Microsoft seeks to “transform and modernize education” by collaborating with edX for new online course offerings

Earlier this year, Microsoft shared that they wanted to help “transform and modernized education”. What does transforming schools actually mean? To Microsoft, it means educating from the very top. That includes administrators, principals, and school leaders that directly influence the development of lessons and learning. The tech giant intends to develop classes specifically for these individuals to put learning first and now those previously promised classes are finally available. Announced through the Microsoft in Education blog, Microsoft revealed the release of five new leadership courses on the edX platform.

For those that may not know, edX is a massive online course provider that was created in May 2012 by a collaboration of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the prestigious Harvard University. Almost anyone can register and take part in self-paced classes developed by universities and professors delivered conveniently online with a wide variety of topics.

In this case, Microsoft’s courses are focused towards providing up to date references and technological knowledge to administrators for K-12 schools. The classes were developed by  the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, and the University of Queensland.

Here’s a detailed look at each one:

• Launching Innovation in School
  Become a change leader and take the first step in launching instructional improvement in K-12 education to improve teaching and learning.

  Course led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  Starts January 17, 2017
  Duration: 6 weeks
  Course Faculty: Justin Reich, Executive Director, MIT Teaching Systems Lab; and Peter Senge, Senior Lecturer in Leadership and Sustainability, MIT Sloan School of Management
  Learn more and register now

• Leading Ambitious Teaching and Learning
  Learn why ambitious teaching and learning may be the key to global educational improvement and how to put it into practice.

  Course led by The University of Michigan
  Starts January 24, 2017
  Duration: 4 weeks
  Course Faculty: Elizabeth Moje, Dean, School of Education; and Deborah Ball, Professor, School of Education; Nell Duke, Professor, School of Education; Liz Kolb, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Education; Donald J. Peurach, Associate Professor, School of Education; Gretchen Spreitzer, Professor, Ross School of Business
  Learn more and register now

• Deep Learning Through Transformative Pedagogy
  Learn powerful teaching strategies and effective learning activities to enhance deep learning

  Course led by The University of Queensland
  Starts February 27, 2017
  Duration: 5 weeks
  Course Faculty:  Merrilyn Goos, Head of the School of Education; Pankaj Sah, Director of the Queensland Brain Institute; Robyn Gillies, Professor of Education; Annemaree Carroll, Professor of Education; Melissa Cain, School of Education; Katherine McLay, School of Education
  Learn more and register now

• Leading Change: Go Beyond Gamification with Gameful Learning
  Learn the tools to support gameful learning environments that foster personalized, engaged learning
  

  Course led by The University of Michigan
  Starts March 6, 2017
  Duration: 6-8 weeks
  Course Faculty: Barry Fishman, Professor of Information, School of Information and Professor of Education, School of Education; and Rachel Niemer, Director of the Gameful Learning Lab, Office of Academic Innovation
  Learn more and register now

• Design Thinking for Leading and Learning in K-12 Education
  A hands-on course for education leaders to learn about design thinking and explore how it can transform classroom learning and school communities.

  Course led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  Starts March 21, 2017
  Duration: 6 weeks
  Course Faculty: Justin Reich, Executive Director Teaching Systems Lab
  Learn more and register now

Like other edX classes, registration is free and available to everyone 24/7. The Microsoft in Education edX classes are already available for registration and will be underway in January 2017.