Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is an application in the 365 suite. It can be used to facilitate collaboration with many features from conversation, project management and artefact generation. It integrates with other M365 applications and allows for unified access across a period of time. Additionally it supports chat, and video connection facilitating communication and collaboration whilst physically dispersed.
Microsoft Teams allows users to:
- Interact in a collaboration hub;
- Use the chat function and collaborate within teams; and
- Use files to share and/or generate artefacts.
AI elements
AI is fundamental to M365’s strategy for continual improvement. To facilitate this, there are many AI-powered features within Microsoft Teams
including live transcription, customisable backgrounds, together mode, noise suppression, and speaker attribution to name a few.
List of functions
Key features of Microsoft Teams are:
- Integrated with M365 for seamless access;
- Collaborative workspaces (Teams and Channels) across the University;
- Virtual connection: through various features such as chat and video you can connect in multiple ways;
- Customisable tabs to interact the ways you want to; and
- Responsive across devices.
Recommendations for Microsoft Teams are:
- Digital collaboration: facilitates interaction between teachers, students, and industry partners for collaboration and artefact generation
- Evidence student learning: Microsoft Teams enables students to share their work and ideas through discussions and artefact generation. This provides transparency and encourages active participation.
Support resources
Deakin Resources:
Microsoft Teams: a step-by-step guide of why and how you can leverage Microsoft Teams.
Vendor Resources:
Microsoft Learn (external): explore the different features and functionality of the M365 suite completing modules at your own pace.
Examples
The use cases below showcase some ways in which you can use Microsoft Teams in your practice:
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Knowledge Acquisition
Synchronous online sessions – offer scheduled online lectures, seminars, or tutorials related to content knowledge
As a teacher I can facilitate interactive, synchronous online learning experiences via web conferencing, screen sharing, and chat functions.
My students can engage synchronously and asynchronously using the voice and/or chat functions and can access the resources after the synchronous session has ended.
Example design considerations when seeking student engagement with content using Microsoft Teams:
- Can be used to schedule and facilitate a teacher-led interactive session that also creates a sense of connection and belonging with your cohort.
- Provides functionality to facilitate varied experiences, such as audio, video, and/ or chat; interactive whiteboard; and non-verbal feedback such as emojis and raising hands.
- Offers an alternative platform to Zoom for scheduled synchronous sessions. Zoom is recommended for synchronous sessions as it is integrated into CloudDeakin.
- Students can be encouraged to engage with audio, video, chat, and reaction emojis. Typically, not all students will turn on their camera or audio, due to a variety of reasons, e.g. issues related to the location from where they are participating.
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Collaboration -
Production
Collaborative team production – create a collaborative environment for student teams to produce and evidence artefacts
As a teacher I want my students to collaborate on generating artefacts, where they plan and coordinate their work to demonstrate teamwork skills and evidence their learning across a trimester.
My students can collaborate with their team to produce artefacts and evidence their learning in one place.
Example design considerations when seeking student engagement with content using Microsoft Teams:
- Encourage student teams to use the synchronous and asynchronous functionality to chat, discuss key ideas, generate artefacts, and project manage all in one space.
- Assign channels to student groups where teachers can monitor each team and provide input where required.
- Guide students toward task appropriate M365 apps to use within Microsoft Teams, e.g.: the whiteboard app for ideation, the planner app for team planning, the OneNote app for artefact generation.
- Encourage student teams to examine their collaborations and/or the version history of their generated artefact, e.g.: as a stimulus to reflect on their product development and teamwork processes.
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Practice
Develop and practice skills using role play – within one place, demonstrate skills, guide practice, and provide feedback
As a teacher I can introduce and demonstrate a skill, guide students to practice the skill through role play, and provide formative feedback to students as they apply their learning and develop their skills.
My students can view a skill demonstration, apply this skill in a synchronous role-play and record it ready for teacher feedback.
Example design considerations when seeking learning through practice using Microsoft Teams:
- Prepare or collate material that can effectively demonstrate or otherwise equip students to understand what is expected of them, e.g. a live demonstration via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, a video or audio example, a partial descriptive demonstration to use as an opening scenario.
- Introduce instructions, and share in the Files function, including clear goals for action.
- Use role play or other teaching methods to move the learning beyond language and representation to involve practice.
- Provide meaningful formative feedback that students can use to improve their performance, e.g. using Microsoft Teams web conferencing (synchronous) or chat (asynchronous) discussion features.
- Include a component of reflection on practice, e.g. team or class debrief, or written reflection.
- Provide subsequent practice opportunities to scaffold the learning experience (which may be in other contexts, e.g. on-campus, in work placement).
