After a strong year of product updates and innovations, we’re excited to so see that Microsoft jumped into the Challenger position in Gartner’s 2018 Magic Quadrant for Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) and solidified its leadership position in KuppingerCole’s 2018 Leadership Compass in the same product category, backed by strong customer adoption rates.
CASBs give organizations the ability to securely embrace the possibilities of their cloud apps and services and they can be crucial in driving a successful cloud security strategy.
While the market for CASB is still relatively young, analyst firm Gartner, Inc. predicts that 60 percent of large enterprises will be using CASB technologies by 2020, with independent forecasts expecting to reach a total addressable market of $7.5 billion in the same timeframe.
We have seen a steep increase in the adoption of Microsoft Cloud App Security across all customer segments, ranging from large enterprises such as global energy leader BP, to smaller organizations such as Affinity Workforce. Our internal estimates show that Microsoft Cloud App Security has a current market share of more than 30 percent in the CASB space. This provides us with insights from billions of signals every day—and direct input from the many organizations that we work with—allowing us to continuously improve the product and react to what we’re seeing in the market.
By integrating with leading security, identity, and productivity solutions across Microsoft 365, Microsoft Cloud App Security is uniquely positioned to drive innovation in the CASB space. Recent additions include our native integration with Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection and our consistent labeling experience via Azure Information Protection. Among many others, these help organizations gain visibility into their cloud apps and services, provide sophisticated analytics to identify and combat cyber threats, and control the travel of sensitive information to equally support Microsoft’s native cloud services, as well as numerous third-party cloud apps and services, such as Dropbox, Salesforce, and others.
Microsoft Cloud App Security’s portfolio of native product integrations.
2018 analyst momentum
In Gartner’s 2018 report, we significantly improved our positioning and moved along both axes, Completeness of Vision as well as Ability to Execute, up from a Niche Player to a Challenger position. We see the substantial improvement as a testimony to our strong ability to execute against our feature roadmap and the momentum we are gaining with customers.
Magic Quadrant for CASB. Source: Gartner (October 2018)*
In its 2018 report, analyst firm KuppingerCole positions Microsoft as a Leader for the second year in a row. This further emphasizes the strength of our native integrations across Microsoft 365, including Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), Office 365, and Azure Security Center, and the significant customer base of Microsoft Cloud App Security.
Leadership Compass for CASB. Source: KuppingerCole (October 2018)
This year’s results confirm Microsoft’s strong commitment and rapid progress in this space—and with the progress of the overall market, the importance for organizations to start considering the use of a CASB continues to increase.
If you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, please visit us on our Tech Community page.
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*This graphic was published by Gartner, Inc. as part of a larger research document and should be evaluated in the context of the entire document. The Gartner document is available upon request from Microsoft.
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Companies aim to improve health outcomes and lower overall costs with enhanced digital and retail experiences and an R&D commitment to build health care solutions through seven-year agreement
Stefano Pessina, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of WBA (left), and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
DEERFIELD, Ill., and REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 15, 2019— Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) and Microsoft Corp. have joined forces to develop new health care delivery models, technology and retail innovations to advance and improve the future of health care. The companies will combine the power of Microsoft Azure, Microsoft’s cloud and AI platform, health care investments, and new retail solutions with WBA’s customer reach, convenient locations, outpatient health care services and industry expertise to make health care delivery more personal, affordable and accessible for people around the world.
Current health care systems are a complex combination of public- and private-sector organizations, providers, payors, pharmaceutical companies and other adjacent players. While there has been innovation in pockets of health care, there is both a need and an opportunity to fully integrate the system, ultimately making health care more convenient to people through data-driven insights. This is what brought WBA and Microsoft together. Through this strategic partnership, the companies will deliver innovative platforms that enable next-generation health networks, integrated digital-physical experiences and care management solutions.
“Improving health outcomes while lowering the cost of care is a complex challenge that requires broad collaboration and strong partnership between the health care and tech industries,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “Together with Walgreens Boots Alliance, we aim to deliver on this promise by putting people at the center of their health and wellness, combining the power of the Azure cloud and AI technology and Microsoft 365 with Walgreens Boots Alliance’s deep expertise and commitment to helping communities around the world lead healthier and happier lives.”
As part of the strategic partnership, the companies have committed to a multiyear research and development (R&D) investment to build health care solutions, improve health outcomes and lower the cost of care. This investment will include funding, subject-matter experts, technology and tools. The companies will also explore the potential to establish joint innovation centers in key markets. Additionally, in 2019 WBA will pilot up to 12 store-in-store “digital health corners” aimed at the merchandising and sale of select health care-related hardware and devices.
“Our strategic partnership with Microsoft demonstrates our strong commitment to creating integrated, next-generation, digitally enabled health care delivery solutions for our customers, transforming our stores into modern neighborhood health destinations and expanding customer offerings,” said Stefano Pessina, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of WBA. “WBA will work with Microsoft to harness the information that exists between payors and health care providers to leverage, in the interest of patients and with their consent, our extraordinary network of accessible and convenient locations to deliver new innovations, greater value and better health outcomes in health care systems across the world.”
Connected, consumer-centric health care delivery and management platform
The companies will focus on connecting WBA stores and health information systems to people wherever they are through their digital devices. This will allow people to access health care services, such as virtual care — when, where and how they need it.
The integration of information will enable valuable insights based on data science and artificial intelligence (AI) that can allow for fundamental improvements such as supporting the transition of health care data into more community-based locations and sustainable transformation in health care delivery.
Working with patients’ health care providers, the companies will proactively engage their patients to improve medication adherence, reduce emergency room visits and decrease hospital readmissions. Core to this model is data privacy, security and consent, which will be fundamental design principles, underscored by Microsoft’s investments in building a trusted cloud platform.
By better connecting people, providers and the systems in which they work, the industry will be able to provide better quality patient care.
Personalized health care services
WBA and Microsoft will also focus on enabling more personalized health care experiences from preventative self-care to chronic disease management. WBA will pursue lifestyle management solutions in areas such as nutrition and wellness via customers’ delivery method of choice, including digital devices and digital applications or in-store expert advice.
Through a combination of dedicated R&D and external partnerships, a suite of chronic disease management and patient engagement applications are planned for development, alongside a portfolio of connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices for nonacute chronic care management, delivered by Microsoft’s cloud, AI and IoT technologies.
Collaborating with payors, providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers to implement solutions to improve health outcomes at lower cost
Additionally, the companies will work to build a seamless ecosystem of participating organizations to better connect consumers, providers — including Walgreens and Boots pharmacists — pharmaceutical manufacturers and payors. Microsoft and WBA will leverage each other’s market research and identify the right partners to develop solutions.
For example, major health care delivery network participation will provide the opportunity for people to seamlessly engage in WBA health care solutions and acute care providers all within a single platform.
WBA to transition its IT platforms to Microsoft
Through this agreement, Microsoft becomes WBA’s strategic cloud provider, and WBA plans to migrate the majority of the company’s IT infrastructure onto Microsoft Azure. This will include new transformational platforms in retail, pharmacy and business services, new capability in data and analytics, as well as certain legacy applications and systems. The company also plans to roll out Microsoft 365 to more than 380,000 employees and stores globally, empowering them with the tools for increased productivity, advanced security, internal collaboration and customer engagement.
WBA’s transition to Microsoft’s platform will enable WBA to accelerate its speed to market, gain deeper customer understanding and insights, and ultimately provide better and more personalized care, products and services to its customers and communities. In addition, the move to Microsoft Azure accelerates the modernization and cost effectiveness of technology across WBA.
About Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise and the largest retail pharmacy, health and daily living destination across the U.S. and Europe. Walgreens Boots Alliance and the companies in which it has equity method investments together have a presence in more than 25 countries and employ more than 415,000 people.
The company’s portfolio of retail and business brands includes Walgreens, Duane Reade, Boots and Alliance Healthcare, as well as increasingly global health and beauty product brands, such as No7, Soap & Glory, Liz Earle, Sleek MakeUP and Botanics.
Walgreens Boots Alliance is proud to be a force for good, leveraging many decades of experience and its international scale, to care for people and the planet through numerous social responsibility and sustainability initiatives that have an impact on the health and wellbeing of millions of people.
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
All statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those related to the timing and effectiveness of collaboration plans, the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the collaboration, competitive actions in the marketplace, and the ability to achieve anticipated financial and operating results in the amounts and at the times anticipated, as well as those described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended August 31, 2018, Microsoft Corporation’s Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 and subsequent documents that Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation file or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the extent required by law, each of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
For more information, press only:
Microsoft Media Relations, WE Communications for Microsoft, (425) 638-7777 rrt@we-worldwide.com
Walgreens Boots Alliance Media Relations, Jim Cohn, (224) 565-1967, jim.cohn@walgreens.com
Walgreens Boots Alliance Investors: Gerald Gradwell, Jay Spitzer, (847) 315-2922
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://news.microsoft.com. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-public-relations-contacts.
This Microsoft Services IDIQ will allow us to help enable these government agencies to both accelerate their adoption of cloud solutions, while also helping drive transformation throughout their organizations.
With over 40 years of experience and partnership with the DoD built on trust, the IDIQ expands the relationship to make the following Microsoft engineering and technology strategy support available, including:
Enterprise-wide and organization-specific architectural planning, solution design and innovation, and infrastructure optimization
Implementation, deployment and knowledge transfer of Microsoft products, cloud technologies and network solutions support
Access to technical support, problem resolution, solution workshops, strategic guidance
Assistance to customers with technical issues pertaining to developing cloud, intranet, internet strategies, prototyping and implementation and development of solutions spanning infrastructure and application areas.
Access to these services will enable the DoD to gain the hands-on support they need to quickly adopt the latest enterprise-class innovations, extend them all the way to the tactical edge, and optimize their general-purpose cloud to support the missions of the DoD, Intelligence Community and U.S. Coast Guard.
Today’s IDIQ award is directed by the DoD ESI, an official DoD initiative sponsored by the Defense Department’s chief information officer to lead in establishing and managing enterprise commercial-off-the-shelf information technology agreements, assets and policies. DoD ESI lowers the total cost of ownership across the DoD, Coast Guard and Intelligence Community for commercial software, IT hardware and services.
For additional information about Microsoft’s commitment to empower government agencies to transform, modernize, innovate, gain efficiencies and cost savings, and achieve their missions while meeting rigorous security and compliance requirements please:
At Microsoft, we believe in the potential of every student. We believe educators deserve more time to teach. And, we believe that with the right tools, everything is possible. The schools nominated into our Showcase School program exemplify these beliefs in action by implementing innovative practices into their leadership, teaching, and learning practices into the development of their environments, and their technology choices. The result demonstrated at each one of these schools is increased student outcomes.
The diverse practices among schools stem from the unique cultures, local educational requirements, down to the needs of individual students. The common element in each of our Showcase Schools is passionate educators working for the common good. Their contributions go beyond the school into their communities and beyond. We see educators who use Minecraft in the classroom to empower students to solve real-world problems. Some use Skype to offer their students an understanding of world events and cultures. These schools lead by example and we are proud that their leaders select Microsoft solutions to better enable increased student outcomes and greater educational transformation success school-wide.
Take a tour of Showcase School Strumienie Szkola Podstawowa in Poland:
Twice a year, we pause to recognize some of the world’s most innovative School Leaders whose work drives increased student outcomes and educator/leader development on the ground, in each of these diverse schools, and globally. It is with awe and inspiration that this year we welcome to the 2018-2019 Showcase School program, 366 Showcase Schools and their School Leaders, who call 65 countries across the world home.
Showcase Schools’ thoughtful leaders empower educators and students to re-imagine and re-design leading, teaching, and learning in their schools and in their regions. These leaders also come together as a group to tackle challenges, celebrate successes, and share their learnings in a vibrant online community available exclusively to Showcase School Leaders in Microsoft Teams. They are committed to developing their own strengths as leader-learners and work together to learn about global trends in education and test new solutions locally, adjusting to meet the specific needs of their own communities.
Each year, Microsoft Showcase School Leaders and the Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts in their schools share best practices both online, through Microsoft Educator Community and Skype in the Classroom, as well as in-person at local events hosted by each Showcase School and global events, such as BETT, UK.
In addition to reaching out to their local communities and reaching within to empower educator and student outcomes in their own schools, Showcase Schools also:
• Provide Microsoft engineers with valuable insights and ideas, to evolve technology and improve teaching and learning practices based on classroom experience; • Gain access to professional and career development opportunities and certifications; • Host regional events showcasing their use of Microsoft solutions
The impact of Showcase School excellence is felt globally, as these schools support their local communities by providing the opportunity to experience tomorrow’s transformation, today.
Thank you, Showcase School Leaders, for all the work your educator teams and you do to transform education one school at a time.
Welcome to the Microsoft Showcase School community.
GDC 2019 is just a few months away and Xbox is excited to return with a full week of community events for game developers, including the first ever Gaming for Everyone Community Nexus bringing many communities together in one place!
All events are free to attend with registration and tickets are available now!
Monday, March 20 at the Children’s Creativity Museum
Tuesday, March 20 at Terra Gallery
Wednesday, March 21 at 111 Minna Gallery
Level Up your GDC experience at the Gaming for Everyone Community Nexus.
Last year we held two of our community networking events together in the same venue and the feedback was overwhelming. “More, please.” We heard you and are bringing the Gaming for Everyone Community Nexus, a place where all our developer communities can come together. Come to the Nexus to get the most out of your GDC with professional development resources. You will find organizations and resources that serve your communities and get a chance to meet members of other underrepresented communities and build stronger community ties.
The first phase of Season 2 launched in November 2018, and it’s been phenomenal to see the Mixer community’s response. From launching fun Stickers and Effects to communities rallying around their favorite streamers’ Sparks milestones, we’ve had a blast seeing the community interact in new ways, and we appreciate all the valuable feedback you’ve given us so far.
Today, we’re excited to kick off 2019 and the next phase of Season 2 with the launch of MixerEmbers. Early access to Mixer Embers will start today for users of the Mixer mobile app on Android and iOS platforms. Then, Mixer Embers will roll out to viewers on all platforms next week.
So, what are Embers and how do you get them?
Embers are a virtual currency on Mixer that you can purchase and then spend on premium Skills, including animated Stickers and full-screen Effects. With these premium Skills, you can also add a custom message that will be prominently highlighted in chat, helping your message stand out within the Mixer community. For Mixer Partners, Embers provide new monetization opportunities by enabling a more direct form of patronage with bigger cash rewards.
Sparks are a virtual currency that viewers earn for free, just by watching streams on Mixer; Embers are a paid virtual currency that viewers can purchase directly on Mixer. Although there are specific Skills for each currency, both Sparks and Embers will result in patronage for a partnered streamer. Embers provide a more direct form of patronage as Mixer Partners receive a fixed dollar amount per Ember spent on their channel. In contrast, Sparks spent on Mixer Partner’s channel go towards achieving Spark milestones for cash bonuses. Embers do not have weekly milestones, and do not impact Spark milestones.
To purchase Embers, just click the “Get Embers” button on the top of Mixer.com or hit the “Ember +” button in the Skill Tray on the Mixer mobile app or Xbox One app.
At launch, Embers will be exclusive to Mixer Partner channels – so only Partner channels will offer premium Skills that can be purchased using Embers, and only Partners will receive cash payouts for Embers patronage. This is just the start as we aim to make Embers accessible to more creators and not limited to partners. We’ll talk more about our plans for that in the future and we’ll continue to listen to community feedback and keep exploring ways to enhance your Mixer experience.
We’re excited to hear what you, the community, have to say about Mixer Embers! Download the Mixer mobile app today for early access to Mixer Embers. And then let us know your thoughts on Twitter @WatchMixer or on the Mixer Feedback & Ideas site. Stay tuned….we’ll also have more to share on Progression in the coming weeks.
This week, at NRF 2019—Retail’s Big Show—we’re excited to showcase both new innovations that will transform retail in 2019 and retail brands we’re working with to reinvent the customer experience, including Dr. Martens, Goodwill, and Stefano Ricci.
Knowing your customer has never been more critical. Success is ever more dependent on harnessing data—everything from customer preferences to product availability. These are all digital activities, where the data is already easily collected and analyzed, and automated actions are often triggered based on levers such as personalized emails, web, or ad experiences. But what about the physical spaces in retail stores? How can we apply similar technologies to transform the consumer shopping experience in physical stores?
Some data is already collected in physical stores, but what’s new and exciting is the blending and integration of the digital and physical world data types—People, Places, & Things—and applying AI on top of this data. This is the key that helps to unlock new and differentiated shopping experiences in physical retail stores.
Last week my colleague, Shelley Bransten (CVP, Retail and Consumer Goods Industries), shared some insights into how Microsoft is delivering on the promise of intelligent retail. She talked about how leading retailers are using the Microsoft Cloud as a competitive differentiator, from using AI to create transformative customer and employee experiences, to embracing IoT to leverage their supply chains for maximum customer impact, to using cloud-based business applications to manage everything from the customer journey to operations.
In addition to that work, we are also investing in exciting new capabilities to Azure and Dynamics 365 business applications to help transform the consumer shopping experiences in physical stores. New experiences such as personalized shopping assistance, digital shelf ads and pricing, real-time store navigation and in-aisle checkout are quickly becoming the consumer expectation. To enable this, we are bringing capabilities to Azure to more easily map real-word physical spaces and the ability to reason and surface these insights in our Dynamics 365 business applications.
This is an exciting space that we are actively investing in, and we look forward to sharing more in the coming months.
Three ways brands are modernizing customer experiences
Some amazing retail brands are already deploying Microsoft Business Applications and partner solutions to modernize customer experiences, with three innovative use cases in common:
More personalization
By understanding who is in your store at any given moment—demographics on age and gender, as well as inference of intent and sentiment—store associates can provide proactive and tailored customer of assistance.
Dr. Martens—the iconic British footwear brand—is making big strides to reinvent the in-store experience. They’ve partnered with Microsoft and Hitachi Solutions to integrate ‘Retail Awareness’ across their operations, a platform built on Dynamics 365, Power BI, Azure Machine Learning, Azure IoT Hub, and Microsoft Azure Data Bricks.
This solution will improve customer experiences by surfacing insights on buying patterns and demographics, allowing sales associates to provide real-time contextual recommendations. In addition, stores will receive automated, AI-driven priorities and insights, like hour-to-hour revenue dashboards, helping every retail location focus on what’s important.
Leading luxury men’s apparel retailer, Stefano Ricci, is also deploying artificial intelligence to better understand and anticipate customers’ needs and behaviors. They are using Dynamics 365 and partner SB Soft’s Power NBA (Next Best Action) solution to hyper-personalize the customer experience, improving how they proactively present personalized recommendations at every touchpoint—in store and online.
Relatedly, one of the largest resale retailers in the world, Goodwill, is deploying Microsoft Dynamics 365 to find the right buyers, at the right price, for thousands of donated items.
Goodwill’s retail revenue, as well as private donations and grants, fund career-track programs that serve tens of thousands of people each year. The more money its thrift stores make, the more money is invested in its career-track programs. That’s why Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona is setting out to modernize its point-of-sale system, inventory management, and customer engagement solutions. Microsoft Dynamics 365 will allow Goodwill to optimize pricing for the tons of goods donated weekly, move product faster across physical and online storefronts, and allow customers to more easily donate to Goodwill programs during checkout.
Smart merchandising
Finally, understanding flow and traffic patterns through the store can provide ease of navigation and faster checkouts. Performance can also be analyzed across aisles and endcaps, to full store floor maps, or across multiple stores to optimize product placement.
Dr. Martens, for example, now has access to intelligent merchandising tools that will enable tailored planograms for specific stores—helping each store to align to local and regional style and cultural trends.
Check back for more success stories as our retail customers innovate the showroom floor experience in 2019.
Learn what’s in store for retail in 2019
In case you missed it, we just released the 2019 Retail Trends Report—a survey of six trending areas of focus to create exceptional shopping experience for customers. It’s a great companion to our new eBook–Why Choose Dynamics 365 for Retail?—an great overview of what’s possible when you transform retail operations with Dynamics 365.
Educators around the world are fully aware that empowering students to prepare for their future also means embracing change in their classrooms and in their approaches to teaching. The big question is: How do you best go about transforming your classroom? What does it mean, how do you start, and where do you go for inspiration?
You don’t have to wonder aloud into the void, thankfully – that’s what the #MSFTEduChat TweetMeet is for! In January’s event, we’ll bring together educators and experts to discuss Transforming Classroom Time. The act can mean different things to different people, even more if you consider that classroom circumstances can vary significantly from one place to another. Key recurring elements in the conversation are to look for small, affordable steps of change that save teachers precious time and that help their students take ownership of their own learning.
We offer 11 simultaneous language tracks this month and we’re super happy to have a host from Turkey this time again. Here’s an overview of all language tracks and their hashtags for the January TweetMeet:
For each language track, we have one or more hosts to post the translated questions and respond to educators. As always, we’re super grateful to all current and former hosts who are collaborating closely to provide this service.
The #TweetMeetXX hashtags for non-English languages are to be used together with #MSFTEduChat so that everyone can find the conversations back in their own language. For example: Portuguese-speaking people use the combination #TweetMeetPT #MSFTEduChat. English-speaking educators may all use #MSFTEduChat on its own.
TweetMeet fan? Show it off on your Twitter profile
Every month more and more people discover the unique flow and characteristics of the TweetMeet events and become passionate about them. Show your passion for the TweetMeets right from your own Twitter page by uploading this month’s #MSFTEduChat Twitter Header Photo to the top of your own Twitter profile. Besides English, this same Twitter Header Photo is also available in each of this month’s 10 additional language tracks.
Looking back on the December ‘Best of 2018’ TweetMeet
The December edition of the #MSFTEduChat TweetMeet was special in many ways. In a very lively conversation discussing ‘Best of 2018’, as many as 140 former TweetMeet hosts engaged with educators around the world in 17 different languages. Look at some of the highlights from that Twitter conversation collected in this Twitter Moment.
Why join the #MSFTEduChat TweetMeets?
TweetMeets are monthly recurring Twitter conversations about themes relevant to educators, facilitated by Microsoft Education. The purpose of these events is to help professionals in education to learn from each other and inspire their students while they are preparing for their future. The TweetMeets also nurture personal learning networks among educators from across the globe.
We’re grateful to have a support group made up exclusively of former TweetMeet hosts, who volunteer to translate communication and check the quality of our questions and promotional materials. They also help identify the best candidates for future events, provide relevant resources, promote the events among their networks, and, in general, cheer everybody on.
Our hosts are thrilled about this upcoming TweetMeet:
When and how can I join?
Join us Tuesday, January 15 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. PDT on Twitter using the hashtags #MSFTEduChat, #ChangeMakersand#MicrosoftEDU (which you can always use to stay in touch with us). To find the event time for your specific location, use this time zone announcer.
From our monthly surveys we know that you may be in class at event time, busy doing other things or maybe even asleep – well, no problem! All educators are most welcome to join after the event. Simply take a look at the questions below and respond to these at a day and time that suit you best. You can also schedule your tweets in advance. In that case, be sure to quote the entire question and mention the hashtag #MSFTEduChat, so that everyone knows the right question and conversation to which you are responding. Mark the exact timings – they are different this month.
How can I best prepare?
To prepare for the #MSFTEduChatTweetMeet, have a look at the questions we crafted this time. You might also find something useful in one of these resources:
TweetMeet questions
Hosts
Please meet the 19 hosts for this month’s TweetMeet. They are all passionate about classroom transformation and very eager to engage with you. Several of this month’s hosts have already blogged about the positive impact of being a #MSFTEduChat TweetMeet host and why you should join. You can check these posts out in this brand-new Sway:
We also made a Twitter Listso that you can easily follow all the hosts and see what they are tweeting about.
Abeer Almihdar@AbeerMehdar (Microsoft Learning Consultant – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
Arnaud Markert@ArnaudMarkert (Religious culture teacher and digital referent teacher – Strasbourg, France)
Cornelia Melcu@CorneliaMelcu (Primary school teacher, teacher trainer, mentor and eTwinning and Scientix ambassador- Școala Gimnazială Nr. 9, Nicolae Orghidan, Brașov, Romania)
Eileen Heller@EileenHeller (Instructional Technology Trainer for Omaha Public Schools – Omaha, Nebraska, USA)
Felix Malombe@Felmalo (ICT Curriculum Leader and Maker Lab (STEAM) teacher for Crawford International School – Nairobi, Kenya)
Flavia Giannoli@flagia3 (Math & Physics teacher at High School/ teachers Mentor and Trainer / Innovative Design Thinking and e-learning expert/ MCE & MIE Expert – Milan, Italy)
Gülşen Korucu@gulsen_korucu (English teacher at Saimbey Secondary School – Osmaniye, Turkey)
Ian Phillips@ianhabs (I am Assistant Head and Director Computing & ICT at HabsBoys and independent school near London in the UK. I am an Intel Visionary and Chair of the ISC Digital strategy group)
Joël McLean@jprofnb (Elementary school principal and leadership coach – Callander, Ontario Canada)
Josh Arnold@GuyCivics (Middle School Teacher/Educational blogger – Wesley Chapel, Florida, USA)
Lynne Oakvik@LynneOakvik (Instructional Technology/School Library Consultant, Lilead Fellow – Boone, North Carolina, USA)
Małgorzata Kulesza@Malgosia38 (Secondary school teacher of chemistry and science, coordinator of international projects, nominated as an European Hero by Scientix, MIE Expert, passionate global educator- Krakow, Poland)
Marina St Mircic@s13_marina (Italian and Civics Teacher in secondary school, MIE Fellow, Skype Master Teacher, MIE Expert, passionate blogger and translator – Zajecar, Serbia)
Nicole Caldwell@n_caldwellEDU (1:1 Technology Resource 3rd – 5th Grades/NCCE Professional Learning Specialist – Tampa, Florida, USA)
Paula Barnard-Ashton@PaulaBarAsh (21st century learning design lecturer & trainer @ Wits University, School of Therapeutic Sciences – Johannesburg, South Africa)
Sascha Sohn@SohnSascha (Mathematics and Physics Teacher at Gymnasium Johanneum Loburg – Ostbevern, Germany)
Shannon Davenport@sdavenport931 (Director of Professional Learning for NCCE, The Northwest Council of Computer Education – Clarksville, Tennessee, USA)
Stu Ayres@StuAyres (Senior Deputy Head and computer science teacher, Raspberry Pi certified educator, teacher trainer, 21st-Century learning design practitioner – Denbigh, Wales, United Kingdom)
Víctor Rodríguez@VRS_ae (HP/lntel Teacher Ambassador, teacher trainer at Grupo Advanced Education, MIE Expert – Spain)
Every month Microsoft Education organizes social events on Twitter targeted at educators globally. The hashtag we use is #MSFTEduChat. A team of topic specialists and international MIE Expert teachers prepare and host these TweetMeets together. Our team of educator hosts first crafts several questions around a certain topic. Then, before the event, they share these questions on social media. Combined with a range of resources, a blog post and background information about the events, this allows all participants to prepare themselves to the full. Afterwards we make an archive available of the most notable tweets and resources shared during the event.
Please connect with TweetMeet organizer Marjolein Hoekstra @OneNoteC on Twitter if you have any questions about TweetMeets or helping out as a host.
A new year brings new opportunity to learn about all the latest and greatest from Microsoft Education. Join Microsoft at Bett 2019 in London on January 23-26, either online or right there with us at the event, being held at London’s ExCeL venue.
Bett is an annual event that explores how technology can empower educators and students to reach their full potential. Microsoft, as a worldwide partner of Bett, will be hosting a wide array of sessions and hands-on demonstrations on the show floor, along with inspirational talks to support educators looking for new ways to engage and empower their students.
To kick off a whole week of Bett, we’re releasing a special episode of What’s New in EDU, our show that gets you caught up on the exciting new tools and updates coming from Microsoft Education. Our special Bett episode will be available on January 22 – watch it to learn more about new classroom technology coming to Microsoft Education this year. And don’t forget to stay tuned to the Education Blog for more as it comes in!
We’ll also have special edition What’s New in EDU live events streaming daily from Bett in London. You can register to catch the livestreams events each day with the following links:
Whether you’re looking for the latest in mixed reality for education, some grounded advice on how to transform your classroom digitally, or want a peek at what’s next for Minecraft: Education Edition, the schedule below is a good place to start, learn and participate. Make sure to stop by Booth E300 to see all the new experiences we have relating to STEM, Virtual Reality and new tools for the classroom.
For more information and to book your sessions, visit this page. If you can’t visit us in person in London, consider joining us on the road as Microsoft Education goes on tour around the UK. You can find out more as we continue to add more dates all the time.
If you’re joining us at Bett in person, we hope to see you at one of the following highlights:
Speakers: Barbara Holpfazel, GM of Education Marketing, Anthony Salcito, VP Worldwide Education, Microsoft, and Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Yale University.
This group will describe how education and work will change thanks to AI. We will unveil new research describing the critical role of emotional well-being to position students for success in the age of AI and will examine an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning, already in use by more than 1,500 schools globally. We will be joined by a student whose amazing educational journey has already been transformed by AI.
This is the perfect place to go if you are looking to see and hear about the latest product releases, see demonstrations, and discover ways you can unlock learning in your students. Each session is held on Microsoft stand E300 and lasts 30 minutes.
Time
Title
Wed – Sat / 10:00-10:30
What’s new in EDU?
Wed – Sat / 10:30-11:00
How to set a cloud first digital transformation strategy
Wed – Sat / 11:00-11:30
Demystifying Microsoft 365 Education for teachers
Wed – Sat / 11:30-12:00
Increasing accessibility and fostering inclusive classrooms
Wed – Sat / 12:00-12:30
Driving collaboration and teamwork to save teachers time and reduce costs
Wed – Sat / 12:30-13:00
Developing global citizens and driving future-ready skills
Wed – Sat / 13:00-13:30
Building STEM skills with Minecraft: Education Edition
Wednesday / 13:30-14:00
Ask me anything on Microsoft Education Tools
Thursday / 13:30-14:00
Evolving technologies for the scientists of the future through the Natural History Museum
Friday / 13:30-14:00
Amplify Every learner with Flipgrid
Saturday / 13:30-14:00
Amplify Every Learner with Flipgrid
Wed – Fri / 13:00-14:30
How to set a cloud first digital transformation strategy
Wed – Fri / 14:30-15:00
Demystifying M365 and O365 to drive learning outcomes and impact
Wed – Fri / 15:00-15:30
Increasing accessibility and fostering inclusive classrooms
Wed – Fri / 15:30-16:00
Driving collaboration and teamwork to save teachers’ time and reduce costs
Wed – Fri / 16:00-16:30
Developing global citizens and driving future-ready skills
Wed – Fri / 16:30-17:00
Growing computer skills with MakeCode
Wednesday / 17:00-17:30
Implementing a device buy-back programme or school device scheme
Wednesday / 17:30-18:00
Tweet meet – using social media to drive community and new ideas
Thursday / 17:00-17:30
Growing computer skills with MakeCode
Thursday / 18:30-18:00
Unlocking learning through a connected classroom
Friday / 18:00-18:00
Using Minecraft: Education Edition to expand learning experiences
If you are looking for a hands-on opportunity to try, test and experiment with Microsoft products and devices, this is the perfect stage for you. Get tips and tricks and learn about the best way to use a Microsoft solution in the classroom, from and with our own teachers, trainers, and Microsoft Learning Consultants. Each session is held on Microsoft stand E300 and lasts 30 minutes.
Time
Title
Wed – Sat / 10:00-10:30
Setting up a Cloud IT solution for your school in 30 min
Wed – Sat / 10:30-11:00
Building a collaborative classroom with Teams
Wed – Sat / 11:00-11:30
Utilising Windows 10 tools to support an untethered classroom
Wed – Sat / 11:30-12:00
Working together with Office Online
Wed – Sat / 12:00- 12:30
Fostering an inclusive classroom with free tools from Microsoft Education
Wed – Sat / 12:30-13:00
Saving time and making assessment easy with Microsoft Education
Wed – Sat / 13:00-13:30
Growing STEM skills in the classroom using MakeCode and Minecraft: Education Edition
Wed – Sat / 13:30-14:00
Bringing future technology to your classroom (AI, MR, Bots and Personal Workflow)
Wed – Fri / 14:00-14:30
Set up a Cloud IT solution for your school in 30 min
Wed – Fri / 14:30-15:00
Build a collaborative classroom and school with OneNote and Teams to save you time and achieve better learning outcomes
Wed – Fri / 15:00-15:30
Utilising Windows 10s tools to support an untethered classroom (Speech to Text, Text Suggestions and Edge Learning Tools)
Wed – Fri / 15:30-16:00
Getting the most out of O365 online
Wed – Fri / 16:00-16:30
Organising your classroom and empowering your students with OneNote
Wed – Fri / 16:30-17:00
Saving time and making assessment easy with Microsoft Education
Wed – Fri / 17:00-17:30
Growing STEM skills in the classroom using Make:Code and Minecraft for CS Fundamentals
Wed – Fri / 17:30-18:00
Bringing future technology to your classroom (AI, Bots and personal workflow)
Wednesday, 11:00-11:30 | Preparing Students for jobs that don’t exist yet: Teesside University
Speakers:
Dr. Jonathan Eaton, Academic Registrar, Teesside University
Professor Mark Simpson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching), Teesside University
Wednesday, 12:30-13:00 | Chichester College’s digital transformation: borderless learning for students and teachers
Speaker:
Terry Molyneaux, Professional Learning Coach – Digital Innovation, Chichester College
Wednesday, 14:45-15:15 | {Devel<>p}: a makerspace that fosters digital and soft skills
Speaker:
Hannah Mathias, E-learning Manager – Cardiff and Vale College
Thursday, 11:45-12:15 | Using Minecraft as a virtual field trip – an academic’s journey
Speaker:
Prof. Tim Thompson, Associate Dean (Learning & Teaching) – Teesside University
Thursday, 13:15-13:45 | Enable and empower student voice through fostering active learner communities
Speakers:
Andrew Sprake, Lecturer in Physical Education – University of Central Lancashire
Chris Melia, Learning Technologist – University of Central Lancashire
Nick Bohannon, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing – University of Central Lancashire
Friday, 11:45-12:15 | Overcoming barriers of space and time, PLN for better education
Speaker:
Esam Baboukhan, eLearning Manager – City of Westminster College
Friday, 12:30-13:00 | Enabling academic and business support staff to improve the learner’s experience
Speakers:
Deborah Millar, Group Director of Digital Learning Technology – Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education
Elaine Topham, Senior Learning Technologist – Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education
Solutions Showcase | Platinum Suite 1 |Wednesday, 23 January & Thursday, 24 January, 10:30 – 17:15
We will be sharing some of the most impactful stories of Digital Transformation in Education, including real-life K-12 stories from educators who have achieved great things using partner solutions built on, or with, Microsoft’s technology. Learn more.
MakeCode Saturday | Platinum Suite 1 | Saturday, 26 January 10:00 – 14:00
This one is open to teachers, parents and students. Microsoft MakeCode is an open-source platform for creating engaging computer science learning experiences that support a progression path into real-world programming.
As an educator, you will also see how some schools and educators are creating inclusive, engaging learning experiences with Microsoft MakeCode. Learn more about MakeCode Saturday.
The secret to brand and retail success? Treat every customer like a VIP We all like feeling special. When our needs are met, when our voices are heard, and when we’re being paid attention to, we feel positive. These are the feelings retailers and brands must invoke in customers, if they wish to remain competitive.This theme of treating every individual as VIP is a prevalent trend in the retail industry, and applies across all brands, especially in the luxury sector. We’ve worked closely with various partners, brands, and retailers to discuss their most important insights, and have shared them below. Whether you’re a retailer or a brand, we’re all in this together – transformation is an evolving journey, not an end goal.
Digital glamour: Wolford uses Azure and AI to deliver luxury online service Founded in the Austrian city of Bregenz in 1950, Wolford is the global market leader for luxury legwear and bodywear. Over its 68-year history, the company has established a strong reputation for delivering both high-end products and customer service. To deliver the same high standard of service online as its customers have come to expect in its boutiques, the company used Microsoft Azure Bot Service, Cognitive Services, and Bot Framework to develop an AI-powered chatbot. Wolford online shoppers now get instant answers to questions around the clock and receive personalized “Style Me” product recommendations, while the company lives up to its reputation for exceptional service.
Building a sustainable fashion ecosystem: Meet Natasha Franck Natasha Franck isn’t as interested in fashion as she is in trash. In the early days of her company EON, it was almost an obsession: “I read everything I could about waste and possible solutions to this global epidemic.” After learning that the fashion industry is one of the largest industrial polluters, Natasha became determined to do something about it. “In fashion, where there are 150 billion articles of clothing made every year, and 90% of these textiles are ending up in a landfill—the consumption of resources and production of waste is never-ending.” says Natasha. “And when burning trash is still the main means of disposal, we’re left with some serious air quality concerns worldwide.”
The Department of Defense 
