EdTech4Everyone

What is Microsoft Loop?

Loop components are really clever new features that let you work smarter and faster with your team. They will eventually be available across all Microsoft 365 apps. They are like mini work spaces that you can share and edit in real time in the stand alone Loop app, Teams chat or Outlook 365 (web only at this stage), so you can always stay on the same page with your colleagues.

Why Microsoft Loop?

I was looking for ways to improve communication between my good self and our overworked and extremely busy principal’s secretary. Primarily, discussions usually centred around deciding on when and how many sub teachers needed booked to cover absence in school. We used to use WhatsApp and email to share information about upcoming planned absences and other staff absences.

In a previous blog, I showed you how I created greater efficiencies by using Microsoft Forms and Power Automate to improve requests for planned absence. However I still needed to improve efficiency and communication for organising cover for those planned absences. Email and WhatsApp were okay, but I needed something that was faster, easier to include images, and could be updated easily and automatically notify others. I also wanted to include tables and tasks, such as a to-do list.

Discovery

That’s when I discovered Microsoft Loop in the Microsoft 365 suite. It’s like a blank canvas (similar to OneNote, but much easier to share) where you can use headings, write messages, @mention the staff member required, add screenshots of upcoming planned absences (from my spreadsheet) for the next day and week, put in to-do lists, and more. Everything updates in real time. Parts e.g. a Table (see below – pics are mock ups redacted for effect only) can be edited and updated by any colleague that you have shared the Loop with.

Tasks can be created that are timebound. You can also chat and insert screengrabs, documents or images in the Loop.

Game changer

I have been using Loop for the last few weeks and it’s really good. The ability to communicate in real time and the @mention feature that sends notification emails to specific people in the loop is a game-changer. You can also create loop components in Microsoft Teams Chat, or insert components into Outlook 365 on the web. Correspondents can edit them from within each of those apps. I have used this method to obtain room maintance issues and cleaning information and could also be used to gather incentive information really quickly e.g. Pupil/Learner of The Month.

• Go to Outlook Web
• Select new email
• Click on body of message
• Click on Loop componenents
• Choose from the options available

Send email. The Loop component will display in full and can be edited straight away if opened in Outlook Web. In the current C2K desktop release there will only be a link sent – but that will take you to Loop where the component can then be edited. Newer versions of Outlook desktop should display the component in full (this is available on my personal device, it has the latest Outlook release)

The possibilities with Microsoft Loop will only grow with future updates to the Microsoft 365 suite and its apps.

Where to find Loop?

You can easily find and use loop components by; clicking on the home page of Microsoft 365 and typing Loop in the search bar, or in the Loop components button below the “Type a new message” box in Teams chat. You can also search for your loop components in the Office mobile app. Loop also has a dedicated app on Android – it’s a little glitchy at times, but is still really useful. There is also one available on iOS.

Loop components have potential to be great for scenarios in Schools, such as:

• Working on a group project with others, using loop components to come up with ideas, divide tasks, and monitor progress.
• Planning a lesson with your colleagues, using loop components to set learning goals, activities, and assessments.
• Getting feedback from your students, using loop components to make surveys, quizzes, or polls.
• A creative space for organising events such as Open night or Prizegiving.
• Brainstorming for development and action planning.

Workspaces unavailable

Loop components are available free on C2k, unfortunately at this time Loop workspaces are not available. A Loop workspace is like a folder that contains all the things you need for a project, such as pages, files, and components. A component as we have seen is a piece of content that you can create, edit, and share with others. I’ll update in a blog if this situation changes.

Thanks for reading, for further information click on the following links:

Microsoft Loop components: Extending capabilities in Microsoft Teams and Outlook – Microsoft Community Hub

Use Loop components in Outlook – Microsoft Support