AI Mini Series: Microsoft Teams

We often look outward for innovation, new platforms, new apps, new solutions, when in reality, some of the most powerful tools are already sitting within the systems we use every day. Maximizing opportunity does not always require something new, it begins with a deeper understanding of what your current ecosystem can already do. In schools using Microsoft 365, there is a suite of features that quietly evolved behind the scenes and are now AI powerhouses in their own right. Yet so many educators in Microsoft schools are not aware of them!

Tucked inside familiar tools like Teams and PowerPoint are functions that go far beyond delivery, they support practice, reflection, and feedback in ways that are both scalable and sustainable. It is not about doing more, but doing what we already do better.

“What would it look like if every student in my classroom had regular, personalized feedback, without me having to be in five places at once?”

In teaching, time is one of the few luxuries we don’t have. And while feedback remains one of the most impactful tools at our disposal, offering it consistently and in the moment is a challenge, especially when you’re stretched across a room full of learners, each at different stages in their journey.

That’s why Microsoft’s Learning Accelerators caught my attention. They’re not bold or flashy, but they are quietly effective. Reading Coach and Speaker Coach are built into tools many schools already use, like Teams and PowerPoint, and they provide timely, low-pressure support that reinforces key skills without needing to be front and center.

They’re also easy to miss. So let’s unpack them.

Reading Coach: A supportive ear when you can’t be everywhere

Reading Coach gives students the opportunity to practice reading aloud and receive immediate feedback on pronunciation, fluency, and pacing. It highlights misread words, provides syllable support, and tracks common challenges over time.

Where it shines is in the subtlety:

• It removes the performance anxiety from reading aloud in front of others

• It supports independent practice while you’re working with other students

• It gathers insights so you can see patterns across a class or focus group

I trialed it with a Year 8 science class last term. One student, usually reluctant to read aloud, started using it immediately as he was able to focus on himself and wasn’t feeling “front and center” in the classroom. After two weeks of Reading Coach homework, he told me, “It’s easier when it’s just me and the laptop. I know if I mess up, no one hears.” That mattered. He wasn’t just practicing, he was building confidence.

This isn’t about replacing guided reading, it’s about strengthening it. The tech gives students a quiet moment to build fluency and develop trust in their own voice, with feedback that’s consistent and unobtrusive. And it’s all logged, you can watch/listen back to their work, so there’s no guesswork, just data you can act on (which is also stored in your digital mark book).

Speaker Coach: Practicing the power of voice

Speaker Coach works in the background while students rehearse presentations in PowerPoint or Teams. It listens, then gently nudges: “Try slowing down.” “Watch out for filler words.” “Be mindful of inclusive language.”

It focuses on delivery, intonation, pace, repetition, but also on impact. For students preparing for oral assessments, EPQ presentations, MFL speaking exams, or even university interviews, it’s a simple way to practice, reflect, and improve.

I saw this first-hand with a Year 12 student prepping for a scholarship interview. She was incredibly articulate but raced through her points when nervous. We used Speaker Coach as part of her preparation, and it immediately flagged pacing as a key area. She practiced with it twice a week for a fortnight. Her confidence improved, and when she walked into the real interview, she told me afterwards, “I actually heard the feedback in my head as I was talking.”

What I like most is how it encourages students to think about how they say things, not just what they say. That’s a skill that often gets overlooked, especially when we’re under pressure to move content forward.

Why they work!

These tools slot into the day-to-day flow of teaching. You don’t need a new platform, a new login, or a new plan. They meet students where they are, often in tools they’re already using, and offer personalized feedback in the moment. While is exactly what technology should deliver.

They also help redress the balance in a busy classroom. Last term, while running a revision session with mixed-ability Year 10s, a few students rehearsed presentations with Speaker Coach while I focused on more targeted interventions with others. I didn’t have to hover or prompt—they were getting real-time feedback without me needing to step in. It created a quiet rhythm to the room: purposeful, independent, and productive.

And more importantly, these tools model what good practice looks like. They encourage students to rehearse, reflect, and refine. That’s the kind of learning behaviour we want to see develop over time—across year groups and across contexts.

A few ways I’ve seen it used:

Try this: in class or for homework

Choose one class. Ask your students to try either Reading or Speaker Coach for 5 minutes in the first few weeks of the new year; why not even set it as a homework activity. Then invite a short reflection, what surprised them? What did they learn about their own communication?

You might be surprised by the insights that follow! But what about in your department? Reflect on the below questions, either individually or as part of a department discussion.

Final thoughts

Reading Coach and Speaker Coach won’t transform your teaching overnight. But they will give you more reach. They make meaningful feedback more consistent and take some of the pressure off your shoulders, thanks to AI, so you can focus on the conversations that really matter.

They’re not silver bullets, but they are solid support. And in a profession where we’re constantly managing the margins, that support can make all the difference.

I’d also recommend you check out the Learning Accelerators CPD on Microsoft Learn and complete the course pictured below.