Microsoft Teams for Course Instruction

Follow this guide to configure Microsoft Teams for course instruction purposes. 

Log in to Teams

1. Open your web browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc.)
2. Log in to GoWMU
3. Click the W-Exchange icon at the top-right of the screen
4. Click the Teams icon from the list of apps

Create a Team for your course

1. Click the Teams icon in the left navigation bar
2. Click Join or create Team on the right side of the screen
3. Click Create Team button
4. Click Class option (recommended) when prompted to select a team type. Learn more about other types of teams if you are interested. 
5. Enter a Name for the team and a description (optional), then click Next

Add students to the Team

At this point, you may choose one of three options for adding students to your course Team depending on factors such as class size. 

Option 1 – Add students manually

After creating your Team you will be prompted to search for students and add them to your course Team manually.  If you have a small class list this option may be feasible. If you have a large class, Option 2 may be more feasible for you. 

1. Click in Search for students text box and type a student name or email address: 
   Note: you cannot use the course email distribution list to add your entire class list. All names must be added individually.
2. Click the student’s name that appears in the search results to add them to the list.
3. Continue searching for additional students and click their name to add them to your Team list.
4. Click the Add button when finished. 
   Note: you may add additional students at any time
5. Click Close

Option 2 - Send your students a Team code

If you have a large class list, sending your students a Team code will allow them to join the team directly, on their own without requiring you to add them in manually yourself. Please note, this opens the Team for anyone with the code to join. You will, however, be able to remove students who join who are not on your class list.

1. From within your newly created Team, click the ellipsis (…) menu to the right of your Team name
2. Click Manage team
3. Click Settings menu
4. Click Team code sub-menu
5. Click Generate button
6. Click the copy button to copy your Team code so that you may paste into an email or other message
7. Email or send the Team code to your students in a method that is convenient for you and include the following instructions

• Once you log in to Teams, Click the Teams button on the left side of the app.

• Click Join or create a team.

• Enter the Team code in the text box.

• Click Join.

Instructional Functions

Posts

Posts is the default view/screen that all Team members will see when they log in. This is where you and your students may engage in asynchronous dialogue, share and collaborate on online Microsoft Office documents as well as other files, and utilize additional apps such as Forms.

1. Start a new conversation at the bottom of the Posts screen. 
2. Reply to another conversation by clicking the Reply button
3. Click the Attach button to add files from your computer, from the Teams file space or your OneDrive

Files

The Files section of Teams provides you a single location to upload course materials and for students to share content. The Class Materials folder automatically created for you and is read-only for students. This is an appropriate location to place document such as your syllabus and other that you do not wish students to modify.

1. Click the ‘+ New’ menu to create additional folders or Microsoft Office documents.
2. Click the Upload menu to add a file or entire folder from your computer.
3. You may also drag-and-drop files from your computer into the files window

Scheduled Video Meetings

1. Click Calendar icon from the left panel
2. Click the ‘+ New meeting’ button on the right of the screen
3. Add a title
4. Do not add required attendees (you will be inviting the entire Team in a later step)
5. Set the date and time as desired, using the options for recurring scheduling as needed.
6. Add the channel for the Team which you are scheduling the video meeting for
7. Do not add a location unless you will have simultaneous face-to-face instruction
8. Add description/details (optional)
9. Click Send button

Starting a scheduled video meeting

1. Go to the Team Posts and click the post containing the meeting information
2. Click the Join button at the top right of the screen
3. Check your camera and microphone device settings using the on-screen options. Encourage your students to do the same as they join the meeting.
4. Click Join now when you are ready

How students join a meeting

• When the first person joins the meeting, a Join button will appear in Posts
• Students may also click the Join Microsoft Teams Meeting link that they received in their email. 
• Note: Students do not have to RSVP to the meeting to join.

Use breakout rooms

Learn how to create and manage breakout rooms during class meetings using the instructions found here.

Check attendance/participants list

The People window will show the participants of the meeting. This is a useful tool for recording attendance.

Click the Participants button to show the people window. Click it again to hide the People Window

• Currently in this meeting – Those who are in attendance
• Suggestions – Those who are members of the Team, but not currently joined in the video meeting

Download attendance reports – Keep in mind that you'll only be able to download the attendance report while the meeting is in progress and participants are still present.

Open the Chat Window

The Meeting chat window provides a space to hold conversations during the video meeting. This will allow your students to mute their camera and microphone and ask questions without disrupting the class or causing unnecessary background noise. 

Click the Chat button to show the Meeting Chat window. Click the button again to hide meeting chat

Sharing your screen and presentation

1. Click the Share button
2. Choose Screen share (recommended) 
3. You will be provided additional options to share your screen(s), application windows, or browser tabs
4. Select Your Entire Screen OR Application Window if you would like to share a document such as a PowerPoint
5. Select a screen or application
6. Click Share
7. You will be sharing the screen or application window until you click Stop sharing the pop-up box 

Whiteboard

1. Click Share button
2. Click Whiteboard
3. The whiteboard is a virtual space where you and your students may draw using colored pens and an eraser found on the right side of the screen