How are teachers using Microsoft products in the South African classroom?

Some of Microsoft's newer and older products are making waves in South African classrooms.  Three of our Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts relate how they are using Office Mix, Microsoft Sway, Skype and One Note in the classroom

1. Mabore Lekalakala
Mabore Lekalakala says: Office Mix makes work easier for me as the teacher, learning fun for my learners and saves both of us time. 

Kathryn Gomes says:
I used Microsoft Sway in my SS Geography: Africa blended learning lesson - the class loved Sway and their presentations were outstanding...success!‪

Warren Sparrow says: 

1. Office Mix

Do something a little different and create a PowerPoint using the new free add-on Office Mix Here is a short video that I created on how to use it http://bit.ly/1FYbMTl. It makes teaching and learning Interactive and FUN!! Easy to use and the students love it!! This is great for for a blended classroom!

2. Skype and OneNote in the classroom
One of the great things about Skype is that you can bring other countries into your classroom real-time. A group of 5 educators from South Africa, Canada, Singapore, China and Croatia have been working on a project about fear. As a class we discussed what fear meant to each of us. We realized that fear and overcoming our fears was unique to each individual. We created a shared Microsoft OneNote file that the students were then able to share their own fears. We used a guest login so that the students could type in their own personal feelings allowing them to keep their own anonymity.
Click below to view the OneNote shared file http://1drv.ms/1IXtHdo.

Today we conducted our first Skype session with these countries. Each of the different classes from around the world had turns in discussing their fears and how they could overcome them. It was really an awesome session! One of the students commented: “It’s comforting to know everyone around the world has fear, and our fears is like different shades of the same color.” The WOW factor is amazing! Bringing different countries into your class and let children share their experience.