Microsoft Learn is an excellent platform for both educators and learners. It can be a challenge to keep up with the latest teaching methodologies and technologies, but Microsoft Learn allows educators to stay up-to-date and enhance their teaching skills. The best part is that Microsoft Learn is completely free, offering a vast array of educational resources and training courses. In addition, achievement badges are available for educators who complete courses and earn new skills, serving as motivation and a way to demonstrate their expertise.

One of the most valuable courses on Microsoft Learn is the 21CLD (21st Century Learning and Design) course, which focuses on integrating technology and modern teaching methods into classrooms. This course helps educators transform their classrooms into modern learning environments that encourage collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. It is an excellent starting point for educators looking to incorporate new teaching methodologies and technology into their classrooms. With Microsoft Learn, educators can take this course and many others for free while earning achievement badges.
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Whether you're an experienced educator or just starting out, Microsoft Learn is an exceptional resource for learning about new teaching methodologies and technology. The platform's user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate and explore the various courses available. Why not give it a try today and see how it can help you become a better educator? see how below ... 

Go to the Microsoft Learn website  learn.microsoft.com

1. Create an account by clicking on the "Sign In" button in the top right corner and following the prompts to sign up.
2. Once you're signed in, you can start exploring the different courses and learning paths.
3. To find a specific course, use the search bar at the top of the page or browse through the categories listed on the homepage.
4. Click on a course to read the course description and see the different modules and lessons included.
5. To start a course, click on the "Start Learning" button.
6. Work your way through the different modules and lessons, completing quizzes and exercises as you go.
7. Once you've completed a course, you can earn an achievement badge to showcase your new skills.
8. Keep track of your progress and achievements in your dashboard.

That's it! Microsoft Learn is a user-friendly platform designed to help educators and learners easily access educational resources and training courses.

In the modern age, many digital tools are available to make the classroom experience more interactive and engaging for students. One such tool that stands out is AHASlides, a presentation platform that allows educators to create engaging presentations and incorporate interactive quizzes to keep students engaged.
 
With the use of AHASlides, teachers can now take their classroom presentations to the next level. Quiz features, such as match, correct order, and pick answer or image can be used to check vocabulary, understanding of grammar, and comprehension of a passage respectively. Here's my workflow on how to use AHASlides to make your presentations betters in the classroom.
 
Step 1: Sign up for an AHASlides account
The first step is to sign up for an account on AHASlides. You can do this by going to the website and creating an account. It's free and easy to set up.
 
Step 2: Create a new presentation
Once you're logged in, you can start creating your new presentation. AHASlides has a variety of customizable templates to choose from, so you can pick one that suits your needs. You can also import your PowerPoint slides.
 
Step 3: Add interactive quizzes
AHASlides has many types of interactive quizzes but match, correct order, and select answer/picture are the ones I religiously use. You can choose the quiz type that's appropriate for the content you want to cover. For example, I use match quiz to check my students' understanding of vocabulary by having them match the definition. I use correct order whenever I teach new grammar or when I simply want to review some. You can also use correct order to teach students how to write compositions in English.  Finally I use the select answer/picture quiz to check their comprehension of long passages.
 
Step 4: Add a discussion element into your presentation
AHASlides also allows you to customize your quizzes to make them more engaging. I use brainstorm, word clouds and open ended questions a lot in my classes after I have students talk with another.
 
Step 5: Present your slides and quizzes
Once your presentation is ready, you can present it to your students. AHASlides allows you to present your slides and quizzes in real-time, make sure you turn off the feedback button before you do though, as they are quite distracting for students.
 
AHASlides is an excellent tool that can be used in the classroom to create engaging presentations and interactive quizzes. I hope by reading this, you are able to take your classroom presentations to the next level.

As teachers, we are constantly searching for ways to help our students learn and succeed. With the rise of digital learning tools, we now have more options than ever before. One tool that has gained popularity in recent years is Microsoft's Immersive Reader, and for good reason.
 
Immersive Reader is a powerful tool that can benefit all students, regardless of their learning abilities. It allows students to customize the reading experience to their needs, including changing font size and color, line spacing, and more. This helps to reduce visual distractions and makes reading more accessible to all.
 
But that's not all. Immersive Reader also includes text-to-speech capabilities, which can help students who struggle with reading or have a visual impairment. It can also help to improve fluency and comprehension skills by highlighting the text as it is read aloud.
 
Additionally, Immersive Reader has translation capabilities, which can benefit students who are learning English as a second language. It supports a wide range of languages, making it a valuable tool for diverse classrooms.
 
Teachers who have used Immersive Reader in their classrooms have reported positive results. Students are more engaged in their learning, and their comprehension and reading skills have improved. The customizable features have also allowed teachers to better cater to the unique needs of each student.
 
Microsoft's Immersive Reader is a fantastic tool for teachers to use in their classrooms. It is versatile, accessible, and can benefit students of all learning abilities. By incorporating this tool into our teaching, we can create a more inclusive learning environment and help our students succeed.
 
 
here's a brief step-by-step guide on how to use Microsoft's Immersive Reader:

1. Open the document you want to read with Immersive Reader.
2. Highlight the text you want to be read aloud, and then right-click on the selected text.
3. Click on "Immersive Reader" from the menu that appears.
4. Immersive Reader will open in a new tab, with the selected text displayed in a clean, distraction-free interface.
5. Use the toolbar to adjust the text size, font, and color scheme.
6. To have the text read aloud, click on the "Play" / "read aloud" button on the toolbar.
7. Use the "Grammar Options" button to turn on features like syllables, parts of speech, and highlighting nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
8. Use the "Translate" button to translate the text to another language.
9. Use the "Picture Dictionary" button to see images that correspond to certain words in the text.
10. To exit Immersive Reader, simply close the tab.

 
 
That's it! Immersive Reader is a powerful tool that can help readers of all ages and abilities to better engage with and comprehend text.

🚀 Exciting news! Blooket just launched a new feature called 'Type'! You can now create questions that require students to answer by typing out a response. This new question type is great for assessing student comprehension and critical thinking skills.
With 'Type', you have the flexibility to configure the question type to accept multiple answers that either exactly match or contain the student's answer. This feature is available in any set of questions, along with the classic multiple-choice question type.

With the addition of the Typing Answer question type, I'm excited to announce that I'll be adding this feature to all of the sets hosted on our website. Typing Answer questions take language learning to the next level by requiring students to produce language instead of just recognizing it. This is a great way for learners to test their understanding of vocabulary, grammar, and more. I hope this new feature will encourage our users to take their language learning to another level and provide a more engaging and interactive experience for everyone.

So ... If you're looking to practice or teach Japanese or English skills, be sure to check out the pre-hosted Blooket sets available on the website ( Peter's game page ) . These sets cover a wide range of topics and offer a fun and interactive way to learn new vocabulary and grammar. So why not give them a try and see how much you can improve your language skills with Blooket's new Typing Answer feature?

Incorporating EdTech into your English language lessons can be a great way to engage students and enhance their learning. EdTech tools can provide students with interactive and creative learning experiences that can help them better understand and master the language. In this blog, we’ll discuss how to incorporate EdTech into your English language lessons.
 
Tip 1: Utilize Online Learning Platforms
Online learning platforms such as language-learning websites and apps can be extremely helpful for students. These platforms provide students with interactive activities and resources that can help them learn the language in a fun and engaging way.
 
Tip 2: Incorporate Language Apps
Language Apps are a great way to help students practice and improve their language skills. Apps such as Duolingo and Lingvist allow students to practice their language skills in an interactive and entertaining way.
 
Tip 3: Utilize Games
Games can be a great way to engage students and help them learn the language. Incorporate normal educational games such as Hangman, Pictionary, Scrabble, Battleships, Guess Who or use specialised apps such as blooket, gimkits, knowt, ahaslides  into your lesson plans to keep students interested and motivated to learn.
 
Tip 4: Incorporate Videos
Using videos in your English language lessons can be a great way to engage students and keep them motivated. Videos can be used to introduce new topics, explain difficult concepts, or even to provide students with entertaining language-learning content. The BBC channel has a mountain of educational videos for all subjects
 
Tip 5: Utilize Technology Outside of the Classroom
Encourage students to use technology outside of the classroom to further their English language learning. Apps, websites, and online resources are all great ways to help students practice and improve their language skills. 

​By incorporating EdTech into your English language lessons, you can ensure that your students stay engaged and motivated to learn. With the help of technology, English language learning can become an enjoyable and rewarding experience for both teachers and students.

Engaging students in English language learning can be a difficult task for teachers. As technology advances, it is becoming increasingly important for educators to find creative ways to incorporate technology into their classrooms. In this blog, we’ll be discussing five tips for engaging students in English language learning.
 
Tip 1: Provide Variety
One way to ensure that students stay engaged in English language learning is by providing a variety of activities. Incorporate activities such as games, songs, videos, and discussions to keep students interested and actively participating.
 
Tip 2: Make it Fun
It’s important to make English language learning fun and enjoyable for students. Incorporate activities and games that are both educational and entertaining. Students will be more likely to stay engaged if they are having fun.
 
Tip 3: Use Technology
Utilizing technology in the classroom is a great way to engage students and help them learn. EdTech tools such as online learning platforms, language apps, and interactive games are a great way to introduce English language learning in a fun and entertaining way.
 
Tip 4: Facilitate Collaboration
Encouraging collaboration between students is a great way to help them learn. Group activities, discussions, and debates are all great ways to get students involved and actively participating in the learning process.
 
Tip 5: Utilize Technology Outside of the Classroom
Encourage students to use technology outside of the classroom to further their English language learning. Apps, websites, and online resources are all great ways to help students practice and improve their language skills.
 
By utilizing these five tips, teachers can ensure that their students stay engaged and motivated to learn English. With the help of technology, English language learning can become an enjoyable and rewarding experience for both teachers and students.

"Grammar is the backbone of any language, and as language teachers, it's crucial that we equip our students with the tools they need to master it. However, grammar instruction can often be dry and unengaging for students, leading to disengagement and frustration. In this blog post, we'll explore some tips and strategies for teaching grammar effectively, so that our students can improve their language skills and gain confidence in their ability to communicate.
 
Make grammar instruction interactive and hands-on. Traditional grammar instruction can be boring and tedious, but when we make it interactive and hands-on, students are more likely to stay engaged and retain the information. Activities like grammar scavenger hunts, sentence building exercises, and role-playing can make grammar instruction fun and engaging.
 
Incorporate authentic materials into grammar instruction. Using authentic materials, such as news articles, podcasts, and videos, can help students see the relevance and practical application of grammar concepts. It also helps them to understand the grammar in context, which makes it more memorable.
 
Use technology to supplement grammar instruction. Technology can be a great tool to enhance grammar instruction. There are many online grammar exercises and games that students can use to practice grammar concepts in a fun and engaging way.
 
Provide opportunities for students to practice grammar in context. It's one thing to learn grammar rules, but it's another thing to apply them in real-life situations. Giving students opportunities to practice grammar in context, through activities such as debates, discussions, and writing assignments, can help them to internalize the grammar concepts and use them in their communication.

Provide regular feedback and support. Giving students regular feedback on their grammar use and providing support when they make mistakes can help them to improve their language skills. It also helps to build their confidence in their ability to communicate.
 
In conclusion, teaching grammar effectively requires a combination of interactive, hands-on activities, authentic materials, technology, opportunities for practice in context, differentiation, and regular feedback and support. By implementing these strategies, we can help our students to master grammar and become more confident in their ability to communicate in the language. "

Teaching is a dynamic profession that requires constant learning and adaptation. The world is constantly changing and so are the needs of students. As a teacher, it is important to stay current with the latest teaching methods and strategies to ensure that your students are getting the best education possible.

One of the most important reasons why teachers should constantly learn and change their teaching methods is to meet the diverse needs of students. Every student is unique and has different learning styles, abilities, and backgrounds. By constantly learning new teaching methods, teachers can better cater to the diverse needs of their students and provide them with a more personalized learning experience.

Additionally, staying current with the latest teaching methods can help teachers stay motivated and engaged in their profession. As any teacher knows, teaching can be a demanding and challenging job. Constantly learning and adapting can help keep the job interesting and fulfilling.

There are several current teaching methods that are being used in classrooms today. Here are a few examples:

1. Project-based learning: This method focuses on providing students with real-world, hands-on learning experiences through projects and problem-solving activities.
2. Flipped classroom: This method involves using technology to deliver instruction outside of class, allowing for more interactive and student-centered activities during class time.
3. Differentiated instruction: This method addresses the diverse learning needs of students by providing multiple paths for learning and different ways for students to demonstrate their understanding.
4. Game-based learning: This method uses games and simulations to engage students and make learning more interactive and enjoyable.
5. Inquiry-based learning: This method encourages students to ask questions, investigate, and draw their own conclusions, rather than solely providing them with information.
6. Mindfulness and Social-Emotional Learning: This method focuses on the student's mental, emotional and social well-being and is increasingly being integrated into the curriculum.
7. Blended Learning: This method combines traditional face-to-face instruction with online learning, and allows teachers to personalize learning experiences for students.

These are just a few examples and it's important to note that many teachers use a combination of methods in their classrooms, as well as adapting them to their own style, students’ characteristics and the curriculum they are following.

Also, there are several ways that teachers can continue to learn and change their teaching methods. One way is by attending professional development workshops and conferences. These events provide teachers with the opportunity to learn from experts in the field, as well as network with other educators.

In conclusion, teachers play an essential role in shaping the future of our society and it is essential that they are equipped with the most current and effective teaching methods. Constant learning and adaptation is crucial in ensuring that teachers can meet the diverse needs of their students and provide them with the best education possible.