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Office 365: Microsoft Teams

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11.0 - Updated on 2023-06-07 by Matt Anderegg

10.0 - Updated on 2022-01-25 by Loren Schooley

9.0 - Updated on 2022-01-03 by Robert Hilker

8.0 - Updated on 2022-01-03 by Robert Hilker

7.0 - Updated on 2022-01-03 by Robert Hilker

6.0 - Updated on 2020-05-06 by Morgan Burgess

5.0 - Updated on 2019-07-11 by Chase M

4.0 - Updated on 2019-01-24 by Allen M Hernandez

3.0 - Updated on 2019-01-12 by Mallory Walker

2.0 - Updated on 2018-10-24 by Morgan Burgess

1.0 - Authored on 2018-08-20 by Morgan Burgess

 

 

ITS testing is underway to understand features, functionality and technical dependencies with an Early Adopters Program. If your unit would like to participate, please complete this formorm.

Getting Started 

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is an application that functions as a chat-based hub for teamwork leveraging integrations with our Active Directory, Office 365 Services, and Office 365 Groups. It is a 'persistent' and searchable chat ideally suited for teams or projects.

   

An Office 365 Group allows you to collaborate with a set of people when writing documents, creating spreadsheets, working on project plans, scheduling meetings, or sending email. When placed within an Office 365 Group, members share resources like:

  • Outlook mailbox
  • Calendar
  • Sharepoint Team Site
  • Document Library
  • Planner (Project/Task Management)
  • OneNote

Get More Out of Office 365 Groups in Outlook

The abilities to collaborate within Microsoft Teams application can be enhanced using Tabs and Connectors to import and interact with external data and content.

How Do I Create and Join A Team?

To join a Team, you must be added by the Team Owner. 

To create a Team, create and assign a ServiceNow ticket to the ITS-Systems-Office 365 assignment group and include the following information:

  • Team Name
  • Team Owner
  • Member Name and Email Address(es)
  • Department and Unit Team represents

 

 

 
Accessing Teams
  • Downloading Desktop Application: Visit the Teams website
  • Downloading Mobile Application: https://aka.ms/getteams
  • Accessing Teams through the Outlook Web Application
    • Login to https://office365.austin.utexas.edu
    • Click the waffle menu at the top left of your screen
    • Click Teams from the application menu
    • Supported Browsers: Browsers do not support video conferencing at this time. You must download the desktop client. 
      • Internet Explorer 11
      • Microsoft Edge
      • The latest version of Chrome, plus two previous versions
      • The latest version of Firefox, plus two previous versions
        • NOTE: Firefox on Windows 10 is NOT supported by Teams

 

Set Up 

Team Set Up and Structure

A Team is a collection of people, content, and tools surrounding different organizational groups, projects, services, or products.

Channels are sections within a team dedicated to keeping conversations organized. There are places where everyone on the tam as access to files and tools specific to the conversation. Channels can be extended through TabsConnectors, and Bots.

Your Team represents the access boundary to group conversations, application data, and content – any member of your Team will have access to your document library, inbox, calendar, project management applications, notes, and more at any time.

Learn more about channel conversations vs. private chats.

Here are some sample Teams and their channels to give you an idea of common structures:

For more information, you can watch the 5 Minutes to Setting up Great Teams, Channels and Tabs video from Microsoft.

 

Chat 

Chat: Team, One-on-One (Private), Group, and Contact Groups

Channel Conversations can be seen by everyone on the team. Think of them like Facebook or other social media posts. They're all about working in the open!

One-on-One (Private) Chats can only been seen by the people in the chat. Think of them like texts.

Group Chats can only be seen by the people in the group chat. They can be named for easy identification.

Contact Groups can help you organize your contacts to find them more easily. 

 

Notifications 

Best Practices

 

Rearrange your teams in an order that makes sense to you.  

Favorite channels you use most so they are visible on your team list. Follow channels to receive notifications on their activity.

Use @mentions to get people's attention. You'll get a notification on your activity feed when you've been @mentioned. 

 

Activity Feed

Use the activity feed to get a summary of updates for things happening in channels you follow.

 

Activity Feed Symbols

  

 

Meetings and Calls 

Meetings

A team meeting is held on line in a channel. Team meetings are open, so anyone on the team can join in. 

  

Private Meetings

Share Your Desktop

Multitasking in a Meeting

 

Team Management 

See who's on a Team by clicking the More Options button next to the Team name >> Manage Team>>Members Tab

Add People to a Team

Team settings can be changed by the Team Owner. Owners can learn how to change Team settings here.

Use Teams from Outlook or Sharepoint 

 

 

Document Collaboration 

Document Storage

Microsoft Teams, Sharepoint, and OneDrive

Each team in Microsoft Teams has a team site in SharePoint Online, and each channel in a team gets a folder within the default team site document library. Files shared within a conversation are automatically added to the document library, and permissions and file security options set in SharePoint are automatically reflected within Teams. You can find more information here.

 

 

Teams Help 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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