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Earlier this year, Microsoft shared that they wanted to help “transform and modernized education”. What does transforming schools actually mean? To Microsoft, it means educating from the very top. That includes administrators, principals, and school leaders that directly influence the development of lessons and learning. The tech giant intends to develop classes specifically for these individuals to put learning first and now those previously promised classes are finally available. Announced through the Microsoft in Education blog, Microsoft revealed the release of five new leadership courses on the edX platform.
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For those that may not know, edX is a massive online course provider that was created in May 2012 by a collaboration of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the prestigious Harvard University. Almost anyone can register and take part in self-paced classes developed by universities and professors delivered conveniently online with a wide variety of topics.
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In this case, Microsoft’s courses are focused towards providing up to date references and technological knowledge to administrators for K-12 schools. The classes were developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, and the University of Queensland.
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Here’s a detailed look at each one:
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Launching Innovation in School
\nBecome a change leader and take the first step in launching instructional improvement in K-12 education to improve teaching and learning.\n
Course led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
\nStarts January 17, 2017
\nDuration: 6 weeks
\nCourse Faculty: Justin Reich, Executive Director, MIT Teaching Systems Lab; and Peter Senge, Senior Lecturer in Leadership and Sustainability, MIT Sloan School of Management
\nLearn more and register now\n
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Leading Ambitious Teaching and Learning
\nLearn why ambitious teaching and learning may be the key to global educational improvement and how to put it into practice.\n
Course led by The University of Michigan
\nStarts January 24, 2017
\nDuration: 4 weeks
\nCourse Faculty: Elizabeth Moje, Dean, School of Education; and Deborah Ball, Professor, School of Education; Nell Duke, Professor, School of Education; Liz Kolb, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Education; Donald J. Peurach, Associate Professor, School of Education; Gretchen Spreitzer, Professor, Ross School of Business
\nLearn more and register now\n
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Deep Learning Through Transformative Pedagogy
\nLearn powerful teaching strategies and effective learning activities to enhance deep learning\n
Course led by The University of Queensland
\nStarts February 27, 2017
\nDuration: 5 weeks
\nCourse Faculty: Merrilyn Goos, Head of the School of Education; Pankaj Sah, Director of the Queensland Brain Institute; Robyn Gillies, Professor of Education; Annemaree Carroll, Professor of Education; Melissa Cain, School of Education; Katherine McLay, School of Education
\nLearn more and register now\n
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Leading Change: Go Beyond Gamification with Gameful Learning
\nLearn the tools to support gameful learning environments that foster personalized, engaged learning
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Course led by The University of Michigan
\nStarts March 6, 2017
\nDuration: 6-8 weeks
\nCourse Faculty: Barry Fishman, Professor of Information, School of Information and Professor of Education, School of Education; and Rachel Niemer, Director of the Gameful Learning Lab, Office of Academic Innovation
\nLearn more and register now\n
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Design Thinking for Leading and Learning in K-12 Education
\nA hands-on course for education leaders to learn about design thinking and explore how it can transform classroom learning and school communities.\n
Course led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
\nStarts March 21, 2017
\nDuration: 6 weeks
\nCourse Faculty: Justin Reich, Executive Director Teaching Systems Lab
\nLearn more and register now\n
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Like other edX classes, registration is free and available to everyone 24/7. The Microsoft in Education edX classes are already available for registration and will be underway in January 2017.
\n\nFurther reading: Education, edX, Microsoft, Microsoft in Education