TIM BUSH

EDUCATION MARKETING MANAGER

With the Christmas decorations now packed away for another year and the race to shed the festive excesses now in full force , it can only mean one thing ; it ’ s time for the BETT edition of the # TheFeed .

For the Microsoft education team , BETT is a special time of the year where we meet with our broader community and provide a stage for our Showcase Schools and MIEEs to share their stories / best practice . For this special issue , the first since our break over the summer term , we are aiming to replicate this vision in digital form .

# TheFeed has always been about showcasing the great schools we work with , and in issue 8 we are doubling down on this obsession and

have collated some great content for you to help ease the January Blues and see you through to BETT , itself .

As a true gadget geek , myself , our ‘ What ’ s new in Microsoft ’ article opens with an update on HoloLens . I have had the privilege of trialing HoloLens on a couple of occasions and am excited about the impact that mixed and virtual reality will have on creating new learning experiences in the classroom and beyond .

# TheFeed has always been about showcasing the great schools we work with , and in issue 8 we are doubling on this obsession .

Check out our opening story to hear more from the HoloLens team on what ’ s next for this amazing device . I can ’ t wait to get my hands on one at home !

To complement this story , Merlin John discusses the role of school leadership in ensuring the use of technology in the classroom supports teaching practice and has a positive impact on student outcomes . In typical Merlin style , this thought-provoking piece , while celebrating the use of technology in the classroom , counteracts this with the need for this to be not just for a small minority of schools to benefit from , but something the whole sector can embrace . Let us know your thoughts !

Continuing with the leadership theme , Alan Crawford talks about the

launch of an exciting new programme – Microsoft Training Academies – that aims to inspire and motivate schools up and down the country about what is possible with technology in the classroom . I am personally a huge fan of how our Showcase School community is helping to mentor and support neighbouring schools , and this programme formalises this approach and makes it available more broadly . The Microsoft Showcase Schools , will be on the Microsoft Partner Campus at BETT . Make sure you pop over and say hi !

Lastly , no issue of # TheFeed is complete without a device review , and we don ’ t disappoint in this issue . Paul Dredge offers up some great insight on the fab Linx 1010 . Check out his review and let us know what you think .

We hope you enjoy this latest issue and look forward to seeing you at BETT 2017 !

MANDEEP ATWAL

EDUCATION AUDIENCE MANAGER

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