Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching, at Carleton

News September 2019

The Microsoft Imagine/DreamSpark programs are no more. They are replaced by a new program from Microsoft called "Azure Dev Tools for Teaching". This article will be finalized as soon as our subscription is processed and we figure out how it works.

What is Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching?

Here is an excerpt from Microsoft's description:

"Azure Dev Tools for Teaching (previously known as Microsoft Imagine Standard and Premium†), is a subscription-based offering for accredited schools and departments providing access to tools commonly used in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. It provides professional developer and designer tools, software, and services from Microsoft to your faculty…. Software that is acquired through your Azure Dev Tools for Teaching subscription is only for instructional and research purposes; you can't use it to run the infrastructure of a department."

†  (and before that, known as DreamSpark Standard and Premium)

Here are the ADT4T FAQ, the Frequently Asked Questions, including a list of products available.

For Faculty: How Do I Get Azure Dev Tools for Teaching software?

ITS is coordinating the distribution of Azure Dev Tools for Teaching software for institutions through its existing support for faculty, the Academic Technologists. A STEM faculty member can request software from his/her Academic Technologist (AT).

The request should includes not only the name of each software product needed (e.g., Visual Studio), but also the version (e.g., Visual Studio 2017), the exact edition (e.g., Visual Studio Developer 2017), and the bitness (e.g., Visual Studio Developer 2017 64-bit). Omitting any of this information will slow the processing of the request.

Here is the Azure Dev Tools for Teaching agreement from Microsoft, which the AT and faculty using the software must read and follow. Note especially section 4.a, "Using the Subscription Benefits", and the tighter restrictions in section 4.a.iv on the use of Windows operating systems.

For ATs: How Do I Provide Azure Dev Tools for Teaching Software?

The STEM-related ATs pre-register with the ADT4T administrator each year to get access to the Education Hub in the Azure Portal. Each AT can login and download software and get any necessary product keys, then help install the software on the computers where it is needed. (Rebecca Barkmeier also has access to our Education Hub Store.)

The AT is required to keep records of whom they provide the software product and product keys to, when, and for which computers.

Here is the Azure Dev Tools for Teaching agreement from Microsoft, which the AT and faculty using the software must read and follow. Note especially section 4.a, "Using the Subscription Benefits", and the tighter restrictions in section 4.a.iv on the use of Windows operating systems. For the AT, please note the record-keeping requirements in the last item in section 9.

Also please note that our Microsoft campus license agreement renews each year at the end of September, and when changes are introduced, the ADT4T software may not be available for a few weeks around that time.

For Students: What About Software for Me?

It is up to the AT and faculty to use the Microsoft agreement to decide when it is appropriate to provide Azure Dev Tools for Teaching software for student use, and on which computers. Please approach the faculty member under whose guidance the software will be used.

Students can always independently sign up for the free Azure for Students offer from Microsoft. Each student starts with $100 of free Azure credit, and no credit card is necessary to sign up. And anyone can sign up for free to get the Visual Studio Dev Essentials.