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One of the most interesting announcements at BETT 2017 will be the launch of the Microsoft Training Academies ( MTA ) programme . This exciting extension of Microsoft ’ s commitment to education works by first identifying a group of schools demonstrating excellence in teaching and learning with technology , then supporting them as they share their expertise with schools that are climbing the learning curve .
Mandeep Atwal , who manages the UK Microsoft School ’ s programme and is responsible for the MTA initiative is hugely enthusiastic about this new venture .
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‘ I ’ m very passionate about it . I see the MTA programme as a natural extension of Microsoft ’ s successful global Showcase Schools initiative , which identifies those schools making the best use of Microsoft technologies for learning . After all , Showcase Schools - there are 35 in UK – already commit to sharing good practice . Becoming an MTA builds on that , and with help from Microsoft , they can now take a whole step further in the supportive role by offering these free opportunities for learning and sharing . Knowing the schools as I do I ’ m confident that the sessions they host |
will be interesting , inspirational , responsive to need and , of course , good humoured .’
And Alan Crawford , Vice Principal of Shireland Collegiate Academy , one of the five MTAs , explains ,
‘ This initiative demonstrates a clear path in the Microsoft ecosystem for schools that want to adopt , embed and share their use of technology . If they choose to travel it , there ’ s route from being a Microsoft School , to becoming a Microsoft Showcase School and then ultimately a Microsoft Training Academy .’
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Alan goes on to explain the purpose of the MTA programme .
‘ It will allow schools the opportunity to host , throughout the year , a whole series of events on the use of technology to support learning . Importantly , this is not all about the hardware or the software . The intention is to demonstrate what can be achieved when there ’ s a clear intention , top down , with everyone on board , to deliver the most appropriate use of technology for learning .’
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