Georgia State University tackles malware with Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection

By Ren Flot, chief information security officer and director of cyber security at Georgia State University as written on blogs.office.com

As the chief information security officer at Georgia State University, my job is focused on balancing the needs of an academic community—where faculty and students value broad access and flexibility in online research—with the security requirements of a large enterprise. Advancing both these requirements calls for a proactive approach to combating malware. In a threat landscape that is constantly changing, I look for products that can deliver effective protection, while helping us make efficient use of our cyber security team’s time and resources. To meet these needs, we acquired Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection to increase email security for our more than 55,000 students and more than 6,000 faculty and staff.

The cyber security team at Georgia State University had noticed a steady uptick in malware attacks, particularly phishing, and it felt like we were fighting fires every day. The security of our university community in digital spaces is an important priority, so we aimed to get ahead of the problem. It was clear that an additional layer of security was needed. To address the issue, we selected Advanced Threat Protection, because detection and protection against malware attacks would be handled within a Microsoft cloud environment, freeing up time for us to focus on other security and IT tasks.

After deploying the solution to a pilot group, we saw a significant reduction in the number of malicious emails reaching our users, and by the time we completed our implementation, we had reduced the number of emails that got through with malicious content by more than 2,000 messages over a five-month period. Today, Advanced Threat Protection has become an important part of the toolset that is helping us take a proactive stance against malware. This hosted email filtering solution also interoperates very smoothly with our Office 365 email system, providing a highly secure productivity platform.

And implementation was accomplished quickly and easily, with support from Microsoft FastTrack. Our team has also found the management controls and user-based settings available within the solution to be very configurable, an advantage given the range of user groups—faculty, staff and students—that we have to consider in the higher education environment. The Safe Links feature has been particularly useful in our environment, because students share a lot of links while working on projects, and it has performed well at helping prevent inadvertent access to malware through links and attachments. The solution is seamless from a user experience perspective, and the product is unobtrusive, working efficiently in the background.

Georgia State University’s security profile has been significantly enhanced as it relates to email through use of Advanced Threat Protection. Today, we have a solution that is nearly invisible, while providing staff and students a safer environment in which to work and study.

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Computer Science Education Week

By Kelly Cronin

The first full week of December is Computer Science Education Week, celebrating the importance of computer science education for both students and educators alike.  Computer science education has the power to shape our future, and it is becoming more and more prevalent in classrooms all over the country.  Take a look at how new technologies are benefitting computer science education.

Managed Solution displayed the HoloLens at CalPoly Cyber Security & Awareness Fair

Managed Solution participated in the 2016 Cal Poly Pomona Cyber Security & Awareness Fair.  The fair aimed to bring awareness to the world of Cyber Security where our entire world is progressing into an internet connected world.  At the fair students and faculty got to experience a variety of speakers that have in-depth knowledge of the Cyber Security do’s and don’ts and experience in the Cyber Security field, a poster contest where students displayed their research of pressing issues in the Information Technology Industry, and a hands-on exhibit that allowed students to experience the world of a typical attacker on Internet of Things products.

Read the full press release here >>

Students demonstrate their HoloLens apps after a quarter of VR and AR design

At the University of Washington, a computer science classroom is equipping their students with HoloLens headsets to let them develop their own apps. One app developed is called HoloScanner, which redesigns the process of scanning a room and turns it into a game that can then be used for other apps. Other apps include augmented reality cooking, a painting app, and more.

Check out the HoloScanner app video and more here>>

HackingSTEM: Using Computational Thinking to Understand Earthquakes

Millions of students worldwide are in the process of discovering the possibilities of instructing machines to accomplish tasks. Whether completing the Minecraft Hour of Code tutorial, or watching a Pixar In a Box episode on Khan Academy, the spirit of discovery, experimentation and the art of Computer Science is celebrated while students build core 21^st century software engineering skills.

This month, the Education Workshop has partnered with the California Academy of Sciences and KQED to combine coding with mechanical engineering and data science to empower students to use computational thinking to experience how engineers and computer scientists are working together to mitigate the impact of earthquakes.

Learn all the details here >>

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Taking higher ed even higher with Office 365 University

By Devin Pastoor as written on blogs.office.com

My life is a whirlwind of classes, assignments, group projects, and lab work. Like most college and university students, I’ll take all the help I can get to keep organized, stay productive, and ultimately remain ahead of the learning curve.

Lucky for me, and other higher-education students striving to make sense of it all, Microsoft just released Office 365 University for college and university students.

As an early adopter of Office 365, I’ve been up and running for few months. In that short time I’ve gotten to know and love many of the new capabilities-all of which I won’t be able to do without whether I’m at school, home or work. Here are just a few:

• Note Taking: I use OneNote as my ‘digital brain.’ Whether it’s classwork, lab work, to-do lists, or random thoughts, OneNote keeps everything in order and at my fingertips. I really love the openness and extensibility that OneNote provides. In a snap, I can create outlines, add PowerPoint slides or handouts my professors give me, and on my tablet, make full use of inking capabilities in multiple colors. Beyond keeping me organized, the search functionality built in to OneNote is invaluable to me.The fact that I can even search written text–my own handwriting!–makes it easier than ever for me to find keywords when gathering research, studying, or looking for information from a specific lecture

  

• Data Entry: While doing lab work, Flash Fill in Excel has already saved me many hours of manual data entry. Like a data assistant that finishes your work for you, Flash Fill detects what you want to do and enters the rest of your data in one fell swoop, following patterns in your data.

  

• Presentations: Using the improved presenter view in PowerPoint, I always appear more polished than I really am (sure hope my professors aren’t reading this). Hidden from my audience, I can see all the important points I need to land in the notes section, and I no longer worry about which slide is next or need to look up at the clock on the wall to see how much more time I have left.

  

• Communications and Calendaring: Balancing school, work, multiple email accounts and my schedule is a breeze with the new Outlook. The ability to add people to a meeting and have Outlook propose times where everyone’s calendar is free has made scheduling large meetings or even casual get-togethers hassle free.

  

• The Cloud: With SkyDrive, my current documents are always accessible online, wherever I am. Since I frequently switch between my tablet and laptop, keeping everything updated across both is essential. I’m also involved in a lot of group projects, so being able to create and share folders of content, know that everyone has the most up-to-date version of everything, and that everything is always backed up takes a lot of stress out of collaborating.

In addition to all the things I love about using Office 365 for school, I can’t end without letting you know about all the extras that come with an Office 365 University subscription, including:

• More storage: Additional 20 GB of Premium SkyDrive storage.

• Skype: 60 Skype world minutes per month.

• New upgrades: Get future updates and enhancements.

• Two installations: Install Office 365 University on up to two computers (PC or Mac) for one user.

• Office on Demand: Use Office even when you are away from your PC by streaming full-featured Office to an internet-connected Windows-based PC.

For more information on technology solutions for education, click here

Managed Solution is a full-service technology firm that empowers business by delivering, maintaining and forecasting the technologies they’ll need to stay competitive in their market place. Founded in 2002, the company quickly grew into a market leader and is recognized as one of the fastest growing IT Companies in Southern California.

We specialize in providing full managed services to businesses of every size, industry, and need.

Try it out: Windows 10 in the classroom

As written on technet.microsoft.com

Are you an educator? If so, use this guide to learn how to use the Windows 10 operating system in your classroom. Discover how to personalize devices running Windows 10 for use in the classroom and use the built-in apps to make learning more productive and effective. The advanced user features in Windows 10 help you run and manage apps in your classroom to achieve your learning objectives more easily than other operating systems and even previous versions of Windows.

Review the lab environment

There is an online lab environment that you can use to perform the exercises in this lab. This lab environment contains all the virtual machines, users, and files that you need to complete these exercises. You can use this lab environment without charge and it is available online at all times.

Perform the following steps to access the lab environment online:

1. In Microsoft Edge or Microsoft Internet Explorer, browse to TechNet Virtual Lab: Teacher Try-It-Out.

   Note: If you are already signed in using your Microsoft account on Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer, then you can go to step

2. On the TechNet Virtual Labs page, click Sign In.

3. On the Sign in page, enter your Microsoft account and corresponding password, and then click Sign in.

4. On the TechNet Virtual Labs page, click Launch Lab. TechNet Virtual Labs builds the lab environment and displays the lab environment once completed as shown in Figure 1.

The Content tab (as shown in Figure 1) contains the step-by-step instructions for completing the lab exercises.

The Machines tab (as shown in Figure 2) contains the list of virtual machines that you will use in the lab exercises.

The Support tab (as shown in Figure 3) in the lab environment lists information about the lab environment and provides access to frequently asked questions about the lab interface.

Sign in to, and personalize, Windows 10

So, you just received your new Windows 10 device. What's the first thing you'll do? Sign in. In this section, you learn how to configure your Windows 10 sign-in experience and customize it for yourself or your students.

Configure sign-in

You can sign in to Windows 10 by using a traditional password, a PIN, a picture password, or the facial-recognition capabilities in Windows Hello.

Use a PIN to sign in to Windows 10 instead of your password (similar to the PIN or password you use on your mobile device). Or, use Windows Hello, which allows a Windows 10 device to recognize you through digital imaging, such as Kinect for Windows or the Intel RealSense sensor. (Note that because no such device exists in this virtual environment, the Windows Hello feature will be disabled, even if you define a PIN.)

Windows Hello integrates with Microsoft Passport to allow other software to leverage the Windows Hello sign-in page. For example, a public website could use Microsoft Passport to authenticate a user who signed in through Windows Hello.

Finally, you can set up a picture password instead of a traditional password. With this feature, you define gestures on a picture that you can use to uniquely identify yourself.

Perform the following steps on the WIN10 virtual machine (VM) signed in as Lori Penor with a password of Passw0rd:

1. Click Start (as shown in Figure 4), and then click Settings.

 

1. In SETTINGS, click Accounts.
2. In ACCOUNTS, click Sign-in options.
3. Review the options, specifically, the Passwordoption, which allows you to change your password.
4. Under PIN, click Add.
5. In First, verify your account password, in Password, type Passw0rd, and then click OK.
6. In the Set up a PIN dialog box, in New PIN and Confirm PIN, type 1234, and then click OK.
7. Under Picture password, click Add.
8. In Create a picture password, in Password, type Passw0rd, and then click OK.
9. In Welcome to picture password, click Choose picture.
10. In the Open dialog box, go to Pictures, click PicturePassword, and then click Open.
11. In How's this look, click Use this picture.
12. In Set up your gestures, select the three gestures that you will use as your picture password. The simplest gesture is to use three mouse clicks (or touches) on the tips of three of the flower petals (as illustrated in Figure 5).
    Figure 5. Location of gestures on a picture password
13. In Confirm your gestures, repeat the three gestures that you just selected (as shown in Figure 5).
14. In Congratulations, click Finish.
15. Close Settings.
16. On the Start menu, click Lori Penor, and then click Sign out (as shown in Figure 6).
    Figure 6. Location of the Lori Penor account on the Start menu
17. Sign in as Lori Penor by using the gestures you created.
    

    Note: If you are unable to sign in with the picture password, you can still sign in by using Lori Penor with a password of Passw0rd.

18. Personalize the lock screen and account pictures

In Windows 10, you can personalize the lock screen to show app status and provide essential information, even when the device is locked. This information is similar to the notifications you see on a Windows Phone device's lock screen. You can also add a picture to your account, which helps identify you as the owner of the device.

Perform the following steps to personalize the lock screen and account pictures:

1. On the Start menu, click Settings.
2. In SETTINGS, double-click Personalization, and then click Lock screen.
3. Under Choose an app to show detailed status, click the plus sign (+), and then click Calendar (as shown in Figure 7).
   Figure 7. Lock screen settings
4. Under Choose apps to show quick status, click the second plus sign (+), and then click Mail.
5. Under Choose apps to show quick status, click the third plus sign (+), and then click Alarms and Clock.
6. In Settings, click back (as shown in Figure 8), and then click Accounts.
   Figure 8. Back button in Settings
7. In Accounts, click Your account.
8. In Your account, under Your picture, click Browse.
9. In the Open dialog box, go to Pictures, click LoriPenorPicture, and then click Choose picture. The picture for Lori Penor is displayed.
10. Close Settings.

Explore Microsoft Edge

One of the important new Windows 10 features is Microsoft Edge, a web browser that provides an enhanced user experience over other web browsers, allowing you to take notes by using your finger, stylus, or mouse and keyboard on web pages. You can save your notes, and then look at them anytime. You can also share your notes with other users.

Microsoft Edge builds on the reading features found in Internet Explorer by providing Reading view, which allows you to view web pages in an easy-to-read format. Microsoft Edge also allows you to create a reading list, where you can identify web content that you want to read in the future. In addition, Microsoft Edge is the default PDF reader in Windows 10.

Note: You can determine the name of a Microsoft Edge icon by hovering the mouse pointer over the icon or right-clicking the icon (as shown in Figure 9).

Figure 9. In Microsoft Edge, hover over or right-click an icon to see its name.

Figure 10 identifies the icons on the menu bar in Microsoft Edge. Use Figure 10 as you perform these tasks to help identify the icons.

Figure 10. Microsoft Edge menu bar icon names

Explore note taking in Microsoft Edge

In Microsoft Edge, you can make notes on any web page displayed in the browser by using your finger or a stylus on touch devices or a mouse and keyboard on non-touch devices. You can then share these notes with other teachers or students.

Perform the following steps to explore note taking in Microsoft Edge:

1. On the taskbar, click Microsoft Edge.
2. In Microsoft Edge, on the menu bar, click Hub, click Favorites, and then click Microsoft Edge - The Browser for Doing (as shown in Figure 11).
   Figure 11. Microsoft Edge Hub and Favorites.
3. On the menu bar, click Make a Web Note.The Make a Web Note menu opens, as shown in Figure 12.
   Figure 12. The Make a Web Note menu in Microsoft Edge
4. On the Make a Web Note menu, click Pen.
5. On the web page, click and drag the pen to draw a circle around the Introducing Microsoft Edge heading, as shown in Figure 13.
6. On the Make a Web Note menu, click Highlighter.
7. On the web page, click and drag the highlighter to highlight The brand new browser for doing text, as shown in Figure 13.
8. On the Make a Web Note menu, click Add a typed note.
9. On the web page, click next to the Introducing Microsoft Edge heading to create an empty note (as shown in Figure 13).
10. In the note, type Need to increase the font for this heading, as shown in Figure 13.
    Figure 13. Web page with notes
11. On the web page, click next to the coffee cup in the picture.
12. In the note, click Delete (the trash can icon).
13. On the Make a Web Note menu, click Eraser.
14. On the web page, click the highlighting to remove it from The brand new browser for doing.
15. From the Make a Web Note menu, click Save Web Note.
16. In Name, type Notes on Microsoft Edge home page, and then click Add.
17. From the Make a Web Note menu, click Share.
18. Review the information in the Share panel, and then click elsewhere to close the Sharepanel.
19. From the Make a Web Note menu, click Exit.
20. In Microsoft Edge, open a new tab.
21. On the menu, click Favorites, and then click Notes on Microsoft Edge home page. The webpage with your web notes opens. You can see all the notes and highlighting you made earlier in this section.
22. Close the tab.
23. Leave Microsoft Edge open for the next section.

Explore reading features in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge has many features for reading web content. Often, web pages are cluttered with advertisements and nonessential information. Reading view in Microsoft Edge eliminates the advertisements and any nonessential information from the content so that you can read it in a concise manner. Reading view retains the pertinent graphics and pictures associated with the content.

Microsoft Edge also has a reading list, which is similar to the familiar Favorites found in both Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer. The reading list is specifically designed to help you and students keep track of web content that you want to read at a later date. The process of adding items to your reading list is similar to adding a Favorite website.

Perform the following steps to explore Microsoft Edge reading features:

1. In Microsoft Edge, open a new tab and browse to http://www.msn.com/news.
2. Review the content on the page, and then choose a news article.
3. In the news article you're reviewing, on the menu, click Add to favorites or reading list.
4. In the drop-down panel, click Reading list, and then click Add. You can use the Microsoft Edge reading list to keep track of content that you want to read.
5. On the menu, click Reading View.
6. Leave Microsoft Edge open for the next section.

Explore Microsoft Edge PDF print and read functionality

You can print web content to PDF in Microsoft Edge (or in any other Windows 10 app). You can also read PDF files in Microsoft Edge. In this section, you browse to web content, print the page to PDF, and then view the PDF in Microsoft Edge.

Perform the following steps to explore Microsoft Edge PDF print and read functionality:

1. In Microsoft Edge, on the menu bar, click Hub. Click Favorites, and then click Windows 10 Specifications.
2. On the menu bar, click More actions, and then click Print (as shown in Figure 14).
   
   Figure 14. Print menu option on the More actions menu
3. In the Print dialog box, in Printer, select Microsoft Print to PDF, and then click Print. Windows 10 displays a notification about the .pdf file being stored in the Documents folder.
4. Close Microsoft Edge.
5. In File Explorer, go to Documents, and then double-click Windows 10 Specifications - Microsoft.pdf.
6. Review the .pdf file in Microsoft Edge.
7. Minimize Microsoft Edge.

Explore the Mail and Calendar apps

Another improvement in Windows 10 are the redesigned Mail and Calendar apps. Both apps have been reimagined to provide a better user experience for both touch and mouse users. Also, both apps more closely model the familiar Microsoft Outlook user experience.

Explore the Mail app

Microsoft has made several user experience improvements in the Windows 10 Mail app. One of the design goals for the Mail app is to have a great user experience for both mouse and touch users, and the app now more closely resembles Outlook.

Perform the following steps on the WIN10 VM to explore the Windows 10 Mail app:

1. On the Start menu, click Mail.
2. In the Mail app, click Add account.
3. In the Choose an account dialog box, select the type of account for your personal email account.
4. Add your email account based on your personal information.
5. When you have added your email account, on the Accounts page, click Open inbox.
6. In the Inbox, select various email messages and view them in the reading pane. The menu interface at the top of the app provides a touch- and click-friendly experience for accessing email.
7. Click Settings (the gear icon) in the lower left portion of the Mail app.
8. In Settings, click Accounts, and then click back.
9. In Settings, click Options.
10. Under Notifications, select the Show a notification banner check box.
11. Under Notifications, select the Play a sound check box, and then click away from the Settings panel to close the panel.
12. Minimize the Mail app.

Explore the Calendar app

As with the Mail app, Microsoft redesigned the Calendar app for easy click or touch. Like Mail, the Calendar app now more closely models the calendar user experience in Microsoft Office.

Perform the following steps on the WIN10 VM to explore the Calendar app:

1. On the Start menu, click Calendar.
2. On the Accounts page, click Open calendar.
3. On the menu, click Day.
4. On the menu, click Work week.
5. On the menu, click Week.
6. On the calendar displayed in the left panel, click a day 2 weeks in the future.
7. Click New event.
8. In the new event, in Event name, type Project Update Meeting.
9. In Location, type 12th Floor Conference Room.
10. In Start, select 11:00 AM.
11. On the menu Save & Close.

The event is saved and displayed in the calendar. As with the Mail app, you can see that the Calendar app is optimized for mouse and touch, providing a user experience that mirrors Outlook.

Access apps, data, and information

You can access your apps, data, and information by using the Windows 10 Start menu, Cortana, and the taskbar. In this section, you learn how to access your apps, data, and information more quickly and easily than in previous versions of Windows.

Start apps by using the Start menu

The new Start menu in Windows 10 is an elegant blend of the Windows 7 Start menu and the Windows 8.1. Start screen. Perform the following steps to start apps from the Start menu:

1. Click Start, and then click All apps.
2. In the list of apps, scroll down to Microsoft Office 2013. Expand Microsoft Office 2013, and then click Word 2013.
3. Close Microsoft Word 2013.
4. On the Start menu, click All apps.
5. Click above the list of apps (which brings up an alphanumeric matrix).
6. In the alphanumeric matrix, click M. Expand Microsoft Office 2013, and then click Excel 2013.
7. Close Microsoft Excel 2013.
   

   Note: Starting apps by using the Start menu in Windows 10 is similar to the user experience in Windows 7 for keyboard and mouse users.

8. Press Windows logo key+A to open the Windows 10 Action Center.
9. In the Action Center, click Tablet mode.
10. Click Start. The Start menu now takes up the entire screen, just like in Windows 8.1. In tablet mode, Windows 10 converts to a touch-friendly user interface (UI). Although you made this change manually, Windows 10 can automatically detect whether the device is in tablet mode, a feature called Continuum.
11. In the upper left corner of the Start menu, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines). The same UI you saw previously for keyboard and mouse interaction appears.
12. Press Windows logo key+A to open the Windows 10 Action Center.
13. In the Action Center, click Tablet mode. The Start menu reverts to the keyboard-and-mouse-friendly UI. Again, you made this change manually, but in a convertible device (such as the Surface Pro 3) this change would happen automatically if you added or removed the keyboard.
14. Click anywhere on the screen to close the Start menu.

Find apps, data, and information by using Cortana

Cortana allows you to search your local device and the Internet for apps, data, and information. You can access Cortana by using your keyboard or by voice command. Perform the following steps to find apps, data, and information by using Cortana:

1. On the taskbar, in Search the web and Windows, type Word. Cortana returns a list of results. At the top of that list is the locally installed copy of Word 2013.
2. On the taskbar, in Search the web and Windows, type LoriPenor. Cortana returns a list of results. At the top of that list is the LoriPenorPicture.png file that you selected earlier for the user profile.
3. On the taskbar, in Search the web and Windows, type Windows 10. Cortana returns a list of results, including local files that have Windows 10 in the name, web searches that relate to Windows 10, and apps in the Windows Store that relate to Windows 10.
4. On the taskbar, in Search the web and Windows, type What is the cube root of 55. Cortana returns the correct answer (3.80295246).
5. On the taskbar, in Search the web and Windows, type Distance between Los Angeles and New York.
6. Click the first item in the list of results. Cortana opens Microsoft Edge. The first result in Bing is by Bing Maps, showing the driving distance between Los Angeles and New York (2,778 miles).
7. Close Microsoft Edge.

You can perform these same tasks by using voice commands on devices equipped with a microphone.

Manage apps on the Start menu and taskbar

Managing apps on the Start menu and taskbar is again a blending of the Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 user experiences. You can pin apps to the Start menu (just as you could with the Windows 8.1 Start screen), and you can pin apps to the taskbar (just as you could in Windows 7). Perform the following steps on the WIN10 VM to manage apps on the Start menu and taskbar:

1. On the desktop, right-click Recycle Bin, and then click Pin to Start.
2. Click the Start menu. The Recycle Bin appears as a tile on the Start menu.
3. On the Start menu, right-click Recycle Bin, click Resize, and then click Small. Windows 10 displays the Recycle Bin tile as a small tile.
4. On the Start menu, right-click People, and then click Pin to Taskbar. The People app appears as an icon on the taskbar.

Run and manage apps

Running and managing apps in Windows 10 is more intuitive than in previous Windows operating systems. Desktop and Windows 10 Universal apps are treated as equals in Windows 10. Windows 10 introduces Snap Assist, which helps you snap multiple apps on your desktop for optimal viewing. Finally, Windows 10 supports virtual desktops, which allows you to have multiple logical groupings of apps so that they are easier to manage and use than on a single desktop.

Manage running apps

Perform the following steps on the WIN10 VM to manage running apps:

1. On the taskbar, restore the Mail app that you minimized earlier.
2. In the upper right corner of the app, view the Minimize, Restore, and Close buttons. Then, click Restore. (You may remember that Windows 8.1 apps only started in full-screen mode and took up the entire desktop. In Windows 10, these apps behave more like a traditional desktop app and are similar to the user experience in Windows 7 desktop apps.)
3. In the upper left corner, on the title bar, right-click Mail. The standard Windows system menu appears, with the Restore, Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize, and Close options.
4. Minimize the Mail app.

View multiple apps

You can view multiple apps in an optimal visual arrangement by using the Windows 10 Snap Assist feature. Perform the following steps on the WIN10 VM to view multiple apps:

1. Restore the Mail app.
2. Click the Mail app title bar, and then drag the title bar to the left side of the desktop. When the mouse pointer hits the edge, a visual queue lets you know when to release. The Mail app is snapped to the left side of the desktop.
3. In the list of apps on the right side of the display, click the Calendar app. The Calendar app is snapped to the right side of the display.
4. Click the Calendar app title bar, and drag it to the top of the desktop. The Calendar app is maximized.
5. Minimize all apps.

Manage virtual desktops

Virtual desktops in Windows 10 provide you with another layer of productivity when you're running multiple apps. You can use Windows 10 virtual desktops to give the appearance of running your apps on multiple systems. For example, you could have one virtual desktop dedicated to working on grades while using another virtual desktop to present information to your students.

Perform the following steps on the WIN10 VM to manage multiple virtual desktops:

1. On the taskbar, click Task view. In Task view, you can see the list of apps running in your current desktop. You can click any of the apps to bring that app into focus.
2. In the lower right portion of Task view, click New desktop. Desktop 2 is added to the list of desktops.
3. In Task view, click Desktop 2.
4. On the taskbar, click Word 2013.
5. On the taskbar, click Task view.
6. In the lower right portion of Task view, click New desktop. Desktop 3 is added to the list of desktops.
7. On the Start menu, click Store.
8. On the taskbar, click Task view.
9. In Task view, click Desktop 1. The original desktop appears.
10. Press Windows logo key+Control+Right Arrow to move to Desktop 2.
11. Press Windows logo key+Control+Right Arrow to move to Desktop 3.
12. Press Windows logo key+Control+Left Arrow to move back to Desktop 2.
13. On the taskbar, click Task view.
14. Close Desktop 2. Any apps running in a desktop that you delete are automatically moved to another desktop. For example, notice that the apps running in Desktop 2 moves to another desktop.
15. Open the new Desktop 2.

You can use the Windows shortcut keys, your mouse, or touch to move quickly and easily between virtual desktops. Use virtual desktops to keep track of your different tasks and apps so that you can be more efficient and effective.

4 Reasons Windows 10 is the Right Classroom Technology for Your School

By Pamela Perez as written on securedgenetworks.com

What's the point of implementing classroom technology? Is it to make the curriculum more fun and exciting, maybe it's to make teaching less tedious? While these two examples might be a true bi-product I don't think these were the main factors taken into consideration when a school board or CIO creates their technology strategy.

From my time writing about the K-12 IT environment I've realized that deploying classroom technology is about three main points:

• Offering teachers, administrators and students tools to increase efficiency, transparency and organization
• Creating a more interactive and more personalized learning environment
• Preparing students to be responsible digital citizens ready for a technology driven society

From software to hardware there are new ed tech tools becoming available almost everyday and it's critical that school IT leaders keep up with what's available and potentially valuable for their schools.

Recently Microsoft released its next big operating system in Windows 10 and it’s a huge overhaul from Windows 8. The start button is back for starters, which is a clear indication that Microsoft is finally taking user feedback into consideration.

The biggest thing to note however is how some of the new Windows 10 features are perfectly suited for education, empowering both teachers and students to become better organized, more interactive and just flat out more productive.

To give you a better idea how Windows 10 can help position your school to take on new developments in digital learning, we’ve listed 4 reasons why Windows 10 is the right classroom technology for your school.

1. Better presentations with note sharing

The new Windows OS comes with a brand spanking new browser called Edge, which is faster and less resource-heavy.

Educators can also take advantage of the new Web Note feature that will allow them to scribble notes directly on the web page using a stylus or fingers. The pages can be shared easily with the class for more efficient presentations.

“Obviously this works best on a touchscreen Windows device like a Surface, but it works with a mouse too, and will be perfect for interactive whiteboards,” writes educator Jonathan Wylie.

Edge manages your reading list as well, so when using the app on a small tablet it becomes your eBook reader.

2. Augmented Reality in classrooms

Augmented Reality has been around for a while but not quite in classrooms. With Windows 10, students can have completely immersive experience through Hololens (Holograms).

There are enormous learning possibilities with AR. For one , students can model designs before construction. They can also take trips to virtually anywhere in the world and it would be like they’re right there.

AR combines the physical with the digital world and this in itself makes Windows 10 an invaluable tool that can inspire your students and teachers.

3. Every student’s new research assistant

Cortana is Microsoft's new personal digital assistant and with Windows 10 she has now come to desktops and notebooks. Students can call her up for different program features including helping with research projects and assignments.

Cortana will also make sure that students keep up with their daily tasks.

“Beyond reminding you of appointments, due dates, and traffic concerns Cortana really supports the execution of required academic tasks in the day. This is essential for students who need support in their executive functioning,” writes Martha Jez, the director of professional development programs at Fair Chance Learning.

Cortana is in the early stages of development, which means we will see more personalized learning opportunities for students in the future. Reports did mention that WindowsPhone integration is already available and Android and IOS compatibility will come soon.

4. Facial recognition for logins

When conducting online classes, it always takes a while to log everybody in and it can be very time consuming. Windows 10 takes care of that with Windows Hello.

Hello uses a 3D camera to authenticate users through facial recognition, shaving off a huge chunk of logging time.

However, you need RealSense 3D cameras installed for this special feature and at the moment the cameras are only available in a few configurations, including the HP Sprout.

In any case, you can opt to use a fingerprint scanner for log-ins without using a password.

This may be a “nice to have” feature right now but with how new technologies are popping up here and there, it wouldn’t surprise me if manually keying in passwords will be obsolete in the near future.

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Education Enterprise Mobility Management: Create a Dynamic Institution

Webinar presented by Sean Ferrel, President and CEO at Managed Solution.

Tune in to this webcast to learn how educational institutions can simplify IT, improve security, and empower your mobile workforce.

Create a dynamic and diverse institution that gives educators the tools to inspire students to consume and create knowledge

•Empower your mobile workforce with the tools needed to stay productive anywhere

•Unify your IT with single sign-on to access all apps and data, alongside self-service capabilities and integrated mobile device management (MDM).

•Protect your data with a comprehensive set of capabilities for access control and data security.

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A teacher’s journey with Skype in the Classroom

By Iro Stefopoulou as written on blogs.skype.com

The start of an inspiring adventure

In August 2013, while all my friends were enjoying the sea and the sun in Greece, I was spending the summer holidays in my new apartment getting ready for the next school year, trying to find new resources and ideas that would attract my students’ interest and motivate them. It was that summer that I discovered Skype in the Classroom. I immediately knew that I had struck gold and that this community would be life changing for my students and me as a teacher.

I started exploring the possibilities and was like a kid on Christmas day: Skype lessons, guest speakers, virtual field trips to places around the world and classroom projects and collaborations. What would that mean for my learners? How would it influence their learning experience? Could it transform the way students perceive the world? Would my students feel that they are part of a global learning community?

Going back to school that year, I was super excited about my new discovery that could virtually break down the walls of my classroom. I had searched the Skype in the Classroom lessons for days to decide where to begin, and settled on the Night Zookeeper’s lesson. I scheduled a Skype call to meet the person who would deliver the lesson and chatted with him for a while. I now feel really proud to call Paul Hutson the Night Zookeeper my friend as what he did for me and my students was unique, unforgettable and the stepping stone for what followed next.

During the rest of 2013, I used Skype every week. I started participating in global projects with my classes, making use of Skype in the Classroom to create a global environment for my students. At the end of that school year it was clear that my students had started thinking beyond the walls of our classroom and every connection or project they participated in was turning them into thinkers, leaders and doers. The borders of our small town seemed non-existent as we communicated in real time with schoolchildren from all over the world, doing various activities and projects together. Not only did my pupils practice their English (Greek is our first language), they also became citizens of the world, and learn about facts and problems concerning other communities, the natural world, traditions, customs and so much more.

Becoming a Skype Master Teacher

Throughout that first school year of using Skype in my classroom, I met countless teachers who have become friends and mentors. One of them, Dyane Smorokowski encouraged me to apply to become a Skype Master Teacher. I had no idea what it meant at the time but I decided to apply because I had a passion for global learning and the vision for providing my classroom with more opportunities.

Becoming a Skype Master Teacher, and joining this amazing group of innovative and game-changing educator pioneers, has allowed me to develop as a person and as an educator. It gave me to opportunity to collaborate with teachers from around the globe on several global projects that had a great impact on my students’ lives and changed their perspective and understanding of the world. I also started sharing best practices with other educators at conferences and delivering online professional development courses through Skype.

After joining this program, in addition to feeling excited and proud to be part of this amazing group of teachers from all around the globe, I felt that I belonged to a family. I can proudly say that I belong to a family of like-minded educators with whom I can share ideas, best practices, collaborate on projects and help each other when needed.

Join the Skype Master Teacher Program

We are really excited to announce that the Skype Master Teacher Program is opening its doors to even more teachers. Teachers who have been selected as Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts (MIEEs) can complete their self-nomination to join this program. MIE Experts are teachers work closely with Microsoft to lead innovation in education. They advocate and share their thoughts on the effective use of technology in education with peers and policy makers, provide insight for Microsoft on new products and tools for education, and exchange best practices as they work together to promote innovation in teaching and learning. The self-nominations are open until September 15th.

What other Skype Master Teachers say about the SMT Program

“The Skype Master Teacher Program is special to me because it is about people who empower and impassion me. If I have an idea that I want to try or a project that I’m experimenting with, I know I can count on my SMT tribe to give me input or jump in with me. They are the risk-takers and change makers who make me a better teacher, and help me grow stronger as an educator.” – Gina Ruffcorn, MIEE, Skype Master Teacher, Iowa, USA

“I love being part of the SMT Program because it connects me with an amazing group of passionate educators who inspire me constantly.” – Steve Auslander, MIEE, Skype Master Teacher, Indianapolis, USA

“Being a part of the Skype Master Teacher Program has definitely made me a better teacher. This is a group of inspiring, innovative and supportive educators who are doing game-changing things for kids. Skype Master Teachers dream big for kids, and support each other to make dreams and ideas, big or small, a reality.” – Stacey Ryan, MIEE, Skype Master Teacher, Kansas, USA

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Back to School with Microsoft:

Student focused, teacher inspired innovation with Office 365 Education

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By Tony Prophet as written on blogs.microsoft.com

Microsoft is “All In” for Education. Today, we’re highlighting some exciting new features of Office 365 Education for the upcoming school year – Microsoft Classroom, School Data Sync, Microsoft Forms, OneNote ink and Learning Tools. And remember, Office 365 Education is free for students and teachers.

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Microsoft Classroom is your workflow wizard

Every minute an educator spends on administrative tasks is a minute they aren’t able to spend time with their students. Microsoft Classroom is designed to be a single experience in Office 365 Education for managing all class and assignment workflows for teachers and students.

With Microsoft Classroom, teachers can use the Office documents and class materials they already have –  or create new ones using familiar Office applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as exciting new applications OneNote Class Notebook and Sway. With this one-stop destination, educators get back precious instructional time so they can focus on what they’re truly passionate about – transforming the lives of students.

Easily set up your class with School Data Sync

School IT administrators have similar challenges. Keeping up with their connected campuses often takes time away from more strategic work. School Data Sync helps IT administrators connect existing school systems to Office 365 – enabling single sign on for teachers and students while automating Microsoft Classroom set up.

IT administrators can get started with Microsoft Classroom and School Data Sync with Office 365 Education by going here.

Microsoft Forms are anything but formulaic

Developing assessments like quizzes and surveys takes time, and often involves a trip to the copy machine. With Microsoft Forms, now generally available worldwide in Office 365 Education, teachers and students can create custom surveys, quizzes, questionnaires, registrations and more. As educators move to more personalized teaching, Microsoft Forms is a powerful way for teachers to customize their lessons, leveraging individualized instruction and responses, question branching, and image support.

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Laura Stanner, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, is already using the new features in her classroom. Read more about how these new tools are helping her here.

OneNote ink unleashes your inner Picasso or Pythagoras

Most technology in the classroom relies on keyboard inputs, but research has shown that digital ink can increase the quality of instruction, save teachers time and improve scores among students solving science or math problems. OneNote has supported digital ink (or handwriting with stylus, finger or mouse) for over 10 years on Windows PC. It’s also available on Mac, iOS, and Android devices.

Today, we are announcing that OneNote ink now includes new features exclusive to Windows 10, like ink effects and ink math assistant, that not only support student creativity by letting students shade, sketch, draft, save and share ideas with their favorite rainbow colors (a student’s request), it recognizes math equations.

This sets the stage for a revolution in math instruction, allowing students to show their thought process, and teachers to identify gaps in understanding. Check out the new ink page at OneNote.com/ink and learn more about the power of digital ink in this new era of computers, straight from students.

Learning Tools support readers and writers of all levels

Educators strive to support learners at all levels, and classrooms are often comprised of students with a wide range of capabilities. Learning Tools for OneNote, now available in many new languages, helps everyone improve their reading and writing skills, including gifted learners, students with learning differences or a combination of any of the broad range of unique student abilities.

We have seen overwhelmingly positive reactions from students, teachers and others from around the world. Many have shared stories of their students’ successes, such as dramatically increased reading speeds like those in Special Education teacher and Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Lauren Pittman’s classroom.

Explore Skype Virtual Adventures – this year with hundreds of new guest speakers and field trips

The Skype in the Classroom community is free. Teachers and students can reach out to connect with more than a thousand amazing destinations – people and places all over the world.  A simple Skype call connects students to collaborate with experts and each other through a live conversation from their classroom.  Just a few of our new virtual adventures include Antarctic Penguins, Central American Baby Sloths, and the Intrepid Space Shuttle.

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Find out more on how Managed Solution and Microsoft help Educators with the tools they need to succeed.

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