Tech Tips for Educators
These are quick, practical ideas to help you do more with the technology you already have!
Copilot Chat in Outlook: tame your inbox
Copilot Chat is built into Outlook, so you can get help with your email without leaving your inbox. Click the Copilot icon and try:
- “Summarise this thread” to catch up on a long staff or parent conversation in seconds
- “Draft a friendly reply thanking the parent and suggesting a meeting time” for a first draft you can tweak and send
- “List the action items from this email” so nothing slips through the cracks
Tip: Copilot gives you a starting point, so always check and personalise the draft before you send it.
Copilot Notebooks: your unit in one place
Copilot Notebooks bring your files, notes and links together, so Copilot can work with all of them at once. Create a notebook for a unit or project, add your planning documents and resources, then ask:
- “Summarise the key concepts across these resources”
- “Create a revision checklist for students based on this unit”
- “What’s missing from my unit plan?”
Find Notebooks in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app at office.com
Minecraft Education: the Learning Cubed update
Minecraft Education’s latest update brings new places to explore and new ways to learn:
- Sulfur Caves and Sulfur Springs, with geysers and new blocks such as Sulfur and Cinnabar. They’re a natural fit for earth science, chemistry and environmental systems lessons.
- Dedicated servers, so classes from different schools can build and collaborate in the same world.
- Craftable name tags and baby mobs, which are great for storytelling and creative builds.
Bonus: The Minecraft lesson plan creator in Teach in Microsoft 365 Copilot can design Minecraft lessons for any subject or age group.
Get started with Minecraft education here: education.minecraft.net
Teacher Time-Savers: shortcuts worth knowing
Windows
- Win + Shift + S: Snip any part of your screen for a worksheet or slide.
- Win + H: Voice typing anywhere, which is perfect for feedback comments.
- Win + V: Clipboard history, so you can paste something you copied earlier.
- Win + . (full stop): Emojis and symbols, including maths symbols.
Word
- Dictate (Home tab): Speak your reports instead of typing them.
- Immersive Reader (View tab): Hear text read aloud and adjust spacing and focus, which is a great support for students.
PowerPoint
- Live subtitles (Slide Show tab): Captions as you speak, helping EALD students and students with hearing needs.
- B or W during a slideshow: Black or white out the screen to bring the class’s attention back to you.
- Ctrl + L: Turns your cursor into a laser pointer.
- Speaker Coach: Students can rehearse and get feedback on pace and filler words.
Microsoft Elevate for Educators: get recognised
Microsoft Elevate for Educators is a free program that offers professional learning, practical resources and a global community of fellow educators.
- Earn the free Microsoft Elevate Educator Credential, developed with ISTE+ASCD, to build your confidence with AI in the classroom.
- Teachers can join the Educator Explorer tier, and schools can apply for the School Pathfinder tier, at any time of year.
This year, more than 54,000 Expert and Fellow educators and over 1,100 Showcase schools have been recognised worldwide. Could your school be next?
Get started: elevateforeducators.microsoft.com
Partner with Stott Hoare
At Stott Hoare, we’re passionate about supporting education through tailored IT solutions. From supplying reliable devices and infrastructure to delivering hands-on training and engaging student workshops, we help schools create dynamic learning environments. Whether you’re upgrading your tech or empowering your staff and students, our team is here to support your journey every step of the way.
