By Kasturi Datta |
Microsoft has added new AI-powered tools to its 365 Education platform to help educators create standards-aligned lessons plans, interactive classroom experiences and set expectations for responsible use of agents.
Unit Plans in Teach – Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant for educators – will help educators generate standards-aligned lessons, which can then be refined using Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Student AI Guidelines and Learning Groups in Assignments make it easy for educators to define how students should use AI, and tailor instructions for diverse student needs.
Microsoft’s Learning Zone is an AI-powered Windows application which educators can use to create interactive lessons and gain real-time visibility into student activity and progression.
Microsoft has also introduced Copilot Notebook, which enables students to turn lesson content into interactive study guides and the Study and Learn Agent, which provides real-time feedback and guidance using a student’s own materials.
“Educators around the world are embracing AI as a classroom ally, and they’re now asking not if, but how to make the most of it,” said Matt Jubelirer, general manager of education marketing at Microsoft. “For Microsoft, that means designing AI experiences grounded in learning science and shaped by educator feedback to support instruction while keeping teachers in control. It also means pairing those tools with training and support that fit the time constraints of the school year, so teachers can use AI with confidence and impact. We’re approaching AI in education as a partner in learning, built to earn educators’ trust and help every student build skills and think critically, rather than just an ‘answer engine’ doing the work for them.”
Microsoft has also released the 2026 AI in Education Report, which highlights three key areas of focus for education leaders: adopt AI as a regular part of teaching and school operations; close the AI skills gap with recurring, role-based training; and provide practical guardrails for responsible AI use in classroom.
The report found that around nine in ten (92 per cent of students and education leaders and 88% of educators) people involved in education have already used AI for school-related purposes. It also found that 87 per cent of educators and 79 per cent of students agree that knowing how to use AI effectively and responsibly is important for student’s futures.
Find out more about AI in education by joining the Microsoft Elevate for Educators programme.