Posted on: June 7, 2017

The high school class of 2017 is about to graduate, and the classes of 2018, 2019, 2020…they’ll be walking across the stage in their caps and gowns before you know it. Although it will be several years before these young professionals complete college and get hired by your business, the time to start getting ready for this new generation is now. Our youth are our future, and these bright and talented individuals are being exposed to and learning more advanced technologies than ever before. If you hope to attract young workers and keep up with their skill sets, you and your team need to get ready for what’s now, and for what’s next. Microsoft Office 365 is a good place to start.

Office 365 for Education

For years, Microsoft has made it its mission to empower everyone to achieve more and to be successful. Consequently, the tech mogul has been shifting its focus toward education. Young, fresh minds will shape and create the world tomorrow, so Microsoft is aiming to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to start building their futures today. It was no surprise, then, when Microsoft announced Office 365 for Education and Microsoft Store for Education.

Office 365 was originally developed to help organizations of all sizes and backgrounds to collaborate internally, stay organized, and communicate with team members. Office 365 for Education builds on these core principles, adding education-specific innovations. OneNote Class Notebook, for example, makes it simple for students to take and share notes with one another. Chat-based workspaces are also available in order to allow students to have group discussions, or to communicate with teachers and teacher assistants.

Even more exciting is the launch of Classroom Teams. Beyond being useful for teachers (the app simplifies the process of creating class rosters, sharing files, making announcements, and grading assignments), the Teams program within Office 365 for Education is teaching today’s youth – your future employees – how to work with one another inside a technological environment. Kids are able to come together anytime, anywhere, to share information or work on projects as a centralized unit. 

Educational professionals are thrilled with the results as they watch their students grow, thrive, and become more prepared for the future. Bear Creek Middle School in Fairburn, GA is one of the earliest adopters of Office 365 for Education and Teams. School principal Anthony Newbold states, “These new features do more than just simplify routine tasks. They also help students develop the communication and collaboration skills they’ll need to be successful in the future.”

Are You Ready for the New Generation of Employees?

Because Office 365 for Education is free for students and teachers, we can expect the majority of American schools to start working with these powerful tools. As a result, the young employees that you hire on in the future will be equipped with a great deal of knowledge and experience. Will you and your current team be able to keep up with the new kids on the block?

If your company has been slow to adopt Office 365 and embrace the latest updates and offerings by Microsoft, you could quickly become overtaken by the newer generation. In order to stay relevant and empowered in the workforce, you need to be ready and willing to work with the tools that are offered to you and to grow as an individual professional, and as an enterprise. 

Don’t get left behind tomorrow because you failed to adopt new technologies today. The pros at Uncommon Solutions are happy to answer any questions you may have about Office 365 and to get your business up to speed.