Using Microsoft Teams

• MS Teams is the standard and preferred communication tool for WesternU. Utilize Teams to chat, video or phone conference, share your desktop and share files

Logging into MS Teams

• If you are utilizing your WesternU computer on campus, the MS Teams application should already be installed and connected
• If you are using MS Teams at home, you'll want to install Microsoft Teams on your home PC or mobile device and log in with your WesternU network ID and password. 
  • This is advisable, as you can then use the voice and video call functionality more easily. 
  • NOTE:  If you are remotely connecting to your computer on campus and utilize Teams through that computer, you will not be able to use the video function, as it will show video of your office on campus
    • You *may* be able to hear voice calls while remotely connected to that computer, but the person with whom you are speaking will not be able to hear you.
• Log in to go.westernu.edu using your WesternU credentials (email and password) to access your Office 365 account
  • Microsoft Teams should be available on the front page of go.westernu.edu
    • You may now use MS Teams in the browser
  • If you would like to install MS Teams to your computer, you may download the entire Office suite by selecting “Install Office” in the upper right corner of go.westernu.edu
    • This will require you to install all the standard Office apps.  This is free to you through your go.westernu.edu
    • If you would to download MS Teams ONLY, you may go to https://teams.microsoft.com/downloads

Using Microsoft Teams

• Activity Feed
  • This allows you to see all activity for the Teams of which you are a member. You may select to view the entire feed or just your activity.

• Chat Feed
  • You may start a new chat by selecting the icon at the top, then entering the name or group you want to chat with inside the "To" field
  • Current and previous chats will appear to the left of the chat window.  
    • You will be able to type your messages, video call or voice call
      • You may also share your desktop, share just one open application on your desktop or share a file
    • You may chat with one person or a group of people

• Teams Feed
  • This will show you all of the Teams of which you are a member. Select a Team to view the activities, files, and conversations within that Team.
  • If added to a Team, you will receive an email notification, as well as a notification within MS Teams
  • Select "Join or create team"
    • Join - You must know the name of the Team you wish to join and you must be approved by the Team owner
    • Create - You will be asked to create a Team name and add members

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        When creating a new Team, you will have the option to create a:

        • Class:  Teachers are owners of class teams and students participate as members. Each class team allows you to create assignments and quizzes, record student feedback, and give your students a private space for notes in a Class Notebook. 

        • Professional Learning Community (PLC):  Educators work together on shared goals or professional development. Each PLC team allows you to organize materials, collaborate, and access a OneNote notebook populated with templates for common PLC tasks. 

        • Staff:  Staff leaders are owners of staff teams and add others as members. Each staff team allows you to communicate, share important documents, and set up a Staff Notebook to track common administrative goals.

        • Other:  Educators or students can create teams to work together on any shared goal, project, or activity. 

    • Once you open a Team, you will then see all the activity within that Team, as well as any channels, files, or notes created within that Team. You may also create and add your own files and notes.
       
      
  • Assignments Feed
    • This option is only available if you are part of, or created, a Class Teams site
  • Calendar Feed
    • The calendar in Teams synchs with your calendar in MS Outlook. You may create a Teams meeting directly from Outlook, or within the Teams app
       
      
  • Calls Feed
    • Rather than chat, you can go directly to "Calls", where you can add a person or group to your "Speed Dial" options
    • Note the "availability icon" next to the image for your contacts
      • Based on their status or appointments in Outlook, their availability will appear next to their image, showing if they are Busy, Available, Away, or set to "Do Not Disturb"
        • If set to Do Not Disturb, they will not receive messages or calls, but it will be sent to them as an email via Outlook
           
          
  • Files Feed
    • Here you will see all files associated with your account. You can view Recent files, files within Teams, Downloads, and have access to your OneDrive account.
    • When viewing files under "Microsoft Teams", it will show all documents in all your Teams, and can be sorted by Type, Name, Date Modified, and Location
    • Selecting the ellipses to the right of the location will allow you to open the document in Teams, in a browser, in the app the document was created in, download it, or get a link to the document on OneDrive
       
      
  • Integration
    • Microsoft Teams integrates with other apps from Office 365, including Outlook, EndNote, SharePoint, etc.
    • To connect to another app, select the ellipses at the bottom of the left side column
       
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• For more detailed training, visit LinkedIn Learning or submit a ticket at support.westernu.edu for IT Training