Academic Technology Services
Academic Technology Services
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Teams (Video Guide)

This series of short videos is designed to help familiarize you with Teams in Blackboard including how to access Teams meetings, breakout rooms, sharing content, and polls.

Please note that Microsoft Education can get updated without notice. ATS resources will get updated with the new changes once the new behaviour is confirmed.

Accessing Teams Meetings

In this video, you'll learn how to access Teams meetings through Blackboard, join meetings, differences between the the desktop app (which provides full functionality) and the web browser version of Teams, and understand the importance of using your Douglas College account. You'll also discover practical tips for preparing students to participate successfully in online meetings, helping to create a smoother, more engaging learning experience.

Key points in the video

  • Before joining a Teams meeting, make sure you are signed in to Teams using your Douglas College credentials. This ensures you have full access to all available Teams features and tools.

  • You can join your Teams meeting through the Microsoft Education Dashboard in Blackboard.

  • When joining a Teams meeting, it is best to use the Teams desktop app when prompted to choose between the app and the browser. The desktop app provides the most complete meeting experience and access to all available features.

  • Make sure students sign in to the Teams meeting using their Douglas College credentials to access Breakout Rooms.

  • Participants who join as unverified users (for example, using an external email address) cannot access Breakout Rooms or submit votes in polls

  • Participants who enter meetings without signing in cannot access Microsoft whiteboards (unless leaving and then returning after the whiteboard has been shared).

Setting up Breakout Rooms

In this video, you'll learn how to set up and manage breakout rooms in Microsoft Teams meetings to support collaboration and group projects. Instructors must use the desktop app version of Teams on their device to use breakout rooms. You'll learn how to create breakout rooms in advance, create breakout rooms during a meeting, configure room settings, open and close rooms during a session, manage breakout room chats.

Students who use an external Teams account (ie: Gmail) cannot be put into breakout rooms and students who did not login to Teams cannot access breakout room chats.

Key points in the video

  • Be sure to download and use the Microsoft Teams desktop app to create Breakout Groups. You cannot create Breakout Groups using the browser version of Teams.

  • You can create Breakout Groups in advance through the Teams Calendar.

  • When creating Breakout Groups, you can choose to assign participants automatically, assign participants manually, or allow students to choose their own rooms.

  • When setting up Breakout Groups, be sure to enable the option that allows students to return to the main room. Otherwise, if a student selects Leave while in a Breakout Room, they will leave the Teams meeting entirely.

  • Participants who join as unverified users (for example, using an external email address) cannot access Breakout Rooms.

Sharing Content

Learn how to share content in Microsoft Teams meetings to increase student engagement and interaction. Explore the different content sharing options available in Teams, including sharing PowerPoint live presentations and other materials with participants. You'll also learn how to record your meetings and get an in-depth understanding of the Whiteboard, including how to use whiteboard templates, collaboration tools, and configure all settings.

Students who did not login to Teams cannot access the Whiteboard. However, if they leave the meeting and rejoin after the whiteboard is shared, they can access the whiteboard.

Key points in the video

  • You can share your entire screen, a single window, PowerPoint Live, or a Teams Whiteboard.

  • Use PowerPoint Live instead of sharing your PowerPoint through screen sharing, as it provides more functionality and advanced accessibility options.

  • When sharing audio or video, make sure to turn on Include sound so that students can hear the content you are presenting.

  • You can record your Teams meetings; however, when using a Whiteboard, only the audio is captured in the recording, not the Whiteboard content itself.

  • When sharing a Whiteboard, you can choose from a variety of templates, including brainstorming, games, and a simple blank canvas.

Polls

Learn how to use Polls in Microsoft Teams meetings to gather quick feedback, check understanding, and add interactive elements to your online classes. Discover where to find Polls in Teams meetings, explore the different types of polls available, including instant polls, and learn how to create and share polls with participants. You'll also see how students experience polls during a meeting by viewing the student side of Teams.

Students who use an external Teams account (ie: Gmail) cannot submit votes.

Key points in the video

  • Polls can be accessed from the top navigation bar by selecting Apps and then Polls.

  • Use Instant Polls to quickly gather opinions from participants using simple response options such as Yes/No or Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down.

  • With Polls you have an option for Multiple Choice, Quiz, Word Cloud, Ratings and Ranking.

  • If you are using the desktop version of Teams, click “share” to share the poll in the main window area.