Microsoft Education Days opens a dialogue on the digital transformation of education in India

Microsoft opened a dialogue on the role of technology to transform education, improve learning outcomes and better prepare students for the new world of work at the third edition of Microsoft Education Days.

More than 8,000 educators, school leaders, policy makers and students across the country came together to discuss the need for technology led transformation and innovation in classrooms, sharing best practices for hybrid learning and insights from the transition to remote learning. The three-day event held virtually from January 20 – 22, 2021, featured interactive sessions with Microsoft leaders, education experts and school leaders on creating immersive, personalized learning experiences through the integration of tools like AI, gamification and accessibility in learning.

Over the last few months, Microsoft has been at the forefront of enabling the transition to remote learning. Microsoft Teams provided the critical digital infrastructure, empowering schools and educational institutes across the country and the world to continue learning uninterrupted in a secure environment.

Speaking at the event, Navtez Bal, Executive Director, Public Sector, Microsoft India, said, “Today, technology is enabling schools and teachers around the world to do more than ever before. Our aim at Microsoft is to create immersive and inclusive experiences that inspire lifelong learning, stimulate development of essential life skills and support educators in guiding and nurturing student passions. Microsoft Education Days is one such platform that brings educators and students together to deliberate on tech enabled transformation in education. Through this platform, our aim is to provide the academic fraternity, teachers and most importantly learners with the resources to redefine the teaching and learning experience of the future.”

The first day of the event saw a fireside chat between Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India and Ranjitsinh Disale, Microsoft Innovative Educator since 2017 and winner of the Global Teacher Prize, 2020 on the need for innovation in education.

In Education Days 2021, more than 90 Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) experts shared insights on collaborative projects around personalized learning, gamification, the importance of analytics to improve student outcomes and the need for accessibility in education among others.  Schools also participated in the Nextgen Learning Challenge and the AI for Good Idea Challenge, encouraging students to enhance their critical thinking, problem solving, self-management and responsible decision-making skills through these projects. 

Details of the winning schools and their respective projects:

Nextgen Learning Challenge 2020

AI for Good Idea Challenge, India