Table of Contents
Transitioning from Webex to MS Teams
Webex is being replaced by MS Teams; they are similar products with similar features, but with some obvious differences.
Below you will find a series of FAQs that will help you navigate this transition.
Because MS Teams is extensive and covering all topics here is not practical – we recommend viewing the MS Teams help and learning page for any questions we may have missed.
The Centre for Teaching and Learning will be offering a series of MS Teams support workshops now and over the summer to help with this transition: CTL Workshop Schedule
If you have any specific questions that you cannot find the answers to and would like 1:1 support or a small group session on anything Teams related, please email: facultyedtech@georgiancollege.ca
For a quick glance at what Teams can do in comparison to Webex – check out our chart below:
🗺️ Webex to Teams FAQ
Use the FAQ below to help answer your questions about the similarities and differences between Webex and Teams:
Navigating Teams
How do I get access to Teams?
Option 1
Georgian computers will automatically have updated versions of MS Teams
You can open the desktop app by going to your Windows Start menu icon (bottom left of your desktop screen)
Search for Microsoft Teams
Option 2
Every Georgian employee and student has access to the online version of Teams
Go to Georgian's homepage and select Login (top right)
Select Employee Portal
Navigate to the top left, click on the menu button
Find Microsoft Teams in the list of apps
Option 3
Go to Download Microsoft Teams page if you need to download the desktop app on your personal computer
How do I navigate Teams?
For a summary of what Teams can do and for a visual overview, see the Teams for Education Faculty Guide
Teams Meetings and Blackboard
Is there an MS Teams integration with Bb Ultra?
Yes, though it can only create single meetings and it doesn't function reliably – we recommend creating your meeting through your Teams calendar and then posting the link to Blackboard for your students.
If I do want to integrate MS Teams in Bb Ultra for a single meeting use only, how do I do that?
Open your course
Select Books & Tools
Select Microsoft Teams
Click Launch, then select Sign-in
Select Create meeting Link
Enter a title, Weekly Meeting Link, and select Create
This will only create single meetings and you can either copy and paste the meeting info/link into Blackboard, or you can click Add to Calendar and it will automatically show in your course calendar within Blackboard
How do I create a meeting or recurring meeting in MS Teams?
Open MS Teams (make sure you sign in using your Georgian email)
Click on Calendar (located in the left navigation pane)
Click on New Meeting (top right corner)
Fill in the meeting information – title, date, time, etc.
No need to add attendees – you will post the link in Bb for all students
Select the down arrow beside “Does not repeat” and select Weekly
Select the day on which your class repeats
Click on “Select Date” and choose an end date for your meetings – click Save
Click Save again to finalize your meeting (top right corner)
See Manage meetings for a video overview created by Microsoft
See Create a recurring Microsoft Teams meeting for online meetings and classes.docx for more details with screenshots included.
How do I post my weekly Teams meeting link on Blackboard?
Open your MS Teams’ calendar
Click on the event within the calendar
A window will pop up – click on the copy icon to copy the link
Next, navigate to your Bb course where you want the meeting link
You may post your link to Content or Announcements
For example, under Content click the Plus icon
Select Create
Select Link
Choose whether you want to make the link available to your students (click on the down arrow beside “Hidden from students”)
Give the link a title under Display Name
Paste the link under the Link URL
Leave “Open in a new window” as your default setting
Add a brief Description to notify the students of the link
Click Save
You can also add the meeting link to your Blackboard calendar. See Create a recurring Microsoft Teams meeting for online meetings and classes.docx for more details with screenshots included.
Teams Recordings
How do I record and pause my Teams meeting recording?
Option 1
After you create your meeting, open your MS Teams Calendar
Click on the Calendar event and select Edit
Click on the three dots (or Meeting Options) above the title of your meeting
You can set the meeting to Record Automatically
Option 2
Start your Teams meeting
Select More (three dots)
Select Record and Transcribe
Click on Start Recording
How do I pause a Teams recording?
Unfortunately, you cannot pause your recordings in Teams, but you can stop the recording and restart
If you need to stop for a break during a lecture, you may stop the recording
Repeat the steps above:
Select More (three dots)
Select Record and Transcribe
Select Stop Recording
For more information, How to record a meeting in MS Teams and manage my recording
How do I manage my Teams recordings?
All Teams recordings are saved in OneDrive and are mirrored in MS Teams
Option 1
If you set up a Team for your class, then all recordings will save within that Team, provided that you created the meeting within the Teams' space, for example:
Open the Team you created for your class
Click on General Channel (left menu area)
Select the down arrow next to the Meet button (Classic) or Camera icon (New Teams)
Select Schedule a meeting
After you schedule and host your meeting in this space, your recordings can be found under the Files tab across the top of your class' Team
A folder called Recordings will appear automatically after a recording is made; for more information, see how to Record a meeting and other meeting management tips
Option 2
If you set up your meeting in a chat or scheduled meeting, the recording will attach to those meetings.
Open MS Teams
Click on the Chat bubble (left menu pane)
Find your meeting, and the recording will be within the chat (or Channel conversation if it is in a specific room)
Webex provided a personal account where I could see all my meetings and manage my calendar and recordings, does MS Teams have something similar?
Yes, all your meetings that are scheduled in your MS Outlook Calendar are reflected in your Teams calendar account
Open MS Teams
Select Calendar on the left menu bar
Here you will see all your meetings (weekly or monthly)
You can find recordings in both Chat history and in Files within the Team you hosted the meeting
For more information on managing your calendar, see Manage your calendar in MS Teams
Managing Teams Meetings
How do I create a Team and invite students to join?
Open MS Teams
Select Teams on the left menu bar
Select Join or create team
Select Create a team (select Class or PLC, or other) and continue to follow the prompts
NOTE: you will not need to manually enter all students names – instead, follow the directions below to invite your students to join your Team
Open the class/Team you just created
Select the three dots beside the title of your Team (left side of screen)
Select Manage Team
Select Settings
Select Team code
Copy and paste the unique code to Blackboard for your students – when they open MS Teams, they can select Join or Create Team
Click on Join Team
For more information, see How to join or create a Team in MS Teams or Find and join a team in Microsoft Teams
How do I use MS Teams personal room link to host a meeting?
Teams has a similar option as Webex's personal room: start by opening MS Teams
Click on your MS Teams Calendar
Select Meet Now at the top right
Select Get a link to share – share this with your attendees
Click Start meeting
How do I share content in MS Teams?
Start your meeting
Click on the Share icon (top right)
Select Screen if you want to share whatever is on your screen or secondary monitor
Select Window if you want to share a specific application (i.e., PowerPoint, Word, or a website only)
Toggle on Include sound if you are sharing content with audio or video
Or select a PowerPoint from your OneDrive under the heading PowerPoint Live for a more interative student experience
For more information, see 3 ways to share content in a Microsoft Teams meeting
How do I track attendance in MS Teams?
There are a few ways to get attendance reports; the simplest way is:
Click on the Chat icon on the left menu pane
Select the meeting you were in
Click Attendance Report – it will appear shortly after your meeting
For more details about tracking attendance, check out Manage Meeting Attendance Reports in Microsoft Teams
How do I lock my MS Teams meeting room to avoid interruptions?
Start your meeting
Click on People
Select three dots (beside Participants)
Select Lock the meeting
Breakout Rooms
How do I use Breakout rooms in MS Teams?
Start your meeting
Click on the Rooms icon along the top menu bar (Note: you must be the organizer of the meeting to arrange Breakout rooms)
You will have the option to Assign participants – automatically or manually
Select the option you want, follow the prompts (i.e. Assign participants) and use the plus icon to add additional rooms if manually creating spaces
Once rooms are created and participants have been added, click Assign or Save
For more details on how to manage Breakout rooms watch: How to use Breakout rooms in MS Teams
How do I set up Teams Breakout rooms before the meeting?
You can follow similar steps
Find your meeting in your MS Teams calendar
Open the calendar meeting details by clicking on the meeting block and select Edit
Select Breakout rooms at the top of your screen
Click Create rooms
Then follow the prompts to create rooms automatically or manually
At this time, participants cannot self-assign to a breakout room
See a video for more details: Set up Breakout rooms before an MS Teams meeting
How do I add participants to online meetings in MS Teams?
You can add participants in a few different ways
Open your calendar in MS Teams
Find and click on the meeting in your calendar
Select Edit
You may need to select show meeting info
Under the title of the meeting, you can add participants by typing their name or email address
If you have not created a meeting – in your calendar you can select New Meeting --> Schedule meeting (top right) and follow the same steps above
If you are already in a meeting, you can click on People (top menu bar)
Then you can Add participants on the right window that will open
For more information, check out Invite people to a meeting in MS Teams
Teams Features
How do I use MS Teams whiteboard option?
You can create and share a whiteboard in a few different ways – see the instructions below for one way to use a collaborative whiteboard.
Open MS Teams
Start your meeting
Click on Share – at the top right
Scroll down and select Microsoft Whiteboard
You can create a New Whiteboard or choose an existing Whiteboard to share with attendees. You also have the option to use a template or a blank canvas.
You may share with the group of attendees to collaborate, or you may choose private so only you can edit – to share collaboratively
Select the Settings/Gear icon, top right
Select Other participants can edit – and this should allow all meeting attendees to edit the whiteboard
If you have any trouble sharing – you may use another method:
Select the Share icon near the top right
Select People in Georgian College
Select Can edit – then click Apply
Click on Copy link and then share in the chat or post on Blackboard
See Use Microsoft Whiteboard to collaborate in Teams (YouTube), Whiteboard help & learning (Microsoft)
Webex, at times, required me to Sign Out and then back in again, does MS Teams?
Yes, from time-to-time Teams can slow down or freeze. Click on your icon/initials in the top right corner, select Sign out. Teams will close, then you can log back in for a better user experience.
📄 Additional Resources
If you are looking for a deeper dive into how MS Teams can be used, we recommend these resources: