FREE Microsoft Office Software

Is Santa bringing you a new computer or device this year? Or, are you going to take advantage of some really deals and buy something new and shiny for yourself?

If so, you do NOT need to purchase Microsoft Office. Because of our partnership with Microsoft, EMS ISD, educators and students can install the latest, FULL VERSIONS of Microsoft Office on up to 5 PCs or Macs and other mobile devices, including Windows, Android, and Apple devices.

To install Office on a Computer/Laptop ...

• Sign in to your Office 365 school account at portal.office.com or by using the links on the district/campus homepage. 
• Click Office 365 link (upper left on the toolbar) to access the Home Page, if necessary.
• Uncheck options to change your search engine and browser homepage, if desired.
• Click Install Now

To install Office applications on a smartphone or tablet, download the FREE Microsoft apps to your device from your App Store/Play Store/Windows Store then sign in to the apps with your Office 365 username (email address) and password.

For more information about how to use these tools, please visit emsisd.com/office365.

Creating a Desktop Shortcut for KidRex.org for All Users

KidRex.org is a custom Google search engine that uses SafeSearch technology to make it safe for kids! There won’t be quite as many results (still tens of thousands!) but they will be more kid-friendly!   

In the video below, I demonstrate how to add a Desktop Shortcut for KidRex.org for All Users in Windows 7. You can use this to add a shortcut to anything!



Adding Desktop Shortcut for All Users (Windows 7)

• Create the Shortcut on your desktop
• Navigate to C:\Users\Public\Desktop in File Explorer
• Paste or Drag the shortcut into this folder

*Some users may not be able to access the Public Desktop folder on their computers. If this is the case for you, there's one more quick step that will allow you to see this folder. (Okay, FIVE steps, but they're quick!)

• From File Explorer (the file folder icon on your desktop), click Organize > Folder and Search Options
• On the View tab, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives, Apply, OK

Request to Keep 15 GB Free Cloud Storage in Microsoft OneDrive (Personal Account)

There are two different types of OneDrive accounts. Many, but not all, EMS ISD employees have a personal Microsoft OneDrive account. Although your district email address is likely your username, it is no longer associated with the district at all, but it is now a personal account. The OneDrive for Business cloud storage option that is part of our Office 365 accounts is your official district cloud storage.

If you have a personal Microsoft OneDrive* account, you need to know that Microsoft recently announced that the amount of free online storage would be decreased from 15 GB to 5 GB for all users. This, understandably, created a bit of a backlash from OneDrive users. 

On December 11, Microsoft announced a limited-time offer that allows current OneDrive users to keep their existing 15 GB of free storage. Users must request to be grandfathered in by clicking this KEEP YOUR FREE STORAGE link before the end of January 2016. 

We've heard the feedback from our fans. You'll be able to keep your free storage when the changes happen in 2016. https://t.co/WLxKcCRrQe

— OneDrive (@onedrive) December 11, 2015

*This does NOT affect our EMS ISD Office 365 OneDrive for Business accounts. At this point, we all have 1 TB of free storage, but there are rumors that it could be unlimited space at some point in the future.

If you have questions about the two different accounts, please contact your district Instructional Technologist.