Microsoft Hosts Educators Worldwide to Discuss 21st Century Learning Challenges

HELSINKI, Finland, October 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Teachers and education leaders gather to discuss how technology
can address educational needs, including building global classrooms.

HELSINKI, Finland, October 29 /PRNewswire/ --

Nearly 500 teachers, school administrators and education policymakers
from more than 50 countries are gathered in Helsinki, Finland, this week for
the third annual worldwide Innovative Teachers Forum (ITF) and School of the
Future (SOF) World Summit, two global events hosted by Microsoft Corp. Both
events are focused on the future of education and will feature discussions
and demonstrations about how technology can help address some of the
challenges educators around the world are facing.

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The ITF and SOF World Summit are both part of Microsoft Partners in
Learning, an initiative to help teachers and administrators give students the
skills they need to succeed. Thus far, more than 73 million students and more
than 3.6 million teachers in 101 countries have been influenced through
Partners in Learning.

To support these efforts, the ITF recognises and rewards innovative
teachers who practise the elements of 21st century learning and incorporate
the creative use of technology in their classrooms. The SOF World Summit
provides educators and policymakers with a platform to exchange ideas and new
approaches to K-12 learning and education reform, and thereby better equip
students around the world to become the business and technology leaders of
tomorrow.

"Microsoft is committed to providing educators with the tools and support
they need because it's central to our mission of helping people realise their
potential, and Partners in Learning is one way we're delivering on that
commitment," said Ralph Young, vice president of the Worldwide Public Sector
at Microsoft. "As educators strive to transform today's students into
tomorrow's informed global citizens, private industry has a responsibility to
provide assistance. The worldwide Innovative Teachers Forum helps celebrate a
global community of teachers who are passionate about adopting new learning
methods in the classroom."

Keeping Innovative Teachers Connected

Partners in Learning is grounded in the belief that education is the
universal pathway to prosperity and technology is a catalyst for educational
reform. With that in mind, Innovative Teachers Forums are held regionally,
enabling teachers to meet and collaborate with colleagues from different
parts of the world, access breakthrough content developed by their peers, and
propel their technology expertise to the next level. Once a year, Microsoft
also hosts the worldwide ITF, bringing together the most innovative teachers
chosen from the regional events, and giving them a chance to share best
practices and showcase the most effective and innovative use of technology in
the classroom at an end-of-event awards ceremony.

These forums complement another Partners in Learning programme -- the
Microsoft Innovative Teachers Network -- which helps create global classrooms
via a virtual community of more than 500,000 teachers from around the world
who are connecting and learning from one another.

Building the School of the Future

While the ITF is focused on fostering and recognising individual
excellence in teachers, the SOF World Summit will provide more than
350 education leaders from 50 countries with a platform to exchange ideas
and new approaches to K-12 learning at a schoolwide level. Summit attendees
will learn from known researchers and practitioners, connect with schools
that share common goals, and engage in lively debate about issues related to
education and technology in learning.

"The School of the Future World Summit fosters a dynamic setting for
educators and policymakers to engage in energising discussions with their
colleagues, and initiates creative thinking about sustainable change in
educational systems around the world," said Bruce Dixon, chairman of the
worldwide Partners in Learning Advisory Board and a keynote speaker at the
SOF World Summit. "These events in Finland are helping educators around the
world collaborate on innovative learning experiences, and incorporate
technology into the learning process to address the challenges of the 21st
century."

As part of its overall School of the Future efforts, Microsoft's
Innovative Schools programme is helping 12 pilot schools around the world by
providing technology expertise and experiential knowledge that any school --
or any system -- can use to prepare children for success in the 21st century.
Representatives from those pilot schools are also in Finland to listen, learn
and continue the process of holistic school reform.

More information about the Innovative Teachers Forum of 27-30 Oct, the
School of the Future World Summit of 30 Oct-1 Nov, the Innovative Teachers
Network, the Innovative Schools programme and other Partners in Learning
programmes can be found online at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/itfsof.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise
their full potential.

About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)

Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft
employs more than 13,000 people in 60 subsidiaries, delivering products and
services in 138 countries and territories.

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