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Anne Arundel students get free Microsoft software [Emirates News Agency (WAM) (United Arab Emirates)]
[October 25, 2014]

Anne Arundel students get free Microsoft software [Emirates News Agency (WAM) (United Arab Emirates)]


(Emirates News Agency (WAM) (United Arab Emirates) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Christmas has come a few months early for about 80,000 students in Anne Arundel County, where they'll get free access to some very popular computer software.

The school system got the official word Friday that every student will be able to download Microsoft 365 for free and they can install it on as many of as five devices.

Many at Germantown Elementary School in Annapolis were surprised and eager to install the new software, and most are convinced that homework will start to look a lot different.

I really like to use technology more than just, like, writing on paper, and doing packets and stuff. I find it's more constructive and a more fun way to learn, said Aidan Antoniuk, a Germantown student.

They use, at least in elementary schools, they use the PowerPoint a lot in different projects. And so that way they'll be able to have an opportunity to expand on the projects at home or ultimately at least gain more familiarity with it, said Ellen Chase, a parent.



School system officials said the free software was part of a larger package deal they just couldn't pass up.

We spend half a million dollars a year or so with Microsoft on software, and license and operating systems, and that kind of stuff and we signed an agreement with them to get Office 365, and OneDrive for employees and what comes with that is this for students, district spokesman Bob Mosier said.


Parents are just one click away from downloading the software. They'll get to use their child's student identification number to sign up.

Teachers said the free technology will enhance what they're already doing in the classroom.

That's great. I mean, to continue something that they are doing in class and take it home, and being able to show their parents and their siblings, you want the education to go home and you want it to go out into the community as well, said Matt Crater, a teacher.

Students will be able to use the free software as long as they're enrolled in school.

(c) 2014 Emirates News Agency (WAM) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

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