Microsoft Teams is a communication and collaboration application developed specifically for businesses and organizations to assist their teams in remaining connected and working more effectively together. You can establish teams, channels, and groups within Teams for various projects, departments, or workstreams, and then use those to engage in real-time chatting and calling, as well as video conferencing and the sharing of files and information.
Installing and Configuring Microsoft Teams
In order to get started with Microsoft Teams, you will first require either a Microsoft account or a registration to Office 365. On the Microsoft website, you can either subscribe to Office 365 or create a free Microsoft account if you do not already have either of these options.
When you have an account, you can register in to the Teams web app or download the desktop or mobile app from the Microsoft website or the app store. Both of these options are available once you have an account. Because it is compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, Teams can be accessed from any device you have.
After you have downloaded and installed the app, you will need to check in with your Microsoft account or the credentials for your Office 365 subscription before you can begin using Teams.
Utilizing Microsoft Teams as our tool
When you first log in to Teams, the Teams app dashboard will appear before you. This dashboard displays your most recent behavior as well as your messages, notifications, and apps. You will then have the option to either establish a new team, join an already existing team, or begin a conversation with another player.
Putting Together a Brand-New Group
To make a new team, go to the “Teams” option on the left-hand side of the dashboard and then click on the “Create Team” button. This will bring up a new screen where you can manage your teams. Depending on the requirements that you have, you have the option of selecting a team of a specific category, such as a standard, class, or PLC. You also have the option of giving your squad a name, writing a description, and customizing its privacy settings.
After you have established a team, you will have the ability to invite members, establish channels, and modify the team’s configuration settings. Channels are sub-groups that exist within a team and give you the ability to organize conversations and files according to the subject matter or project at hand. You can also add apps and bots to your team in order to automate tasks such as meeting scheduling, task tracking, or reminder sending.
Joining an Existing Team
You can either search for an established team by its name or ask the owner or administrator of the team for an invite if you want to join one that is already in existence. As soon as you have become a member of a group, you will be able to communicate with the other people on the group by chatting, posting messages, and exchanging files.
Talking to People and Sending Messages
To begin chatting with an individual or a group, first navigate to the “Chat” option located on the left-hand side of the dashboard. From there, choose the individual or group you wish to converse with. By clicking on the camera or phone icon, you can initiate a video call or an audio call, as well as share text messages, emojis, GIFs, and files. Additionally, you can commence a voice call.
Internet Conferencing
To initiate a video conference or audio conversation, first navigate to the “Meetings” tab located on the left-hand side of the dashboard, and then select the “New meeting” button from the drop-down menu that appears. You have the option of using the camera and microphone that are built into your computer, or you can use an external device like a headphone or a webcam instead.
You can also prearrange a meeting by selecting the date, time, and participants before clicking on the “Schedule a meeting” option. This will allow you to schedule the meeting in advance. In addition, you have the option of attaching notes, an agenda, and files to the meeting invitation.
The Exchange of Files
To share files with your team or chat, select the file or folder you want to share from the drop-down menu that appears after clicking on the “Files” tab located on the left-hand side of the dashboard. After uploading files from your local computer or from a cloud storage service such as OneDrive or SharePoint, you will be able to configure the permissions and access levels for each individual file and folder.
Using the built-in editing and commenting tools, you can also participate in real-time file collaboration with other users. You are able to view who made changes and when they were made, in addition to having the ability to restore earlier versions if necessary.
Conclusion
Microsoft Teams is an advanced framework for communication and collaboration that can be of assistance to your group.