Microsoft rolls out K12 education transformation framework in India

Microsoft rolled out its K12 Education Transformation Framework more widely to schools across India at the second edition of the Microsoft Education Days in Gurgaon.

Microsoft Education Days 2019 brought together over 700 school leaders, educators, students, and Microsoft partners to deliberate on the future of learning. It featured sessions moderated by Microsoft leaders and Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) experts on using technologies like AI, Teams, Minecraft and Flipgrid, to collaborate and create unique learning  experiences.

Teachers and students from schools across India, also demonstrated the innovative ways in which they are digitally transforming education by bringing in AI, gamification, personalization and simplifying STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) learning for students.

The Microsoft K-12 Education Transformation Framework provides a holistic framework to facilitate a comprehensive digital transformation of schools. It comprises of four pillars-Leadership and Policy; Modern Teaching and Learning; Intelligent Environments and Technology Blueprint. To help school principals initiate their journey of digital transformation, the program will offer a series of workshops based on each of these pillars.

The Microsoft K-12 Education Transformation Framework is an effective, flexible platform based on the latest research and input from hundreds of academics, experts and policy makers. Education leaders in more than 50 countries have already adopted the Microsoft K-12 Education Transformation Framework to help plan their learning strategies in partnership with Microsoft. Microsoft is committed to empowering students with future-ready skills.

Larry Nelson, Regional GM, Education, Microsoft Asia, said: “The future of learning will be profoundly social, personalized, and supported by teachers and technology. This change starts with schools creating flexible environments that empower students to learn skills important in life and work – such as communication, creation, using technologies, working in teams, problem solving and resilience.

"Through the Microsoft Education Transformation Framework, our aim is to provide education leadership, government decision makers, teachers and most importantly learners, tools to achieve the ambitious change many schools seek, and to thoughtfully integrate technology in powerful and productive ways.”

Manish Prakash, Country GM, Public Sector, Health and Education, Microsoft India, said: “Microsoft has deeply invested in digital transformation of the education eco-system in India over a decade long association. Our recent initiative with the government to introduce AI into schools is empowering the young children of India tremendously to build the India of tomorrow.”

Microsoft has been working across the board to transform the education ecosystem- empowering policy makers with analytics to make sustainable education investments, preparing teachers to transform learning by using technology to collaborate, innovate, and help students become life-long learners and also building integrated cloud solutions with education partners.

Microsoft Education Days 2019

The second edition of Education Days 2019 saw a participation of 700+ schools and students. It further recognized the efforts of schools on the usage of technology in day-to-day classrooms to enable the next-level collaboration. Using Microsoft tools students were able to enhance their critical thinking, problem solving, self-management and responsible decision-making skills.

The winning schools and their respective projects in the different categories are as follows:

* Maharaja Agrasen Model School, Delhi, won for the Agri Smart Automated & Connected Agriculture project. It was the first in the Minecraft Challenge. It was mentored by Chandani Aggarwal.

* Delhi Public School, Bangalore, developed the Plastic Island. It came second in the Minecraft Challenge. DPS was mentored by Kamal Preet.

* Hansraj Model School, Delhi, made a City of Perpetual Growth, and came third in the Minecraft Challenge. It was mentored by Jaya Sood.

* Kamla Nehru Public School, Punjab, worked on AI Answers. It came first in the artificial intelligence competition. Taranjit Kaur was the mentor.

* Vikas Bharti Public School, Delhi, developed the My Personal Speech Therapist. It came second in the AI competition, and was mentored by Anni.

* Suncity School, Delhi, worked on the Aerocras project. It came third in the AI competition, and was mentored by Seema.