What is Microsoft Teams?

Teams is a new Microsoft platform, designed to be a collaboration space for colleagues. Teams allows you to:

• Share, Co-Author and Edit Files

• Host virtual meetings

• Call and chat with colleagues

Because it is part of Office 365, it is also secure and integrates with all the other 365 apps.

This guide will introduce you to three key parts of Microsoft Teams:

• Teams

• Chat

• Calendar

Teams

Teams is where you are likely to spend most of your time. Everything here is broken down into Teams, which each have there own Channels, which each have there own Tabs.

Teams are different groups of people that work together. Teams is a great place for group collaboration. Teams are typically separated by Departments, Projects, or Courses.

Channels are different work groups/streams that you might have within a Team. For example, project phases or department functions. You can use Channels to help organise Teams, so people are only seeing the files and information that are relevant to them.

Within each Channel there are different Tabs. Each tab will offer you different tools and information.

• Each Channel automatically gets a Posts Tab. This can be used for internal communications in place of email.  You can send a push notification to a user using an @ notification. To notify the whole channel you @ the whole channel.

• The Files Tab shows all the shared content of the shared channel. All users can upload and access the same files and folders. When files are uploaded it belongs to the Teams, and all users can access and edit it in real time.

• Pressing + will show you a list of applications and files that you can connect into Teams as a new tab. For example Excel, Planner, or a Website.

Chat

Chat is a place where you can quickly contact people one-on-one or in a small group. All of you recent chats are saved and displayed on the left hand side.

To start a new conversation, select New chat from the top. The button looks like a small box with a pencil. Then enter the persons name, compose your message in the box, and click Send, which looks like a paper aeroplane.

You can start a group chat in almost the exact same way! Select New chat at the top of your chat list. Then click the down arrow on the far right hand side and add a group name. Next, type the names of the people you’d like to add in the To field.

Calendar

The Teams Calendar is synchronised with your Outlook Calendar.  You can create a new meeting here by click the “New Meeting” button.

1. Click New Meeting

2. Title your Meeting

3. Invite people or a channel

You can also join meetings from your Calendar. Click it from the Calendar View, and then click “Join Microsoft Teams Meeting”.