Lucas Moffitt

Microsoft Education Labs has quickly become one of my favourite sites. Here we have a team of people designated to improving education tools within the classroom. Why is this awesome? Let’s checkout one of the tools they’ve created so far.

Microsoft Flashcards uses the newest Microsoft technology to provide a tool that actively engages students in assisting content revision. Why use normal flashcards when you can use Microsoft Flashcards?

MS Flashcards is a silverlight application built on the Azure (cloud) platform which allows you to create, share and study flashcards online. You can create your own unique deck of 300 cards that contain any number of images or text combinations.

MS Flashcards keeps track of all of your cards, The ones you got right and the ones you got wrong, as well as how long since you saw it last. Using this information it then creates a unique algorithm to determine which card should be shown to you next. While Flashcards can be seen as a lower order thinking task, it still is high in engagement. It would also assist in encouraging students to self regulate their learning.

The three different modes allow you to review the flashcards you’ve created. the questions / answers.

• Review will allow you to flip through both questions and answers as present together.
• Study will allow you to think before you “flip” the card to reveal the answer.
• Type it In will allow you to type in what you believe the answer is.

MS Flashcards can be incorporated into any classroom revision session right now. However it would benefit from the inclusion into Moddle software. This would mean that educators wouldn’t be reliant on the student to login / print their report.

At the moment, the inbuilt reporting functions are sufficient for preliminary inclusion. But, don’t forget. It’s still in beta.

Check back here in the next couple of days for information on the 2010 PowerPoint quiz / exam plug-in and more info on the inclusion of windows live in Moodle software.

Lucas.

Yeah, now I know I’ve been away for a while, and I’m sorry. But! the good news is that there’s another 4 posts ready to go in the next coming days.

However this will be more aimed at the Education Sector and how within education we can use some Microsoft technologies to promote learning and increase engagement in the classroom.

EXCITED?!??!!!?!!?!?!?!?

I am…

Lucas.

This is an opportunity you wouldn’t want to miss out on! Microsoft Australia have launched Protégé 2010, a competition where we want you to come up with a creative solution to market Office 2010.

The winning entry will be awarded with one month’s paid work experience at Microsoft where you will be mentored by leading executives and see your ideas brought to life!

For more information, check out www.microsoft.com.au/protege and tune in/subscribe to Protégé TV www.youtube.com/tvprotege for the weekly inside scoop on updates, giveaways and tips that you won’t get anywhere else!

If it was any more awesome you may just explode.

If you’re interested in more information about office 2010 head to: http://www.lucasmoffitt.com/?p=181

Lucas

look at your laptop, and now back to mine. Now back at your laptop, and now back to mine. Sadly, it isn’t mine, but if you stop using ladies apple computers and switch to Windows 7, it could act like it’s mine. Look down, back up, where are you? You’re on the internets downloading free software from dreamspark.com. What’s in your hand, back at me. I have a copy of that Office 2007 you love from itsnotcheating.com.au. Look at it again, the disks are now downloads of Windows 7.  Anything is possible when laptop runs Windows 7 and not apple. I’m on a boat,

Lucas.

Hey Guys,

Remix is one of Australia’s premier Web Technology events held by Microsoft. This year, there is a fantastic opportunity at Remix for some students to get on board with special projects. The guys in charge would like to see the community, including students, work on special projects leading up to Remix and present them at the event.

This is a great opportunity get some industry experience and get your name or brand out there

In Michael’s words:

“Think, what crazy cool and amazing stuff would you love to see as part of the REMIX experience… on location, during the event, post the event, on the site, on the social medias, the sky’s the limit.”

There’s more info on Michael’s blog. Please read here http://delicategeniusblog.com/?p=902

Lucas

Today marks the launch of yet another great offer for Students!

I’ve promoted the It’s Not Cheating program before where you can purchase a copy of Office Ultimate 2007 for only $75AUD just because you’re a student.

Well you’re in luck. If you purchase a copy of Office 2007 between 5th of March 2010 and the 30th of September 2010 you’ll receive a free copy of Office 2010 when it’s available.

That is Pants Off Amazing!.

Soooooo… Don’t sit there, go get it! http://www.itsnotcheating.com.au

P.s If you’re as excited as I about this then you can get some posters or handouts by sending me an Email! Lucas.Moffitt [@] Student.Partners.com.au!

Everyone likes something that is simple. But people often get confused as to what’s simple and what’s hard, often without even looking at it.

Laurence Moroney takes the seemingly difficult and turns it into Lego blocks that even the most confused developers can understand.

“Introducing Microsoft Silverlight 3” makes it easy.

With his help and this book you can:

• Create your first simple sites
• Build applications that run out of the browser
• Use XAML to render, scale, and animate graphics on-screen
• Work with Silverlight Tools for Visual Studio
• Explore core and advanced controls—and build your own
• Exploit new graphics support—3-D effects, H.264 video, GPU acceleration
• Experiment with media, ink, DeepZoom, and Photosynth
• Access data services to build connected applications
• Dynamically add content using Ruby and Python
• Manage Silverlight applications from ASP.NET–based servers
• Learn how to deliver DRM-protected video content

This book is best aimed at those who are new to Silverlight and are interested in learning about what it is and how it works, those if you who are seasoned professionals most probably wont take anything away from it.

I personally think sketchflow is the greatest invention since sliced bread. But that may just be me.

Regardless of that it’s a great way to get into Silverlight 3 and the cool new features of Expression Studio (Available to Students for free by the way @ Dreamspark)

Lucas

Visit – http://www.mspress.com.au today

Hey Guys,

We’re pushing hard with the Imagine Cup registrations, for those of you who signed up on my laptop today, Thankyou

for those of you who didn’t you don’t have to miss out!

Send me an email to Lucas.Moffitt [@] student-partners.com.au and copy in the following information (I put some in already to help out the lazy ones in the crowd!).

• Name: Your Name Goes Here!
• Email Address: You@Yourmumssite.com
• Preferred Language: English
• Happy to receive emails about the Imagine Cup, Microsoft Events (Including MSP Events)? YES
• Is it cool to send you emails from our partners? YES
• University You’re at: The University of Newcastle

Done! Numbers for this are incredibly important to Elise and Myself so please take the time to sign up!

Keep in mind that this is NOT forming a team. This is just an expression of interest so we can send you stuff about the Imagine Cup! and the Email address you submit does NOT have to be your university one!

Peace.

Lucas.

Hey Guys

Great turn out at the BIT orientation and the lunch BBQ. Sorry if we weren’t able to speak to all of you, you all had so many questions

If you didn’t get a handout (We ran out sorry Thought 500 would have been enough!) here’s a copy you can have all to yourself!

I know several of you were going to email me with specific questions please feel free Lucas.Moffitt [@] student-partners.com.au

Make sure you checkout the facebook group

Keep checking this site for the freebies and information on our next events.

Photo’s to come soon!

Lucas.

Hey Guys

I’ll be floating around the University involved in BIT Orientation activities next Tuesday. You’ll see me running an install fest, handing out freebies and answering any questions you might have. Microsoft in general, Windows 7, Windows Phone, MSDNAA, Dreamspark, Imagine Cup etc.

I’ll also be giving a small talk to all of you who decide to come along, it looks to be a fun morning the University has planned.

I will be giving out some software and some smaller freebies on the day but i encourage you all to come along to hear about some of the awesome stuff we’ve got planned for 2010.

In the next few days I’ll update you on the main event for this term along with where to watch for the secret announcement that has even myself rather excited!

Look forward to seeing you all then

Lucas.