What is Microsoft Teams?

• Instant Messaging - You may already be familiar with Instant Messaging your fellow students though other methods such as phone-based text messaging or Moodle instant messages. Instant Messaging in Microsoft Teams works very similarly but has added benefits. Group chats can be created to bring multiple students together to collaborate.
  
  

  With Instant Messaging in Microsoft Teams, your conversations can occur in the same digital locations that you edit files, plan projects, and have meetings. This allows you have conversations that are easier to refer back to and tie back to relevant information.
  
  

• File Sharing and Access - Microsoft Teams natively integrates with your LSUS OneDrive service. This means that when you share files with others via a Microsoft Teams chat, your LSUS OneDrive will keep that file stored within a "Microsoft Teams Chat Files" folder within your LSUS OneDrive. You can then later access and update these files via the Microsoft OneDrive app and/or website, the Microsoft Teams app and/or website, and the Microsoft Office applications and web services such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

  
  

  Files in Microsoft Teams chat can be stored and edited in the same digital locations you instant message, collaborate on coursework, and have meetings which makes those files easier to find and their purpose easier to understand.
  
  

• Web Meetings - With Microsoft Teams, you can host video conferencing meetings and calls with your fellow students. These meetings integrate natively with your LSUS Microsoft Outlook calendar—enabling everyone to stay on top of when you plan to virtually meet up.
  
  

  Each Microsoft Teams web meeting has a dedicated chat associated with it. This will enable you to converse and collaborate with your fellow students via chat during the meeting and refer back to the chat later, after the meeting has concluded.

For an quick video introduction to Microsoft Teams, see the following article from Microsoft:
Get started with Microsoft Teams

How can I access Microsoft Teams?

Downloading Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is available on all major device platforms and can be downloaded here:
Download Microsoft Teams Desktop and Mobile Apps | Microsoft Teams

Accessing Microsoft Teams from a web browser

While ITS generally recommends using the full client of Microsoft Teams to ensure the best experience, Teams can also be accessed at teams.microsoft.com

Once is Teams installed and launched, you may be prompted to login. You will want to login with your LSUS Single Sign-On credentials. 

If you need any assistance with installing or logging into Microsoft Teams, please submit a ticket by emailing [email protected] or by creating a ticket here:

LSUS IT Helpdesk (helpdesk.lsus.edu)

What can I do with Microsoft Teams?

Here is a partial list of the uses of Microsoft Teams:

• Access all of your LSUS files from any location and any device.
• Collaborate with anyone from LSUS or any other LSU institution through chat, web meetings, and document sharing.
• Easily refer back to historical content (files, conversations, recorded meetings) through the use of search.

Note that while all LSUS employees and students have Teams accounts, many have not integrated the use of Teams into their everyday work and may not regularly check messages sent to their Teams client.  If your instructor has not explicitly suggested Teams as a good method to contact them, we would suggest you rely upon email as the instructor's preferred method of communication.

How do I use Microsoft Teams?

Please see the resources below for guidance on how to use teams.

Microsoft Teams Documentation Provided by Microsoft

Microsoft provides a vast collection of documentation on how to use Microsoft Teams. This is your starting point:

Microsoft Teams Help & Learning from Microsoft (microsoft.com)

How do I access LSUS files within Microsoft Teams?

Please see the following Microsoft articles for guidance on how to work with files in Microsoft Teams:

First things to know about files in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support

Collaborate on files in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support

Document collaboration and co-authoring - Microsoft Support

How do I chat with other students within Microsoft Teams?

Please see the following Microsoft article for guidance on how to chat with others in Microsoft Teams:

Chat with others in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support

Can I create a Team within Microsoft Teams?

Unfortunately, only active LSUS Faculty and Staff can request the creation of a new Team. Collaboration amongst students can be done through group chat and meetings within Microsoft Teams. Academic classes will continue to be hosted on our Moodle Learning Management System.

Where can I go for more Microsoft Teams Training and Help?

Please see the following resources for Microsoft Teams training and help. If you still need guidance, please submit a ticket at https://helpdesk.lsus.edu or call 318-797-5221.

• Working with Files in Microsoft Teams : LSUS IT Helpdesk
  • Provides you with guidance on how to access and work with your LSUS files using Microsoft Teams.
    
• Video Training from Microsoft for Microsoft Teams (microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft's library of video-based articles showing you how to perform various tasks within Microsoft Teams.
• Microsoft Teams Help & Learning from Microsoft (microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft's central hub for all of their help articles designed to help you with nearly any task within Microsoft Teams.
• Free Microsoft Teams Training Workshops from Microsoft (microsoft.com)
  • Free, live, online training classes delivered by Microsoft designed to get you up and running with Teams.