Microsoft’s learning accelerators enhance math, reading, and search abilities.
Microsoft’s learning accelerators enhance math, reading, and search abilities. Microsoft has introduced a range of new tools aimed at improving the education experience for both teachers and students. Dubbed “learning accelerators,” these tools will incorporate existing features within Microsoft 365, such as Reading Coach and Reading Progress, as well as brand-new features designed explicitly for education.
One of the areas of focus for Microsoft is reading fluency and comprehension. To that end, the company has updated Reading Coach and Reading Progress with additional features. For example, the new Reading Progress will soon include comprehension questions to assess students’ understanding of a text. Reading Coach will also be integrated into other platforms, such as Word Online and OneNote, to provide students with support no matter where they are learning.
Another important aspect of education is the ability to find reliable information. Microsoft is addressing this challenge with its new Search Coach in Teams for Education, which helps students identify trustworthy sources and refine their search terms. This feature integrates with NewsGuard, which labels the credibility of news sources based on various factors. Later this year, a new search progress feature will be introduced, allowing teachers to evaluate students’ ability to find reliable information.
Speaking fluency is another area of focus for Microsoft, with its Speaker Coach and soon-to-be-released Speaker Progress features. These tools aim to help students speak more confidently and fluently, and make it easier for teachers to create assignments and evaluate student progress.
Finally, Microsoft is introducing two new features focused on math education: Math Coach and Math Progress. Math Coach will simplify the thought process behind math problems, making it easier for students to understand calculations. Math Progress, on the other hand, will help teachers evaluate where students may need more support. These two features will work together, with Math Coach being able to generate problems based on data from Math Progress.
In addition to these new learning accelerators, Microsoft is also expanding its education insights with Education Insights Premium, which will be available across all tiers of Microsoft 365 Education, including the free tier. Windows 11 Pro Education is also set to receive support for logging in students through third-party identity providers, such as Google and Clever, making it easier for students to sign in to their Windows PC.
Overall, these new learning accelerators from Microsoft are aimed at streamlining the education experience for both teachers and students. By incorporating new features and expanding existing ones, the company is working to make education more accessible and effective for everyone.
