Microsoft Teams is a communications platform that integrates many Microsoft 365 tools for online collaboration through chats, threaded conversations, and video conferencing. For an overview of how Teams works, watch this video from Microsoft.
This article will cover the following:
Please note that creating a team also creates an Microsoft 365 Group and a SharePoint site as part of the infrastructure that supports Microsoft Teams. The suffix of "Teams" will also be added to each newly created team automatically.
Access Teams in Microsoft 365 (online)
Connect anywhere using the online web client.
- Sign in to Microsoft 365.
- Click on the App launcher (aka the “waffle” 𓃑 )in the top-left corner of the window and select Teams.
- You will be redirected to the Microsoft Teams landing page.
Download the Teams App
Connect using Microsoft Teams anywhere with Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices.
- Download the Teams Desktop or Mobile app here.
Teams Built-In Tools
Calling
You can use Teams to make calls to Stonehill community members who are also using Teams, making connecting with your peers easier than ever. In the near future, you will be able to make outbound calls from Teams as well.
Within a given chat window, click the phone icon in the top right corner to start a call with anyone within the Stonehill community.
Chatting
You can use Teams to communicate quickly and efficiently with any in the Stonehill community.
You can attach files, photos, gifs, emojis, and more. Teams also will save your files and photos into the persistent chat for later reference. While in the chat, these will all appear below the text entry space.
Video Calling
Whether you need a recurring meeting or just a one-off video call to share your screen with someone, Teams has you covered.
Click the small dropdown menu arrow next to the phone icon in the top right corner of a chat to access video call and other options.
Meetings
Teams allows both one-off and recurring meetings to be scheduled. It also provides a chat for each meeting that can be referenced at any time during and even after the meeting has ended. Like with individual chats, files, and photos are also retained for reference.
To create a meeting, select the Calendar tab on the left hand side. Once the tab loads, a purple button with the option to Create a Meeting will appear on the top right hand side.
Collaborative Team Tools
Within Teams on Microsoft Teams, you have all the tools to get to work as a group.
Channels
You can organize your Teams into specific channels based on projects, topics, or groups. This helps keep discussions focused and makes it easy for members to find relevant information.
Collaborative Editing
Teams integrates with Microsoft 365, allowing team members a place to collaborate on projects in real-time using Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It also provides an easily accessible and searchable file space specifically for the members of the Team to access.
Polls and Surveys
Teams offers built-in polling and survey features, enabling teams to gather feedback, make decisions, or gather consensus on various topics.
Whiteboard
Teams includes a digital feature that emulates the use of a whiteboard for brainstorming, sketching ideas, and collaborating visually in real-time.
Joining a Team
While not necessary, we may be invited to be a member of a Team. If you have been added to a Team and received an email notification:
- Click on the Open Microsoft Teams button within the email message to launch Microsoft Teams and visit the new team you've been added to.
If you have been provided a code to join a Microsoft Team:
- Select Teams in your left rail to view your teams.
- Click on Join or create a team at the bottom of your Teams list.
- In the Join a team with a code box, type the code into the Enter code field and click the Join Team button.
Requesting a Team
If you would like to request a Microsoft Team for your class, club, department, team or organization on campus, please complete the Request a Workspace form on our Collaborative Spaces service page.