(Featuring Microsoft… even if we still miss Google)**

As classrooms evolve, so does the way we blend digital tools with in-person teaching. And if you know me, you know I love a smooth, intuitive tech workflow—so yes, I still grieve the loss of the Google Suite in Ontario schools.

The Google ecosystem worked beautifully with classroom learning. Google Forms, Classroom, Slides, and Docs worked together effortlessly, and sharing files with students felt like magic. It was simple. It was efficient. It just worked.

Now? We’re living in the Microsoft + D2L world.

And while this combo isn’t always as seamless or intuitive, it is the reality for Ontario educators—and more importantly, it’s the reality our students will face in high school and beyond. So even though some days I want to shake my laptop and whisper “Why can’t you just behave like Google?”, I also recognize the importance of teaching students how to navigate the systems they’ll actually use in the real world.

So, let’s talk about how to blend digital tools effectively using the Microsoft ecosystem, even if we still secretly miss our old Google workflows.

⭐ Why Blend Online Tools With In-Person Learning?

Combining digital tools with face-to-face instruction gives you the best of both worlds:

• Higher student engagement
• Accessible and differentiated materials
• Cleaner workflows for assignments and feedback
• Better alignment with high school and workplace expectations
• Improved digital literacy for students

Blended learning isn’t about “more tech”—it’s about smart tech that enhances your teaching.

💡 Tool #1: Microsoft Forms (Even If It’s Not Google Forms)

Let’s be honest: Microsoft Forms is good… but it’s not Google Forms.

That said, it still allows you to:

• Run exit tickets
• Collect student reflections
• Gather quick check-in data
• Run formative assessments

Is it as smooth? No.
Does it work? Yes.
Do students need to know it? Also yes.

Using Forms during in-person learning trains students to navigate digital tools they’ll see again in Grades 9–12 and in workplace training modules later on.

💡 Tool #2: PowerPoint + Built-In Recording Features

PowerPoint is an underrated powerhouse.

Use it for:

• Slide-based lessons
• Embedded videos
• Screen recording or voice-over mini-lessons
• Student-created presentations

PowerPoint’s recording tools can help you flip lessons, create review clips, or offer accommodations for students who need repeated listening.

💡 Tool #3: Microsoft OneNote for Digital Binders

OneNote is honestly one of the strongest tools in Microsoft’s suite—even if it has a learning curve.

Benefits:

• Students can organize notes digitally
• Teachers can push pages or templates to student notebooks
• Collaboration spaces allow group work
• Everything stays synced across devices

If Google Classroom was your dream scenario… OneNote is the “once you learn how to use it, you’ll actually like it” option. And parents love that notebooks don’t get lost in lockers. Students love that I hand out all my lesson notes at the end of the lesson to add to their notes, and the powerpoints so that they can take notes directly on the slides.

💡 Tool #4: D2L (The HUB) for Assignment Workflows

Ah yes… the HUB, where good intentions and clunky execution meet.

Let’s acknowledge it:

• D2L + Microsoft do not play together seamlessly
• Uploading files isn’t always intuitive
• Students sometimes get lost between pages and tabs
• Attaching work from OneDrive can cause chaos on a good day

But—here’s the important part—
this is exactly what high school students will be using.

D2L is their LMS. Microsoft is their productivity suite. Learning it now saves them frustration later.

Use D2L for:

• Posting assignments
• Sharing resources
• Embedding videos
• Linking OneNote pages
• Having students submit digital work
• Connecting Parents to deadlines and marks

Your in-person teaching becomes more future-ready when the digital systems mirror what’s coming next.

⭐ Tips for Blending Microsoft + D2L Tools Smoothly

✔ Acknowledge the learning curve

It’s not as intuitive as Google—students AND teachers need practice.

✔ Build tech routines

Teach students where to click, how to upload files, and how to access shared documents.

✔ Keep workflows consistent

Use the same folder structures, naming conventions, and submission instructions each time.

✔ Model problem-solving

Let students see you troubleshoot. This builds digital resilience.

✔ Celebrate the reality

Students will use Microsoft for:

• high school
• college/university
• most workplaces

You’re giving them an advantage now by helping them master it early.

🌟 Final Thoughts: Missing Google but Preparing Students for the Future

Would I go back to the Google Suite tomorrow if I could?
…Yes. Immediately. With enthusiasm.

But blended learning isn’t about what’s easiest for teachers—it’s about preparing students for success.

Microsoft + D2L might be clunkier, slower, and more frustrating on some days, but it’s also:

• Widely used
• Professionally relevant
• Skill-building
• Future-aligned

By embracing blended learning through the tools we do have access to, we’re giving students the digital confidence they’ll need long after they leave our classrooms.