I’d like to express my gratitude to the C2K E-Learning Team for the New Teams webinar, which served as the foundation for this blog. A special shout out to the incredible Donna Vaughan — cheers to a happy, long and wonderful retirement! 🥳. Your insight and support over the past number of years has always been appreciated, tremendously valuable and will be sorely missed.
Speed and Performance
The latest version of Microsoft Teams is a game-changer in terms of speed and performance. As an educator, the importance of a reliable and seamless communication platform cannot be overstated, and this new version enhances the reliability and smoothness of the desktop App. Teams retains all its collaborative tools, enabling teachers and students to interact, share resources, and collaborate on assignments in real-time. Now, let’s explore some of the new features that further enhance Teams.
Seamless Integration and Accessibility
One of the standout improvements is better integration of other Microsoft services within Teams. Teams now works in harmony with your Outlook Calendar, ensuring your schedules are always in sync. The only caveat being that it won’t pick up any of the other calendars that you have subscribed to in Outlook e.g. staff events or school IT booking options. There are also more options to schedule meetings. You can choose from a range of set ups that are tailored for various audiences.
But that’s not all – the full integration with OneDrive is a real time-saver. No more switching between apps; you can create, edit, and share files directly within Teams. Having direct access to OneDrive from Teams is so handy, you can find files and folders much more quickly to use and share. This update (and also having direct access to OneDrive via ‘Documents’ with Surface Pros) should really encourage a deeper use of OneDrive.
More Customisation
Personalisation is key to a productive workspace. If you find the default setting a bit ‘bland’, Teams now allows you to customise the appearance with various themes, including light, dark, and high-contrast modes.
You can also decide on a default preference for opening files. I like to work on Word and Excel files from Teams in the browser, I can keep them open while switching apps or looking at assignments in Teams. I can now change the setting so that this happens automatically. Also, if you prefer a specific browser for link openings? No problem! Teams lets you choose your favourite, be it Edge or Chrome.
Streamlined File Management
File management made easier. With the new “Attach Cloud Files” option, you can share files from your OneDrive without duplicating content. Plus, you now have better options to adjust permissions, ensuring your shared files are accessible to the right people.
Efficient Communication
Effective communication is at the heart of successful collaboration, and Teams delivers with enhanced messaging features. Schedule messages for a later time, ensuring your colleagues receive them when it’s most convenient.
And for those lengthy conversations, you can now see new posts at the top or bottom, whichever suits your preference. Also try using Loop components to further boost collaboration with others. 20. Microsoft Loop: A New Way to Work Smarter and Faster with Your Colleagues.
Multitasking Made Easy
Multitasking has also become a lot smoother. With the ability to open multiple windows simultaneously, you can juggle tasks better. Whether you’re referencing a file while attending a meeting or drafting a message while reviewing a document, this feature helps keep you productive and organised.
App installed on all C2k machines
The new Teams desktop app is installed on C2K Surface Pro devices, so no more clicking fun to get to it via Microsoft 365! (so sign in and get ready to roll!). The app has default auto-opening (recommended) which means speedy opening when you start your machine. The app is much more robust and reliable than the previous version, ensuring notifications will always reach you and that Teams is at the forefront of your school day.
Embrace the Future of Collaboration
The new Microsoft Teams is more than just an update; it’s a transformative tool rebuilt from scratch that helps empower educators to work more efficiently. Have a look at the features, customise your experience, and unlock its collaborative potential.