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Microsoft Teams Training Resources

Skype for Business is being replaced by Teams on July 31st!
Recorded live training session for Teams is now available to view!
Trainings and resources will be available to guide you through this transition from Skype to Microsoft Teams

Animated timeline of dates for Skype to Teams transfer

*Skype for Business planned replacement timeline: Training resources available for on demand learning (June 6th), Scheduled Microsoft trainings for select groups (June 15th), Scheduled Microsoft trainings available to everyone (June 28th), Fully transitioned to Teams (July 31st)

Microsoft Teams Applications:

 

Microsoft Skype-to-Teams Resources:

 

Microsoft Teams Resources:

Recorded Teams Training Session:

 

In Person Teams Training Sessions:

Date Time RSVP Link
Monday, June 28, 2021 08:00 AM-09:30 AM pacific time RSVP (Complete)
Tuesday, June 29, 2021 03:30 PM-05:00 PM pacific time RSVP (Complete)
Wednesday, June 30, 2021 03:30 PM-05:00 PM pacific time RSVP (Complete)
Thursday, July 01, 2021 11:00 AM-12:30 PM pacific time RSVP (Complete)
Tuesday, July 06, 2021 08:00 AM-09:30 AM pacific time RSVP
Wednesday, July 07, 2021 11:00 AM-12:30 PM pacific time RSVP (Complete)
Thursday, July 08, 2021 03:30 PM-05:00 PM pacific time RSVP

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

    • What is Microsoft Teams and why would I use it?

      Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform for teams where all conversations, meetings, files, and notes can be accessed by everyone, all in one place. It is a place for collaboration and work to happen in the open. Microsoft Teams’ interface is similar to popular web services like Slack, Facebook or Google Hangouts. Imagine Microsoft Teams to be the combination of Skype + Microsoft Office + Zoom. Skype will be discontinued July 31st and Microsoft Teams will be its replacement.

      You do not need to belong to a Team in order to use the chat and video meeting functions of Microsoft Teams. You can access those features on the Microsoft Teams website.

    • What are Teams?

      Teams are collections of people, content, and tools that center around different projects and jobs within an organization. In Microsoft Teams, team members can have conversations and share files, notes, and more. Examples of Teams would be a Division Office or a governance committee.

      Microsoft Teams consists of an Activity Feed, Chat, and Teams of which you are a member. A “Team” is comprised of a Team name, owner, members, and channels. You can think of a Team as a building, a channel as a room, the activity feed as the courtyard between buildings, and chats as conversations you have with others.

      Microsoft Teams are collaboration spaces where files and conversations persist. A Team should continue to exist even in the event that all members are replaced. For ad-hoc collaboration, IT suggests using a group Chat, which has the same characteristics of a Teams space, but goes away when all Chat participants leave the conversation.

    • What's a channel?

      Channels are great because they allow teammates to have focused conversations about specific topics. Every team has its own set of channels (starting with the General channel), and the members of that team get to decide what they want the rest of their channels to focus on. Some channels are devoted to specific projects, initiatives, and locations. Some are for different areas of interest, updates, or discussion topics. Some channels are just for fun! Every channel belonging to a team is completely public to all the team members, so everyone can feel free to join in a channel conversation. If you spot a channel that looks interesting or is relevant to you, you’ve got the option of following (or favoriting) it. FYI, you’ll always have the General channel for every team favorited and there’s no way to remove it from your favorites, either. 


      To favorite a channel, just click the microsoft-teams2 next to a channel name. That way, it will stay visible in your teams list. You’ll also be able to see if there’s recent activity in your favorite channel because its name will appear in bold text. If someone @mentions you in one of your favorite channels, you’ll see a red number count next to the channel name that tells you the number of @mentions you received.


      You won’t be able to see the team channels that you don’t favorite by default, but if you ever want to take a look at all the other channels belonging to a team, just click on the text that appears at the bottom of your current favorites telling you how many more channels belong to that team. That will open up a list of all the channels you haven't favorited. If you see a channel that looks interesting, you’ve got the option of favoriting it from there.

    • What's the difference between team channels and private chats?

      Team channels are places where everyone on the team can have open conversations. Private chats are only visible to those people in the chat. Remember channels are like rooms in a building and chats are those conversations between peers.

    • What are Team meetings?

      Team meetings are a quick and easy way for people in a channel to go from a conversation to an impromptu meeting. Anyone from the team can join. Team meetings include audio, video, and screen sharing. You always have a meeting space, and you’ll never need a room or projector. To start a team meeting, click microsft-teams7 in a new conversation. You can also keep the context of the current conversation by clicking microsft-teams7 in an existing conversation.

      Team meetings are very similar to Zoom and can be used as a replacement if desired.

    • How do I create a Team?

      Teams are created through an IT Help Desk request. If you would like a new Team created, please submit a IT Help Desk ticket. You will need a Team name, owner, and a manager’s approval.

    • Which computers and browsers are supported?

      The Microsoft Teams app works on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

      The Microsoft Teams web app works in the following browsers:

      · Microsoft Edge

      · The latest version of Chrome

      · The latest version of Firefox

      Safari is not currently supported

       

    • How do I log out of Microsoft Teams

      To log out of Microsoft Teams, click on your profile picture at the top right corner of the app, then select Sign out. You can also right-click the app icon as it appears in your task bar then select Sign out. For Mac users, instead of right-clicking on the Microsoft Teams icon in your dock, you’ll head to the app menu bar at the top of your screen, click Microsoft Teams, then select Quit Microsoft Teams. You can also just press Cmd + Q.

      For all operating systems, once you log out of Microsoft Teams, you’ll need to enter your credentials again to launch the app.

    • How do I send private messages?

      To send a private message, click the Search bar from the top of the app. Start typing the name of the person you would like to message. A drop down list will populate with filtered results. Select the person from the list a chat will open with that person as the recipient.

    • How do I add someone to a private chat?

      To add someone into a private conversation, just click the "Add people" button at the top right corner of your screen. Then, type the name of the person you’d like to add and press Enter.

    • Can I send a message to someone on Skype from Microsoft Teams?

      Yes! You can use Microsoft Teams to chat with someone who’s using Skype for Business. Simply start a one-on-one chat with the person you’d like to talk to, and they’ll get your message in Skype for Business. In the chat, you’ll have the opportunity to invite them to join you and the rest of the world in Microsoft Teams.

      Remember: If the person you’re chatting with has ever used Microsoft Teams, your messages will always be sent there. Otherwise, if messages aren’t getting to or from Skype for Business, check with your IT administrator.

       

    • Can I send group messages to Skype users?

      Unfortunately, group messages can’t be sent to people using Skype for Business. However, whenever someone invites you to a group conversation from Skype for Business, you’ll get a notification in Microsoft Teams! Then, you can join the conversation back in Skype for Business.

    • How do I know which conversations include me?

      If you’re worried about knowing when someone in a conversation needs your attention, just keep an eye on your Activity feed. There, you’ll get a notification whenever someone:

      · @mentions you (you’ll also see your @mentions in the conversation, where you can spot them easily).

      · @mentions teams and channels you belong to.

      · Replies to conversations you’re part of.

      · Replies to your replies.

      You'll also see a number next to the name of a channel whenever someone mentions you there.

       

    • How can I manage and share files with my Team?

      You can use teams to upload files, edit them collaboratively and share them with each other internally on the college system. You can follow this short Microsoft tutorial on file sharing to learn more.

    • Where can I get Microsoft Teams training?

      Comprehensive self service training can be found through Microsoft's Teams video training catalog.

      You can also view a downloadable Quick Start Guide.

      Finally you can view a recording of a live training session. The session will open in Microsoft Teams.

 

Installing Teams on Your Computer

Note: This is NOT required to use Teams. You can access the web version of Teams on the Teams Office Website. To login, use your My Portal username followed by "@mtsac.edu" and enter your My Portal password.

This process below will install the application version of Teams to your computer which provides some added functionality and streamlined integration similar to Outlook.

For desktop options, on Windows:

  1. If off-campus, connect the VPN first.
  2. Click on START and type “software” into the search box and look for “Software Center”.

Screenshot of the Windows Start Menu with Software Center typed in

   3.   Look for “Teams” in the application list. Use the search in the upper right to look for Teams.

Screenshot showing the Mt. SAC Software Center with Teams selected

4.   Click on the “Install” button…

Screenshot of the Mt. SAC Software Center with Teams selected and the Install option available

5.    Wait while the installation runs.

Screen clip of the install progress bar in Mt. SAC Software Center

On a macOS computer

Similar to Windows, this is called “Self Service.” For install Teams on a macOS computer, use Finder to locate the Apps list, find the app “Self-Service”. That launches a software catalog. Look for Teams and click install. If the user does NOT see “Self-Service”, we can have the user enroll in Jamf by visiting a website, then the Self-Service app will appear.

 

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