Teams Overview
Getting Started with Microsoft Teams
Teams is part of the Microsoft 365 suite of tools that supports group communication and collaboration in a centralized place. Streamline communication with colleagues and students using chat, audio or video calling, and virtual meetings using the rich features of Teams.
The following resources give you an overview of what Teams has to offer and how to get started.
(Please note: the Team/Channels feature is not currently available to all users).
- Teams Quickstart GuideVisual guide including screenshots and explanations of different features available in Teams.
Teams Notifications
Notifications
Reviewing your notification settings is an important step in ensuring you are not missing anything important.
Here are a few resources on how to edit your notification settings as needed.
- Explore the Activity feed in TeamsThis Microsoft support article identifies and explains how to interpret different notifications in Teams.
- Manage Activity Feed and NotificationsPlaylist of videos including how to filter your activity feed and manage your notifications.
- Six things to know about notificationsThis Microsoft support article provides a quick overview of the notification features available in Teams.
Teams Chat
Chat
The chat feature in Teams is a great way to ask a quick question or strike up a conversation outside of an official meeting. Within the chat, you have the option to start an audio or video call where you can share your screen and collaborate on the spot.
Here are a few resources on how to use chat and calling to keep in touch with your colleagues and students.
- Using Chat and Calls within TeamsPlaylist of videos including how to chat and call. (Please note: calling outside numbers is not currently available)
- Create instant meetings with Meet nowTurn a conversation into a meeting with a few clicks. Add audio, video, and share your screen.
Teams Meetings
Meetings
One of the most common uses of Teams is setting up virtual meetings, such as virtual office hours. You can schedule these meetings in advance and share the meeting link within your course shell for students or invite colleagues directly to collaborate.
Check out the following resources to help you get started!
- More inclusive virtual meetings with Microsoft TeamsAs the world adjusts to remote working, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and product marketing manager Aya Tange discuss the new capabilities in Microsoft Teams making it easier for teams to communicate and collaborate.
- Tips for better meetingsMicrosoft shares a few tips on using features within Teams to enhance your meeting.
Creating and coordinating your meeting
Learn the basics of creating and managing your meetings.
- Manage Teams MeetingsReview and edit meeting details.
- Roles in a Teams meetingIf you're organizing a meeting with multiple attendees, you may want to assign roles to each participant to determine who can do what in the meeting.
There are two roles to choose from: presenter and attendee. Presenters can do just about anything that needs doing in a meeting, while the role of an attendee is more controlled. - Change participant settings for a Teams meetingBest practice is to have anyone outside of the organization (anyone who does not use their DSC login) to wait in the lobby to ensure overall meeting privacy and security.
- Create and manage breakout roomsOnly meeting organizers on the desktop versions of Teams (WIndows and Mac) can create and manage breakout rooms.
- Raise your hand in a Teams meetingThis feature is useful to prevent interruptions during larger meetings. Attendees may remain muted but raise their hand to indicate they have something to share so the organizer can coordinate overall participation.
You can review hands raised in the Show Participants pane. They will be listed in the order they raised their hands.
- Change your background for a Teams meetingIf you want to change what appears behind you in a video conference, you can either blur your background or replace it entirely with any image you want.
Joining a meeting
Learn a few ways you and your attendees can join a meeting and how to prepare your settings before entering.
Participants can join using the desktop app or using the web version through their internet browser. The best practice is to use the desktop app as the web version has a few limitations such as:
- waiting in a lobby (a great security measure to prevent anyone who is not signed in with their DSC credentials from interrupting your meeting without your permission)
- limited video backgrounds
- inability to share control of their screen during screen sharing, etc.
These are minor differences but they are good to remember if you see someone in your participant list with a "guest" note as they are an attendee who has not signed in with their DSC credentials and has likely joined via the web version of Teams.
- How to Join a Teams MeetingConsider sharing this video with participants before the meeting so they know how to join.
Sharing your screen and collaborating
You can share what you see on your computer screen to present a variety of content with your attendees as well as collaborate using a virtual whiteboard.
- Share content in a meeting in TeamsThis Microsoft support article explains the different sharing options you have during a Teams meeting.
- Share system audio in a Teams meetingSharing your system audio lets you stream sound from your computer to meeting participants through Teams. You can use it to play a video or audio clip as part of a presentation.
- Tip: Show PowerPoint slidesIf you need to present in an online meeting, show your PowerPoint slides right from the Microsoft Teams meeting menu.
- How to properly present PowerPoint slides in Microsoft TeamsIn this step-by-step tutorial, learn how to best present Microsoft PowerPoint slides in Microsoft Teams.
- Use Whiteboard in Microsoft TeamsWhiteboard integration in Microsoft Teams meetings is powered by Whiteboard for the web, which lets participants of Teams meetings draw, sketch, and write together on a shared digital canvas.
Recording your meeting
Recording your meeting is a great way to offer flexibility to attendees who can't make during the scheduled timeframe to review the discussion at a later time and be prepared for future meetings.
- Play and share a meeting recording in TeamsThis Microsoft support article explains options you have to review and share meeting recordings.
Additional features and resources for Teams meetings
- Adjust your view in a Teams meetingTeams tries to anticipate what you’ll want to see in a meeting. When someone starts speaking, we show them. When someone shares content, we show that. But when you'd rather see something else, there are a few ways to tell Teams.
- Download attendance reports in TeamsIf you've organized a Teams meeting, you can save a record of who's attended it.
- Multitasking during a meetingThis Microsoft support video explains what to expect as you multitask during a meeting.
- Take meeting notes in TeamsMeeting notes are a great place to capture and share notes before, during, and after a Teams meeting.
- Teams Meeting FAQAdditional features are explained via Microsoft's support pages, including background effects, raising your hand, using the Whiteboard feature, and more!