The popularization of the virtual environment and the countless tools it provides to users have been considerably changing social relations between people.
If, in the past, the direct interaction between teacher and student was the basis of the educational model, it is not possible, today, for such a matrix to be sustained, either by technological evolution or by the bad weather of our daily life.
Therefore, knowing the tools and possibilities of the digital environment is essential nowadays and, for the contemporary teacher, knowing how to use a virtual Teams room to teach online is a path of no return.
What is Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft ‘s Teams is a platform that aims to facilitate communication between people and teams of a company, that is, it is a shared workspace, which can, due to its various tools, be used by sales, marketing, management, customer service, human resources and also by teachers, since the construction of a collaborative and interactive environment can be appropriated by the educational sector.
What is a virtual room?
If Teams allows connection between individuals in the digital environment, overcoming the impossibility of direct interaction between course participants, for example, it is also up to this movement to know what a virtual room is and what features it has .
So, basically, it can be said that a virtual room is a digital environment in which participants can access content and acquire knowledge, that is, it is a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). As a space for simulating a traditional teaching model, the VLE promotes the use of technology as a way of integrating participants in the room.
Among the numerous functionalities of a virtual room , it is possible to mention:
- Forums;
- Chat;
- To-do list;
- Testes;
- Collaborative correction of works;
- Reports;
- File sharing; It is,
- Interactive videos, for example.
How to use Teams?
Now that you know what a virtual room is and have discovered the effectiveness of Teams , knowing how the platform works is essential. So, although it is very intuitive, check out a small guide (which can change, of course, depending on the new features and the commercial interest of the company).
- Create a team, that is, the virtual room that will be used;
- Define the class (class) as a team, that is, who will have access to the content and be able to interact with the other participants – do not forget to name the room and define the visibility of the class (private and public, for example);
- Create communication channels and separate specific content;
- Use video calls to expand interaction between participants;
- Find out how to edit the documents available in the room;
- Create folders to organize posted content.
Face-to-face class versus online class
Although the traditional teaching model with a process of interaction between participants is the most widespread and, perhaps, with the best overall results today, online classes are becoming popular and bring many advantages to users.
The flexibility of schedules and continuous access to content are, for example, fundamental aspects of the virtual teaching model and allow, in this movement, the freedom of teaching and studying for students and teachers, who can choose the best times to study and define the own pace of learning.
Furthermore, for professors and online courses , the possibility of offering the same course to a larger number of students is a great advantage, as the virtual room is not limited by physical space and allows for a significant reduction in costs.
Finally, for students, as there is no need to commute, it is possible to reduce the time spent in traffic and increase, in the opposite direction, the time devoted to studying.
Therefore, recognizing technological changes and anticipating trends is an essential feature of contemporary individuals and the teaching/learning relationship also follows this movement.
Daily difficulties, by preventing the realization of a traditional teaching model, give rise to the search for new standards and tools that allow the accessibility of users and, in this case, Teams emerges as an effective and modern means of teaching.
Managing Participants
Once you’ve created a Teams virtual room, established guidelines, and invited attendees, it’s time to start managing attendees.
The best way to manage attendees starts before they even enter the room. Establishing ground rules that ensure everyone is respectful and focused will help maintain order during class time.
Make sure each participant knows what behavior is expected of them and what will happen if they don’t follow these rules. When students are in the virtual room, make sure everyone has a chance to be heard by giving each participant an equal opportunity to contribute their ideas and opinions during class discussions or activities.
It can also be helpful to create a rotation system so that each person has a turn to speak without being interrupted or commented on by others in the group.
Engaging Students
Engaging with students can be done in a variety of ways and helps create an interactive learning environment. To engage with students, educators must start by asking questions and providing opportunities for them to respond.
Questions can range from open discussion of the material being taught to simple yes or no answers that allow for quick feedback. Educators should also provide multiple opportunities for student participation, such as group activities and discussion forums that encourage peer collaboration.
Giving students the opportunity to take control of their learning not only increases engagement, but also helps foster creativity and problem-solving skills. In addition, educators should use visual aids such as slides, audio files and videos whenever possible to make learning more interesting and dynamic.
By implementing these strategies, educators will be able to effectively engage their students as they teach online in Teams virtual classrooms.
Effective Tool for Teaching
It’s no secret that technology has changed the way education is delivered in today’s modern world. With a Teams virtual room, educators can easily set up an interactive and collaborative learning environment for their students.
A Teams virtual room offers educators many benefits, such as eliminating the need to travel, providing a secure online space for students, and reducing costs associated with classroom setup.
Additionally, using audio and video conferencing tools, teachers can engage their students in real-time learning activities from the comfort of their own homes or offices. These advantages mean that teachers can also use polls and quizzes within the platform to monitor student progress and engagement throughout each lesson.
