Back to School Tips from Microsoft

~ Disclosure: We received the Foldable Microsoft Keyboard to facilitate our post. All opinions are our own.

With the school year fast approaching, students are hastening to get organized!

Microsoft partnered with tech expert Marc Saltzman, who recommends that students take advantage of free ‘cloud’ services like OneDrive, so they can easily store their school work and personal files, including research notes, calendar dates, contacts, photos and videos, music and audiobooks, and more. For those going off to college, Saltzman recommends that students and parents set up a Skype account to take advantage of free Skype-to-Skype calling.

In today’s tech-driven classrooms, having the latest equipment so students can maximize learning experiences proves a must. Products that allow a seamless transition from the classroom to the homework area are even better!

Microsoft offers intelligent solutions for parents and kids looking to start the school year off right with the latest technology upgrades and updates.

The portable computer or tablet has transitioned from a “nice-to-have” to a “must-have” in many schools. Thinner and lighter than ever, Microsoft’s Surface 3 is the perfect option for work, play and everything in-between. Powerful, productive and portable, the Surface 3 does all the things we love in a tablet, like watching videos, playing mobile games, and connecting with friends, but with the pen and keyboard, it turns into a fully-functional laptop! Highlight digital textbooks, making notes in the margins, work on presentations, and record notes and lectures then seamlessly save them to OneDrive – the Surface 3 does it all. Starting at $639, we think this it’s a smart investment purchase as it combines the functionality of two devices.

Parents should take advantage of the complimentary upgrade to Windows 10 available for a limited time to anyone running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1. This new operating system combines features you know and love (like the return of the Start Menu), with great new productivity and security features, like Microsoft Edge and Cortana, coming in the fall. New features are delivered when they’re ready, without having to wait for the next major release – providing users a safe, secure and always-improving Windows experience.

Since children seem just as active and on-the-move as we are (if not more!) we love the idea of investing in a Universal Foldable Keyboard from Microsoft. This light, water-resistant, and thin keyboard proves easily portable, perfect for a backpack. If kids need to type and just have their tablet or smartphone, the keyboard easily connects via BlueTooth, and they can type as they would on a traditional-sized keyboard, making it easy to store notes in the ‘cloud’ or even complete online assignments. I love connecting the keyboard to my Android phone if I find myself on-the-go needing to respond to an email, schedule an appointment, or anything that requires a bit of typing.

According to a recent IDC study, Skill Requirements for Tomorrow’s Best Jobs, proficiency in Microsoft Office ranks third on a list of fundamental skills for top-grossing, high-growth employers, which is why Microsoft works with schools to give over 4 million students across the country access to MS Office – at no cost to the student or family. If a child or post-secondary student enrolls in a district school board or individual school that has purchased Microsoft Office for use by its faculty and staff, they are eligible to access Office from their schools through the Office for Students program. Click here for Office for Students eligibility in Canada and click here for Office eligibility for students in the U.S.

Happy back-to-school tech shopping!

Featured Photo: Shutterstock

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