Due to Microsoft global licensing changes, from the 1st August 2024 Glow users will no longer be able to download the desktop applications through their Glow account. This page provides information on how to download Microsoft Office Apps via your Falkirk Council credentials. It also provides alternatives to Microsoft products that you may wish to consider. For more information from Glow directly please visit this post on the Glow Knowledge Hub. 

What is happening?

This change in Microsoft licensing affects all Glow users, both staff and students on personal laptops and desktops only within Falkirk Council. This means that if you have downloaded and activated Microsoft Desktop Apps they will no longer work with your Glow account.

This change does not affect council issued laptops or desktops in schools. This change does not affect the use of Microsoft apps on Connected Falkirk iPads. 

We have been working with the Falkirk Council ICT Team to secure download access to Microsoft Desktop Apps through our Falkirk Council Microsoft tenancy which is separate to Glow. 

.

What does this mean for me?

For most staff and pupils there will be little impact. Many staff and pupils are already making the most of cloud based access to services and use the online versions of Microsoft products through Glow or alternative services such as Google Workspace which everyone also has access to via Glow.

What are the alternatives?

Some people simply prefer Microsoft products but many people use Microsoft products as it is what they are used to. There are several alternatives available to Falkirk Council learners and staff to perform common tasks that are part of learning and teaching. Now is as good a time as any to try some of these out, you may find that you actually prefer the functionality or user interface of some of these alternative tools.

The tools listed below are ones which can be accessed without signing users up to a new service, they are all available on a device learners already have access to or via a browser using Glow credentials. This list is not exhaustive of all the software out there that performs these tasks. 

.

Word processing 

Schools use word processing tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs and Apple Pages primarily for creating, editing, and sharing documents. These tools are essential for writing assignments, essays, reports, and collaborative projects. Teachers use them to develop lesson plans, create worksheets, and a variety of other administrative tasks. 

Using the online versions of word processing tools through Glow allows people to work collaboratively remotely, share feedback, streamline group work and share files easily.