OUTSTANDING ICT - 21st July 2017

10 simple steps for using Teams you could do today - A GiDT approach.

At last, time to get to grips with Microsoft's Teams for Education! This article takes a GiDT (Get it Done Training) look at supporting headteachers and principals. GiDT is about getting jobs done and this guide gives 10 simple steps to creating a document you can share with your management team so you can keep track of preparations for the return to school in September. If you are not already using Teams, why not have a go for a specific task this summer and think about how this tool could be used to support wider projects in the school next year?

In this example, I create a schedule for a staff day at the start of the new term but this could be any document focussed on any task your management team is tackling over the summer break. The document we will create can be opened and edited by anyone in your management team email group, even simultaneously, on any device connected to the internet.

STEP 1

Open the Outlook Web App and select “Teams” from the App Picker.

STEP 2

Select “Teams” then “Add Team”.

STEP 3

Select “Create team”.

Step 4

Select the “Staff” team type.

Step 5

Enter your team name and description then select “Next”.

Step 6

Find your SLT email group then select “Add”.

Step 7

Select the “conversations” tab and type a message to your team using the team name preceded by @ then select the “send” paper dart icon.

Step 8

Select the “Files” tab then “new” and select “Word document” from the drop-down menu. Give your document a name and select “Create”. Edit your document when it opens in the Word app and just close it when you are done. No need to save.

Step 9

Go back to your conversation and inform your team that you created the document and perhaps @mention any members of the team who need to contribute to the document. Select the paper dart “Send” icon when you have finished your message.

Step 10

From then on you will be able to view and respond to conservations from the Outlook Web App by selecting your team from the list of groups.

If you do have a go at this and you need support, please use the comment facility below. Good luck!

If you would like to find out how I might support your school in embedding the use of Teams or any other aspect of IT, please feel free to contact me. Here's my card...