Microsoft Teams is a chat-based workspace in Office 365 that makes it easy to have conversations, host meetings, share files and collaborate on documents, and get work done with teams across the organization. This article will outline the process to create a course-based Team for your online course and provide information on how to use it.
Instructors can use Teams in an online course to break students into smaller groups by creating separate channels for each group.
Step 1 - Log in to Teams via your Office 365 account
Access Office 365 through your Outlook application or launch the Teams app from your computer.
If you have more than one Teams account, log out of your other account first.
Step 2 - Select Teams, create a new Team
Select the Teams button on the left sidebar. Click “Join or create a team”
Select "Other" as the Team type
Step 3 - Name the team, set the privacy to Private
Name the course team using the course number, term and section number, such as: MGMT500 WN21-1OL.
Set the Privacy settings to Private so it is only available to your students.
Step 4 - Add all the students in your class to the team
Using your roster for reference, search for and find each student by typing the student name in the box. Add each student as they are discovered.
Click CLOSE when you are finished.
If students are added later to your course, don’t forget to add them to the Team
Step 5 - Create a Channel for each group of students
Add a channel for each group of students.
Step 6 - Name the Channel and set the Privacy settings
Decide how you want to name each student group and enter this as the channel name.
Set the Privacy setting. This setting cannot be changed later!
“Private” limits access and viewing only to members of the Channel.
Step 7 - Add students to each Channel
Start typing the student name, click Add when discovered.
Note: A student can only be added to a Channel when they have already been added to the Team, as a whole.
When you are finished, click Close.
Step 8 - Share the Team URL with students
Share the Team link with students. This can be added as an external link in the appropriate module. In addition you can share the link via an announcement or discussion post.
Direct students to enter the Channel that is visible to them in Teams. If all Channels are private, students will only see the Channel in which they are enrolled.
A course-based Team for your online course has been created.
1) Post text chat and files for all students
To post text chat or files for all participants to access, select the General Channel.
If you use the “@ mention” technique it will notify the individual or group that they have a new chat message. For example @DemoStudent or @Group 1
2) Student participation: Check Channel analytics for student participation over time.
3) Pin a file at the top
To pin a file at the top, click the “3-dot” menu option and select “Pin to top”.
4) Find Channel information
In each Channel, click the info button on the upper right to view a snapshot of Members and activity.
5) Replicate a prior Team:
Create a new Team by using a prior Team as a template.
What is Microsoft Teams?
For additional Training please visit the Teaching & Learning Technologies Training site.
To submit a support request, please fill out the Microsoft 365 Support webform with as much detail as possible, or contact the Technology Help Desk on your local campus. For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.