Microsoft Heightens Commitment to Education, Delivers New Products to Motivate Students and Empower Teachers

SAN DIEGO July 6, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. today reaffirmed its commitment to helping schools break through challenges in teaching and learning by unveiling new versions of Microsoft® Student with Encarta® Premium 2007 and Learning Essentials for Microsoft Office 1.5 today at the annual National Educational Computing Conference. A large majority of today’s teachers (91 percent) believe that technology positively affects their students’ performance.1 These latest offerings from Microsoft help create a learning environment where teachers are inspired and students are engaged.

Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007 is a software package of integrated tools and trusted content to help middle-school, high-school and entry-level college students create and complete top-quality assignments that can lead to academic confidence and success. With Learning Essentials for Microsoft Office 1.5, teachers can now use Microsoft Office applications to easily create interactive e-learning resources for use with standards-compliant learning management systems.

“Microsoft is committed to helping students realize their full potential by enhancing the academic environment,” said Craig Bartholomew, general manager of the Education Products Group at Microsoft. “We accomplish this by collaborating closely with educators, administrators and students to understand their evolving challenges, and then delivering technology such as Microsoft Student and Learning Essentials to address these unique needs.”

Microsoft Student With Encarta Premium 2007

Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007 provides comprehensive resources to help with homework in math, science, language arts, foreign language study and social studies. Microsoft Student helps students complete assignments while providing teachers with a compelling tool to motivate students to enjoy learning. Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium provides the following features:

  • Encarta Premium 2007. The No. 1 best-selling multimedia encyclopedia brand, equipping students with trusted information2

  • Microsoft Math. A centralized resource to help students with what is often their most difficult subject that includes innovative Graphing Calculator software and step-by-step assistance on equations ranging from pre-algebra through calculus and sciences

  • Learning Essentials for Students. Curriculum-based templates and tutorials to move students beyond the blank page

Students using the 2006 edition of the product report they have seen improvements in their academic performance. “Microsoft Student has been an awesome tool for my homework,” said eighth-grade student Jason Orchant. “Not only have my grades improved, but I don’t shudder at the thought of reports and big projects because I have these resources at my disposal.”

Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007 is scheduled for retail availability today for an estimated retail price of $69.95 (U.S.)3 with a $20 mail-in rebate. Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007 is available at low academic pricing for educational institutions through Microsoft Academic Volume Licensing programs. Through the Student Select program, participating educational institutions can pass along their low volume-licensing price for Microsoft Student to their students.

More information is available at http://www.microsoft.com/student.

Learning Essentials for Microsoft Office 1.5

Learning Essentials customizes Microsoft Office applications for the unique needs of work both in and out of the classroom. Teachers can use Learning Essentials to generate classroom materials and save time in their everyday work while students can easily create projects, essays and presentations. Learning Essentials l.5 provides the following new features:

  • SCORM Tools allow educators to turn their Office documents into standards-based learning resources to share, search and use with any learning management system that complies with the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) 1.2 or 2004 standards. This enhanced functionality enables teachers and trainers to create interactive learning with a few simple mouse clicks, saving time and effort. The integrated SCORM Tools were created by HunterStone Inc., a leading provider of
    e-learning tools for Microsoft environments, as a component of its comprehensive THESIS 3.0 solution.

  • Network-based installation and management solutions allow schools to manage and update their Learning Essentials content and table of contents from a central server, including Microsoft Windows® SharePoint® Services. A smaller network-based installation helps reduce the time and system requirements needed for installation.

  • An integrated Content Development Kit for Learning Essentials enables educators and publishers to create their own educational modules, tutorials and Office-based templates.

  • More than 180 templates and more than 65 tutorials developed with the academic expertise of leading education publishers provide guidance for students and best practices for teachers.

Microsoft Academic Volume Licensing customers receive Learning Essentials at no additional cost with their volume licenses for Microsoft Office XP or Office 2003 (media costs may apply). Learning Essentials can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads) or http://www.microsoft.com/learningessentials. Learning Essentials 1.5 will be available for download in early August 2006.

More information on Microsoft’s education offerings is available at http://www.microsoft.com/education.

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

1 “Homework Study With Teachers,” MSI International, April 2006

2 The NPD Group/NPDTechworld January 2000–February 2006. Based on total U.S. retail sales

3 Actual retail prices may vary.

Microsoft, Encarta, Windows and SharePoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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