Anthony Salcito doesn’t want things to go back to normal. Rather, he wants things to get better. As VP of Worldwide Education at Microsoft, he has navigated the company’s response to the pandemic across the planet. In this episode of EdTech Today, Anthony examines the new tools and techniques used in this massive beta test of remote learning and suggests how education can build upon the experiences of this crisis.

Microsoft Education posted a list of remote classroom solutions

Bringing the online classroom to life for students

It’s important for students to see their teacher and classmates at the same time during remote learning. That’s why Teams expanded to a 7×7 Gallery View, allowing up to 49 students to be visible on video at one time.

Another way to mimic the classroom setting is through Together Mode. An alternative to Gallery View, this feature has brought students out of their individual tiles and transported them into a shared setting—whether that’s a virtual auditorium, conference room, or coffee shop.

A smaller setting can also help foster student participation. Breakout Rooms have helped students work within smaller groups for a discussion or assignment, just like they would in an in-person classroom.

The new Spotlight feature has allowed teachers to control the main video feed that students see during class. This can help students focus on the presenter, rather than on the many faces on the screen.

It has also been critical to provide students with the right devices during remote and hybrid learning. Windows 10 devices have been crucial in giving reliable, secure technology to learn from anywhere.