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.

As you watch videos you are encouraged to click on the three dots below the video to ask a question (or make a comment) or to search the video.

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Accessing Teams Meetings

In this video, you'll learn how to access Teams meetings through Blackboard, join meetings using either the desktop app (which provides full functionality) or a web browser, and understand why signing in with your Douglas College account is critical for accessing all the features Teams offers your students. 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
  • We recommend using the desktop version of Microsoft Teams, as it offers more functionality than the browser version.

  • 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 a 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.

Setting up Breakout Rooms

In this video, you'll learn how to set up and manage Breakout Groups in Microsoft Teams meetings to support collaboration and group projects. You'll discover the importance of using the Teams desktop app, creating breakout rooms before your meeting begins when needed, configuring room settings, and effectively opening and closing rooms during a session. You'll also learn how breakout room chat works and what faculty and students can expect when communicating within and across rooms.

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 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.

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.

Key points in the video
  • 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.

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.

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.