot through an organizational account with a Business or Enterprise License, it is currently not available for personal accounts. Initiate a Copilot Chat: Open the Copilot Chat interface. Start a new conversation by specifying your requirements. For example, you can prompt Copilot with: “Create a Project Overview’ based on deliverables with Customer X include sections for Introduction, Goals, and Timeline.” After Copilot’s response, there is a Pages Icon. Select Edit in Pages There is also the ability to add to an existing page Edit and Refine: Once Copilot generates the content, you can edit and refine it directly within the page. Use the dynamic canvas to make real-time adjustments and ensure the content meets your standards. Continue editing and talking with Copilot, and each new response will be added to the page. (I.e. “Add a table with Name, Task Assignment, and Due Date for the project deliverables”) Collaborate and Share: Share the page with your team through Teams, Outlook, or the Microsoft 365 app. Collaborate in real-time, seeing everyone's contributions and making necessary adjustments. Save and Reuse: Your pages will be saved unless you delete them. You can revisit and reuse the content for future projects or assessments. Microsoft Documentation on Copilot Pages For more detailed information and official documentation, you can refer to the following resources: Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot Pages Create Pages with Copilot in SharePointEnhancing Nonprofit Operations: Power Apps and Power Automate Integration
Why Nonprofits Should Embrace Power Apps and Power Automate Power Apps and Power Automate are part of Microsoft’s Power Platform, designed to provide robust, scalable, and cost-effective solutions for organizations of all sizes. For nonprofits, these tools present a golden opportunity to customize and automate processes without the need for extensive technical expertise or a hefty budget. Cost-Effective Solutions: Microsoft offers nonprofits significant discounts on its software, including Power Apps and Power Automate, making it a budget-friendly choice. Customizability: Both tools can be tailored to address the unique needs of any nonprofit, whether it’s tracking donors, managing volunteers, or automating grant application workflows. Improved Efficiency: Automating repetitive manual tasks reduces errors and saves time, enabling organizations to focus on what matters most—their mission. Enhanced Collaboration: These tools integrate seamlessly with other Microsoft products like Teams, SharePoint, and Dynamics, making information sharing and teamwork more fluid. "Using Power Apps and Power Automate was a turning point for us. We no longer spend hours manually tracking donations and managing schedules. It’s like gaining an extra team member without the added cost!" – Sarah M., Director of Operations, Helping Hands Foundation A Step-by-Step Guide: Automating Donation Tracking The following guide provides an example of how nonprofits can use Power Apps and Power Automate to enhance their operations effectively. While this guide is a helpful starting point, please note that it may not apply to every situation, as each organization’s needs are unique. Step 1: Define Your Needs Start by identifying what aspects of donation tracking need improvement. Do you want to automate the acknowledgment process? Is it vital to have an updated database of donors in real time? Step 2: Create a Power App Use Power Apps to build a user-friendly form where donors can input their information, such as name, email, and donation amount. Customize the app with your organization’s branding to ensure a professional look. Step 3: Set Up Power Automate Design an automated workflow using Power Automate. For example, configure the flow to: Send a confirmation email to the donor immediately after they submit the form. Update your donor database in SharePoint or Excel. Generate a donation acknowledgment letter for your records. Step 4: Test and Refine Before launching your app and automation workflow, test the system thoroughly to ensure it performs as expected. Make adjustments as necessary to improve functionality and usability. Step 5: Launch and Monitor Roll out your new system and monitor its performance. Use the analytics features in Power Platform to gather insights into donor behavior and workflow efficiency. Unleashing the Potential of Customization No two nonprofits are alike, and Power Apps and Power Automate recognize this by offering unparalleled customization. Whether it’s building a dashboard to track project milestones or creating a workflow to process grant applications, these tools can be adapted to meet your specific needs. Their flexibility ensures that your nonprofit can evolve and innovate as your organization grows. Impact Beyond Efficiency The benefits of these tools extend beyond operational efficiency. By automating routine tasks, organizations can allocate their saved time and resources to programs that directly impact the communities they serve. Power Apps and Power Automate empower nonprofits to operate more strategically, making every dollar and minute count. Call to Action Are you ready to take your nonprofit operations to the next level? Explore the endless possibilities of Power Apps and Power Automate today. Begin with a small project like donation tracking or volunteer management and experience the transformative impact firsthand. For guidance, check out Brandon Antoine's blog about getting started with Power Apps and Streamlining Non-Profit Operations with Power Automate Templates (Video Tutorial Included) | Microsoft Community Hub To deepen your understanding further, visit Microsoft’s Power Platform Overview and their Nonprofit Offerings to access resources designed specifically for your organization’s needs. Your mission is too important to be bogged down by inefficiencies. Leverage technology, embrace innovation, and let your nonprofit shine brighter than ever!Empowering Youth Through STEM and Motorsports with Rajah Caruth
Introduction We as Microsoft NTA are thrilled to announce our ongoing partnership with NASCAR driver Rajah Caruth, aimed at bridging the gap between STEM education and the exciting world of motorsports. This collaboration is part of our commitment to empowering nonprofits and educators to inspire the next generation of tech-savvy individuals. Our Partnership with Rajah Caruth Rajah Caruth, an American professional stock car racing driver, competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Spire Motorsports. Born on June 11, 2002, in Atlanta, Georgia, Caruth has made significant strides in his racing career, including winning the 2024 Victoria's Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Caruth is notable for being the third Black driver to win in one of NASCAR's three national series, joining Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace. He is also a product of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. Racing with Rajah: A STEM Initiative Our collaboration has led to the development of the "Racing with Rajah" program, now available on the Microsoft Learn platform. This virtual program offers an immersive experience for students aged 12-15, exploring STEM concepts through the lens of motorsports. Supported by Microsoft, GM Motorsports, and Rajah Caruth, the program includes practical activities using Azure tools and covers topics such as physics, vehicle mechanics, and AI-driven race strategies. Nonprofit organizations have the flexibility to host the "Racing with Rajah" curriculum in-house or bring it directly to students through partnerships with local youth clubs and community-based initiatives. This program can be integrated into settings like Boys & Girls Clubs, Best Buy Teen Tech Centers™, local STEM camps, and after-school programs. Local community centers, libraries, and recreational facilities can also provide accessible venues for hosting the program, bringing STEM education directly to neighborhood students. Educators can integrate the curriculum into classroom activities, after-school programs, and STEM clubs, enriching students' learning experiences with real-world applications. Previous Events an Example of Use Case Recently, we had a successful event at the Martin Luther King Library in Washington, DC, where students from Schools Without Borders joined to learn more about the curriculum and experience a NASCAR truck simulator. This event showcased the practical applications of the "Racing with Rajah" program and provided an engaging hands-on experience for the students. Finish Line Rajah Caruth's journey is a testament to perseverance, diversity, and the power of collaboration. As we continue to support and work with Rajah, we are proud to be part of his story and contribute to the nonprofit tech community. We encourage nonprofits and educators to take advantage of the “ Racing with Rajah - Microsoft Learn Educator Center | Microsoft Learn” program to inspire and educate the next generation.Unlock the Power of Webinars with Microsoft Teams for Nonprofits (With Video Tutorial)
Webinars are an excellent way to engage with your audience, share knowledge, and promote your brand. Microsoft Teams makes it easy to create and manage webinars with its robust features and seamless integration with Microsoft 365. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started, based on resources from Microsoft Learn. Step 1: Set Up Your Webinar Open Microsoft Teams: Launch the Microsoft Teams application on your device. Navigate to the Calendar: Click on the Calendar icon on the left-hand side of the Teams interface. If the Calendar option is not visible, click on the three dots (ellipsis) on the left-hand side to access additional applications. Create a New Webinar: Click on the arrow next to "New meeting" and select "Webinar" from the dropdown menu. Step 2: Customize the Registration Form Enter Webinar Details: Fill in the title, date, start and end times, and a description for your webinar. Add Co-organizers: Specify who will help you manage the webinar Add Presenters: Specify who will present during the webinar by adding their email addresses in the "Presenters" field. Step 3: Configure Event Options Set Meeting Options: Configure the meeting options such as mics, Q&A. Click on Edit more options to control who can bypass the lobby, Production Tools and other settings to ensure a smooth webinar experience. Step 4: Set up Presenter Bios To set up presenter bios in Microsoft Teams, follow these steps: Go to Presenter bios under the Setup section. If you haven't already added a presenter, you'll be prompted to go add one Find the presenter you want to add a bio for and select Edit. Fill in details about the presenter, such as their image, email, job title, and a description about them. When you're finished, select Save. Step 5: Set up Your Theme Click on Theming to set up your logo, Banner image and Theme color. Step 6: Set up Configurations for registrations Event Limit: Set a maximum number of registrants to manage the size of your webinar audience. The maximum capacity for a webinar is 1000 Registration Form: Add fields to form to gather information about potential attendees and understand your audience better. Step 7: Publish your registration site View Registration Page: By selecting 'View Draft,' you can thoroughly review and verify all details to ensure everything is accurate and ready before going live. Publish the Event: Once you've filled out the webinar details and registration form, publish it to make it discoverable by potential attendees. Share the Registration Link: Copy the registration link from your Teams calendar and share it via email, social media, or your website to gather an audience. Conclusion Creating a webinar in Microsoft Teams is a straightforward process that allows you to connect with your audience effectively. By following these steps, you can set up, promote, and host a successful webinar that engages your audience and achieves your goals. Whether you're a business professional, nonprofit educator, or event organizer, Microsoft Teams provides all the tools you need to deliver a seamless and impactful webinar experience. References Overview of meetings, webinars, and town halls - Microsoft Teams | Microsoft LearnWhat’s New in Outlook – April & May 2025 Updates
For New Outlook for Windows & Outlook Web App Microsoft continues to refine the Outlook experience, delivering thoughtful enhancements that boost organization, productivity, and collaboration. Whether you're using the new Outlook for Windows or the Outlook Web App, these features are designed to help you work smarter—not harder. Here’s a roundup of the new features from April and May 2025 that you’ll want to explore: 📅 Calendar & Event Management Upgrades 🗑️ Auto-Delete Meeting Invites After Responding Tired of calendar clutter? You can now automatically delete meeting invites from your inbox once you’ve responded. How to Enable: Go to Settings (⚙️ icon) Navigate to Calendar > Events and invitations > Invitations from other people Toggle the “Delete invitations from Inbox after responding” option 🔔 Background Calendar Event Notifications Stay on schedule even when Outlook isn’t open. With background event notifications, you’ll receive alerts on your desktop or lock screen, ensuring you never miss a meeting. 📨 Email Management Enhancements 💾 Save Emails as .MSG Files You can now save individual emails as .msg files by right-clicking them in your inbox and selecting Save as > Save as MSG. This is great for archiving or sharing emails while preserving their original formatting. 🤝 Share Emails to Microsoft Teams Email-to-Teams integration just got easier. Share any email—including attachments—directly to a Teams chat or channel without leaving Outlook. Perfect for fast collaboration! 🗂️ Smarter Folder & Category Controls 📁 Reorder Folders with Drag and Drop You’re no longer stuck with alphabetical order. This update lets you drag and drop folders into whatever order makes sense for your workflow. Tip: Organize by priority or frequency of use to boost productivity. 🎨 Add Some Color: Custom Folder Icons Give your folders a fresh look with custom folder icon colors! This update makes it easier to visually organize and differentiate your folders at a glance. Whether you color-code by project, urgency, or department, this update is perfect for visual thinkers. How to Change Folder Color: Right-click a folder Choose “Change folder icon color” Select your preferred color 📌 Pin Your Favorites to the Top Keep your most-used folders within reach by pinning them to the top of the Left Navigation Bar. It’s a small tweak with big impact—your go-to folders are now always just a click away. How to Pin a Folder: Right-click any folder > Select “Pin to top” "None" as a Category – More Control, Cleaner View Sometimes, less is more. You can now assign a "None" color category to emails and calendar events, giving you better control over what stands out—and what doesn’t. This is perfect if: You want to declutter without deleting You use color sparingly for higher impact 🔄 Delegation & Archive Improvements 🧑💼 Category Management for Delegates Delegates can now create and apply new calendar categories on behalf of the person who granted them access. This streamlines meeting organization and avoids back-and-forth on color codes and labels. 🗃️ Group Messages as a Conversation in PST Files You can now view emails saved in .pst files in a conversation-style format. This makes archived content easier to follow and manage. Conclusion From visual customization to smarter calendar tools and seamless collaboration, Outlook’s April and May 2025 updates are full of features designed to help you do more with less effort. Whether you're streamlining your workflow, organizing folders your way, or collaborating more efficiently, these updates are worth exploring.Building An AI Tool - Marketer's Guide by Nia Joseph
Prompt Engineering Worksheet This document serves as a comprehensive guide and template for Marketing professionals, detailing a systematic approach to prompt engineering. It includes instructional notes and methodologies specifically designed for the field of Marketing. What is Prompt Engineering? Prompt engineering is the practice of crafting and refining input queries to guide machine learning models, particularly language models like Copilot and ChatGPT, to produce optimal and relevant responses. The 3 Main Types of Prompts Generic (No Context) Minimal (Some Context) Data-Fed (Most Context) Broad queries with minimal guidance. Example: What is email marketing? Usage for a Marketer: When looking for a general overview or introduction to a topic. Benefits: Offers a wide scope of information. Good for brainstorming or exploring a new concept. More pointed prompts that give some direction. Example: What strategies are effective for email marketing? Usage for a Marketer: When they know the domain they're interested in but want various insights or options. Benefits: Provides targeted information within a chosen domain. Allows for deeper exploration of a particular subject. Highly specific queries that incorporate particular data or conditions. Example: Considering an open rate of only 10% for my last email campaign selling nostalgic bucket hats, targeting millennials, how can I improve this? I’ll include the email subject line and contents here. Usage for a Marketer: When they have specific data or conditions, they want advice or information on. Benefits: Offers tailored recommendations or insights based on given data. Best for optimization and refinement of existing campaigns or strategies. Choosing Your Prompt Generic: For broad overviews or exploring topics. Minimal: When you have a domain in mind and want diverse insights. Detailed: For more precise advice based on specific data or conditions. Examples of Each Prompt Generic Prompt - Equivalent to asking: Recommend a book Minimal Prompt - Equivalent to asking: Recommend a science fiction book. Detailed Prompt - Equivalent to asking: Recommend a science fiction book set in space, with strong female protagonists, written in the last decade. A Simple Framework for Prompt Engineering ARC(E) - Act, Request, Clarify. Engage. Benefits of ARC(E) Structures interactions to produce precise outputs. Reduces ambiguity in prompts. Can be used across teams. Adaptable for various domains and requirements. A Definition: Define the role or perspective you want the model to adopt. Example: Act as a LinkedIn Ads specialist. Usage: To set the tone and perspective for the response, ensuring it's tailored to a specific viewpoint or expertise. R Definition: Clearly state the task or information you are seeking from the model. Example: Provide audience insights and actionable performance tips. Usage: Gives the AI clear instructions on the type of output desired; advice, information, or a specific task. C Definition: Offer specific data, background, or situational details to inform the model's response. Example: Campaign targeting Data Scientists to sell a new AI Data management tool. Currently has a CTR of 2% and no conversions after being live for 30 days. Usage: Provides the model with essential background information, ensuring the response is relevant, data-informed, and accurate. E Definition: Invite the model to ask for any additional information it might need to optimize its response. Example: If you require more details to assist me better, please inquire. Usage: Promotes a dynamic interaction, allowing the model to clarify ambiguities or gather more context. Examples of How to Use Engagement Prompts Progressive Interaction Start broad and refine based on AI feedback, ensuring the AI knows it can ask for details. User: Help me design a marketing strategy. Ask for details if needed. AI: For which product or industry? Collaborative Inquiry Proactively invite AI to ask clarifying questions to guide the conversation. User: I want to boost user engagement. What details do you need from me? AI: Can you share your platform's current engagement metrics and any patterns you've noticed? Challenge Mode Encourage AI to counter or critique ideas for a holistic perspective. User: I'm leaning towards influencer marketing for our launch. Can you challenge that approach? AI: Certainly. Have you considered potential risks, such as brand misalignment or the fleeting nature of influencer popularity? Use Cases for Marketers Leveraging AI can prove beneficial in many areas of your career as Marketing professionals. The focus should be on user-centric AI, where you are strategically guiding the AI and editing the results. In this way it becomes human-powered AI, helping to enhance your expertise. Content Creation: Crafting social media posts. Generating blog topics or outlines. Producing creative ad copy. Market Research: Analyzing customer feedback and sentiments. Identifying emerging market trends. Generating questions for customer surveys. Strategy Development: SWOT analysis generation. Competitive landscape assessment. Crafting marketing plan outlines. Brand Management: Creating brand taglines or slogans. Generating brand stories or narratives. Ideating brand campaign concepts. SEO and SEM: Keyword research and suggestions. Meta description and title generation. AdWords campaign optimization suggestions. Email Marketing: Crafting engaging email subject lines. Personalizing email content for different segments. Automating responses to common customer queries. Customer Interaction: Responding to customer feedback or reviews. Generating templates for common customer communications. Crafting scripts for customer support teams. Product Positioning: Generating product descriptions or USPs. Ideating names for new products. Crafting product launch announcements. https://techfren.xyz/6-ai-marketing-tools-in-2025/ Image Prompt: I want an image of An astronaut with his pet jellyfish in an underwater world. Style: claymation that is layered. Colors: shades of Deep Ocean Blue: #00578E Luminescent Purple: #800080 Neon Green: #39FF14 Glimmering Pink: #FF69B4. Background: underwater utopia that is futuristic. Content Prompt: Act as [Role]. [Request], I will provide you the details: [Context] Building AI Tools from a Marketing Perspective Here’s a doc I created to explain my process of building an AI tool while working in a Marketing org and what I think might work for someone with a marketing or traditionally non-technical background looking to build or develop an internal tool or process. While this example focuses on AI it can be adapted for any technology stack. Before You Build: Stakeholder alignment: Ensure that any relevant stakeholders or managers are aligned for this tool build. Be sure to keep them updated on progress and small wins. Unique need: the problem you’re trying to solve and is not duplicative, Business impact: this tool will reduce/improve/streamline xyz by x amount of time. Collaboration request: getting your engineering team onboard; creating a v-team and pitching your product for volunteers. Can be seen as a stretch project for engineering and shows collaboration. Post your v-team in different channels and seek out spaces with engineering to understand more of their process and needs. Understand AI Types: Generative AI (Gen AI): Creates new, unique content. Useful for content creation, design, etc. Large Language Models (LLM AI): Understands and generates human-like text based on vast data. Useful for chatbots, customer support, etc. Others (e.g., Image Recognition AI, Predictive AI) Decide on Features & Inputs: What information will the AI need? (Tone, product details, user data) What outputs are expected? Example: For a content creation tool: tone (formal/informal), target audience, content type (blog, social media post). Design the User Experience: How will users interact with the tool? How will errors be handled? Example: For a chatbot: Welcome message, typing indicators, error messages. Continuous Improvement: AI tools benefit from ongoing training and refinement. Stay updated with AI advancements and user needs. Product Requirements Worksheet for AI-powered Marketing Tools 1. Project Overview: Project Name: [___________] Objective: (Briefly describe the goal of this tool) [___________] Target Audience: (Who is this tool intended for?) [___________] 2. Problem Statement: Define the specific problem you aim to solve with this tool. [____________________________________________________________________________________________] 3. Desired Outcomes: List the expected results from using this tool. E.g., Increased conversion rates, improved customer engagement, etc. [___________] [___________] [___________] (Add more as needed) 4. Core Features & Functionality: Describe the main functionalities the tool should have. Feature: [___________] Description: [________________________________________________________________] Importance: (Critical, High, Medium, Low) [___________] (Repeat for each feature) 5. Data Inputs: List the types of data the tool will need access to. E.g., Customer data, sales data, web analytics, etc. [___________] [___________] [___________] (Add more as needed) 6. User Journey & Experience: Describe a typical user's interaction with the tool, from start to finish. Step: [___________] Description: [________________________________________________________________] Expected Outcome: [________________________________________________________________] (Repeat for each step) 7. Integration & Compatibility: List any platforms or systems the tool needs to integrate with. E.g., CRM systems, e-commerce platforms, social media, etc. [___________] [___________] [___________] (Add more as needed) 8. Constraints & Limitations: Identify any potential obstacles, e.g., data privacy concerns, technical constraints, budget limitations, etc. (API internal vs external) [___________] [___________] [___________] (Add more as needed) 9. Stakeholders & Teams Involved: List all departments or individuals who have a stake in this tool's development and usage. (This quantifies the benefits to this tool and how it can be used to help the team). Team/Individual: [___________] Role: [___________] Responsibilities: [________________________________________________________________] (Repeat for each stakeholder) 10. Milestones & Timeline: Define the key phases of the project and the estimated completion dates. Milestone: [___________] Description: [________________________________________________________________] Deadline: [DD/MM/YYYY] (Repeat for each milestone) 11. Budget (Optional): Outline the estimated costs associated with developing and maintaining the tool. (Sourcing a contractor, external tools needed, etc.) Development Costs: [___________] Maintenance Costs: [___________] Other Costs (e.g., training, integration, etc.): [___________] Total Estimated Budget: [___________] A simple tracker to keep items organized (spec sheets, product notes, etc). It’s editable and can link to files from your Google Drive automatically, keeping sharing seamless. Item Status Related files Notes Not started File In progress File Launched File Connect with Nia to learn more here: http://linkedin.com/in/nia-jEnhancing Your Moodle Experience with Plugins
Did you know you can deploy Moodle directly on Microsoft Azure? This allows nonprofits and educational institutions to take advantage of cloud scalability, security, and even use available Azure credits—making Moodle a cost-effective and powerful solution. Moodle, as an open-source learning management system, is incredibly powerful right out of the box. However, its true potential shines when you tap into the wide variety of plugins available. These plugins allow administrators and educators to extend Moodle's functionality, enhancing both teaching and learning experiences. In this blog, we'll explore some of the most useful plugins for Moodle and how they can help you customize your site to better meet your educational goals. 1. Essential Moodle Plugins for Administrators When managing a Moodle site, administrators can benefit from a variety of plugins that streamline processes, improve security, and enhance user experience. Attendance: This plugin allows instructors to track student attendance with ease. It provides a simple interface for marking attendance and even allows reporting by session or student. Backup and Restore: Though Moodle has built-in backup features, this plugin makes it more user-friendly by offering advanced options such as scheduled backups and backup tracking. Moodle Mobile App (Mobile Services): This plugin enhances the Moodle experience on mobile devices, ensuring that all users, whether students or educators, have a seamless mobile experience. 2. Plugins to Boost Learning and Engagement Plugins also allow educators to create more dynamic and engaging learning environments. Here are a few that are sure to boost interaction and learning outcomes. Quizventure: This gamification plugin transforms Moodle quizzes into an engaging game experience. Students answer quiz questions to shoot moving targets, creating a fun and interactive way to reinforce learning. H5P: H5P allows you to create rich, interactive content such as quizzes, games, videos, and presentations. The plugin integrates seamlessly into Moodle, enabling educators to design more engaging lessons. Certificate: This plugin automates the creation and issuance of certificates. Customize templates to match your organization's branding, and easily award certificates to students upon course completion. 3. Collaboration and Communication Plugins Moodle is great for individual learning, but it's also a strong tool for collaboration and communication. Here are a couple of plugins that can help. BigBlueButton: An open-source video conferencing plugin, BigBlueButton integrates directly into Moodle, making it easy for instructors to host live sessions, record lectures, and engage with students in real-time. Forum Plus: This enhanced forum plugin adds additional features like discussion tracking and more intuitive navigation, improving the online discussion experience for learners and instructors. 4. Customization Plugins for a Personalized Moodle Every Moodle site is unique, and many plugins can help tailor the platform to the specific needs of your users. Theme Selector: Want to change the look and feel of your Moodle site? The Theme Selector plugin allows you to choose from various themes and even create your own, giving your Moodle site a distinct, personalized design. User Profile Fields: This plugin lets you add custom fields to user profiles, enabling you to collect the specific information you need from your learners, such as certifications, experience, or preferences. Conclusion Moodle's flexibility is one of its biggest strengths, and plugins are the key to unlocking that potential. Whether you're an administrator looking to streamline operations, an educator hoping to engage students, or a learner in need of a personalized experience, there's a plugin for every need. By carefully selecting the right plugins, you can enhance your Moodle site and create a more effective and enjoyable learning environment.May the Power Be with You with Power Query in Excel (With Instructional Video)
Data cleaning is a crucial step in the data analysis process, but it can be time-consuming and tedious. Fortunately, Power Query in Microsoft Excel offers a powerful solution to automate data cleaning, saving you valuable time and effort. In this blog, we'll explore how to use Power Query to streamline your data cleaning process and ensure your data is ready for analysis.In this blog, we'll explore how to use Power Query to streamline your data cleaning process and ensure your data is ready for analysis. To complement the blog, we've also included an instructional video that walks you through the key steps, making it even easier to follow along and apply what you learn. Instructional Video: Blog: What is Power Query? Power Query is a data connection, cleaning, and shaping technology that is part of the Microsoft modern analytics suite of business intelligence tools. It allows you to connect to various data sources, transform and clean the data, and load it into Excel or Power BI for further analysis. Benefits of Using Power Query Automation: Once you set up your data cleaning steps, Power Query can automatically apply them every time you refresh your data. Efficiency: Power Query simplifies complex data cleaning tasks, reducing the time and effort required. Consistency: By automating the process, you ensure that your data cleaning steps are applied consistently every time. Getting Started with Power Query Step 1: Launch Power Query and Connect Data To launch Power Query in Excel: 1. Open Excel and go to the "Data" tab. 2. Click on "Get Data" and select the data source you want to connect to (e.g., Excel, CSV, database). For this demo we will use From File > From Excel Workbook to connect to a single Excel source. 3. This process launches a Windows Explorer window, where you can navigate to the source data's folder and select the workbook to Import. Power Query supports a wide range of data sources, including Excel files, CSV files, databases, and online services. Select your data source and follow the prompts to connect to your data. 4. The Navigator window launches, showing the selected file's contents. Most data sources follow this general layout, with different types of objects represented by different icons. For an Excel workbook, the object types include worksheets and tables. 5. Select the Transform Data button. This selection launches the Power Query editor window. Step 2: Clean and Transform Your Data Once your data is loaded into Power Query, you can start cleaning and transforming it. Here are some common data cleaning tasks you can automate with Power Query: Remove Duplicates: Identify and remove duplicate rows from your dataset. How to: In the Power Query Editor, select the column with duplicate values, go to the "Home" tab, and click "Remove Duplicates." Filter Rows: Filter out unwanted rows based on specific criteria How to: Click on the filter icon in the column header and select the criteria to filter out unwanted rows. Replace Values: Replace incorrect or missing values with the correct ones. How to: Right-click on the column with incorrect values, select "Replace Values," and enter the old and new values Split Columns: Split a column into multiple columns based on a delimiter. How to: Select the column to split, go to the "Transform" tab, and click "Split Column" > "By Delimiter." Choose the delimiter and click "OK." Merge Columns: Combine multiple columns into a single column. How to: Select the columns to merge, go to the "Transform" tab, and click "Merge Columns." Choose a separator and click "OK." Step 3: Apply and Save Your Changes After cleaning and transforming your data, click "Close & Load" to apply the changes and load the cleaned data into Excel. Power Query will save your steps, so you can refresh the data and reapply the same cleaning steps automatically. Conclusion: Power Query is a powerful tool that can automate and streamline your data cleaning process, making it easier to prepare your data for analysis. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can save time, ensure consistency, and focus on deriving insights from your data. Start using Power Query today and transform your data cleaning workflow!Understanding the Fundamentals of AI Concepts for Nonprofits
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a cornerstone of modern technology, driving innovation across various sectors. Nonprofits, too, can harness the power of AI to enhance their operations and amplify their impact. In this blog, we'll explore fundamental AI concepts, common AI workloads, Microsoft's Responsible AI policies, and the tools and services available through Azure AI, all tailored for the nonprofit sector. Understanding AI Workloads AI workloads refer to the different types of tasks that AI systems can perform. Here are some common AI workloads relevant to nonprofits: Machine Learning: This involves training a computer model to make predictions and draw conclusions from data. Nonprofits can use machine learning to predict donor behavior, optimize fundraising strategies, and analyze program outcomes. Computer Vision: This capability allows software to interpret the world visually through cameras, video, and images. Applications include identifying and tracking wildlife for conservation efforts or analyzing images to assess disaster damage. Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP enables computers to understand and respond to human language. Nonprofits can use NLP for sentiment analysis of social media posts, language translation for multilingual communities, and developing conversational AI like chatbots for donor engagement. Anomaly Detection: This involves automatically detecting errors or unusual activity. It is useful for fraud detection in financial transactions, monitoring network security, and ensuring data integrity. Conversational AI: This refers to the capability of a software agent to engage in conversations with humans. Examples include chatbots and virtual assistants that can answer questions, provide recommendations, and perform tasks, enhancing donor and beneficiary interactions. Responsible AI Practices As AI technology continues to evolve, it is crucial to ensure it is developed and used responsibly. Microsoft's Responsible AI policies emphasize the importance of fairness, reliability, safety, privacy, security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability in AI systems. These principles guide the development and deployment of AI solutions to ensure they benefit everyone and do not cause harm. To learn more about Microsoft Responsible AI Practices click here: Empowering responsible AI practices | Microsoft AI Azure AI Services for Nonprofits Microsoft Azure offers a suite of AI services that enable nonprofits to build intelligent applications. Some key services include: Azure Machine Learning: A comprehensive platform for building, training, and deploying machine learning models. It supports a wide range of machine learning frameworks and tools, helping nonprofits analyze data and make informed decisions. To learn more or get started with Azure Machine Learning click here: Azure Machine Learning - ML as a Service | Microsoft Azure Azure AI Bot Service: A service for building conversational AI applications. It provides tools for creating, testing, and deploying chatbots that can interact with users through various channels, improving donor engagement and support services. To learn more or get started with Azure AI Bot Service click here: Azure AI Bot Service | Microsoft Azure Azure Cognitive Services: A collection of APIs that enable developers to add AI capabilities to their applications. These services include vision, speech, language, and decision-making APIs, which can be used for tasks like image recognition, language translation, and sentiment analysis. To learn more about the various Cognitive Service please click here: Azure AI Services – Using AI for Intelligent Apps | Microsoft Azure Conclusion AI has the potential to transform the nonprofit sector by enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, and providing valuable insights. By understanding AI workloads, adhering to responsible AI practices, and leveraging Azure AI services, nonprofits can unlock the full potential of AI to better serve their communities and achieve their missions. Embrace the power of AI to take your nonprofit organization to new heights and make a greater impact. For a deeper dive into the fundamental concepts of AI, please visit the module Fundamental AI Concepts. This resource will provide you with essential insights and a solid foundation to enhance your knowledge in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence.
