Microsoft Teams is a powerful collaboration tool available via Microsoft’s Office 365 suite. The application allows teams and groups to create a virtual space where they can collaborate with colleagues on tasks and projects.

Although the collaboration opportunities are endless, at UCT, Microsoft Teams may only be used for operational or academic purposes.

Teams is available to all current UCT staff and students. It’s easy to use and very useful in times of disruption and disaster, as it allows you to continue working with others even while you’re off campus.

You can collaborate on documents, send instant messages, and even hold online meetings or video conferences.

Install Microsoft Teams via the Office 365 portal

Prerequisites:

  • A computer or mobile device that has internet connectivity
  • A correctly configured email client or web browser
  • A minimum of 4GB RAM is needed with 8GB being optimal
  • UCT specifications to run Teams
    • Use the desktop app for meetings, calls and when producing and presenting live events rather than the web version, since the web version of Teams is not as feature-rich as the desktop app.
    • However, the web version can be used on devices that may not meet the recommended specifications as no installation is required and it uses less memory.
  • View the recommended desktop, web and mobile clients.
  1. Navigate to https://portal.office.com and enter your student/staffnumber@wf.uct.ac.za then click Next.
  2. On the UCT sign-in page, enter your UCT password, then click Sign In.

  3. When the Office 365 portal opens, click All apps > Teams.

  4. The Microsoft Teams web portal will open.

    • The desktop app can be downloaded by clicking the Download the desktop app option in the bottom left corner of your screen or click the round icon
      in the top right corner (it will contain your initials or profile pic)and click Download the desktop app.
  5. Once you have successfully installed Teams, you may be required to log in. Enter your student/staffnumber@wf.uct.ac.za and UCT password and open the application to get started.

  6. This infographic provides an overview of what the Teams landing page contains.

Install Microsoft Teams on your mobile device

You can either download Microsoft Teams from the Microsoft website, or via the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. Sign in and get started.

Get up to speed via online courses

Watch LinkedIn Learning’s Microsoft Teams starter kit for a quick introduction to the platform.

Create a Microsoft Team

  1. After opening Teams, in the left-hand column, click Teams > Create or join a new team > Create a new team.
    NOTE: To avoid confusion, include your project, department, or society in the team name. Also avoid using any forbidden words in the name.

  2. Once you've created the team, invite people to join it. You can add individual users, groups, and even entire contact groups. You can also change the team icon.

  3. Team owners can invite external guests – people who aren’t members of the UCT community – to their teams. In your team, click More options ˙˙˙ > Add member. Enter the external person’s email address and when prompted to confirm the email address, click the drop-down. Click Add > Close.

Assign roles

  1. Once a team has been created, you can indicate who the team owner should be. It can either be the person creating the team or another member. To set this up, go to More options ˙˙˙ > Manage team.

  2. From the Members tab, indicate who should be team owners. Under Role, click Owner.
    NOTE: It is recommended that each team has at least two owners in case one leaves the university.

Resources

Create a channel

You can think of a ‘channel’ as a folder. It allows you to organise your team’s content into specific sections – e.g. Finance, HR, Technical documentation, etc. Essentially, a channel is where most of the work will get done.

In each channel, you can post content and save files. All documentation saved in Teams is stored on Microsoft SharePoint – which is a cloud-based system.

  • In your team click More options ... > Add channel.

Please view Microsoft's specifications for channel names. You can then either make a channel viewable to all members or create a private channel and indicate which members may access it.

If certain individuals aren’t given access to a private channel, they won’t even know that it exists. However, if a team owner is not given access to a private channel, they can see the channel, but cannot view its content.

However, meetings cannot be scheduled in private channels.

See how channels can be used for group and committee meetings.

Resources

Get started

Manage meetings

Set up online meetings

Participate in a Teams meeting

 

Meeting recordings

NB: Microsoft has changed the way that meeting recordings are saved in Teams

 

Breakout rooms

    Additional features

       

      Useful resources (videos)

       

       

      Guest access

      Call and chat functionality

      Calls

      Start a call from a chat

      Add someone to a call

      Answer a call

      Make multiple calls at the same time

      Put a call on hold

      Transfer a call

      Manage call settings

      Call forwarding 

      View or add contacts

      Turn off automatic video in call

      Control calls using a headset

       

      File sharing

      Share files whether you’re using a computer or mobile device.

      Upload a file

      Storage limitations

       

      Collaborate

      Collaborate with a colleague or team

      Collaborate from anywhere

      Work on a file together

      Contact specifications

       

      Chat

      Initiate a chat

      Pop out a chat window

      Chat and share files

      6 things to know about chat

      Send a message to a channel

      Hide and mute chats

      Share your screen in a chat

      Conduct 1:1 meetings in Teams

      Disable meeting chat functionality

      Send and read messages

      Group chats

      Find and filter chats

      One-on-ones in Teams

      Limitations

      Manage message previews

       

      Online videos

      Create and format a message

      Start chats and make calls

      Filter your activity feed

       

      Online course

      LinkedIn Learning courses

      Apps

      Install an app

      Manage apps

      Using apps

      Create a plan with Planner

      Set up your mobile apps

      Five things to know about apps

      Video: Use apps in Teams

      Browse all available apps

      Add or remove an app

      Use apps collaboratively in chat or channel tabs

      Use apps in meetings

      Insert app content into a message

      Chat with a bot

      Get app notifications in a channel (Connectors)

      Use an app with a personal view

      Access your apps

      Pin an app for easy access

      Pop out an app in a new window

      Get a link to a tab

      Additional apps

      Manage shifts in Teams

      Get started

      Open the Shifts app

      See your shifts

      Create a schedule

      See the team schedule

      Open a different schedule

      Shifts for team owners and members

       

      Use bookings in Teams

      Bookings

       

      Set up your lists

      Lists

       

      Get help

      Troubleshoot issues you experience with Teams

      Learn more

      Recommendations for using Microsoft Teams at UCT

      When to use Teams:

      • To send low priority messages, or informative and inspirational communications.
      • When group decision-making is required.
      • To communicate with the same group more than twice a week.
      • Where you require feedback from others.
      • When you want to store historical documentation
      • To maintain a record of communications.

      When not to use Teams:

      • To send formal communications to mailing lists or groups.
      • When you require help or crowdsourcing.
      • To share information that doesn’t require feedback.
      • For Short-term projects.
      • For document approvals.
      • As a learning management system. (UCT uses Vula for this.)
      • As a repository for documents and policies that already exist.
      • To store or communicate confidential information.

      UCT-specific Microsoft Teams online meetings recommendations

      • In the case where multiple people are joining a Teams meeting in the same venue, ensure that only one device is used, which can then be connected to the projector allowing everyone to view the screen. Any additional devices will create feedback in the room making it hard to hear. Feedback occurs when there is more than one device with a live mic in close proximity to each other.
      • Headphones are ideal for people joining the meeting by themselves and are situated in open-place office, and not a private room.
      • Mics all on all devices should be muted except for the speaker to avoid unnecessary noise.
      • Further, the person creating the meeting request, does not need to participate in the meeting as those required can simply click the link provided in the meeting request. A participate can then click More options ˙˙˙™ to record the meeting.

      Data location

      Any data you upload to Teams will be stored locally – i.e. within Microsoft’s South African data centres.

      If you have existing data that is stored anywhere else (other than on Teams), then don’t upload it to Teams. Instead, just create a link to that storage facility within Microsoft Teams.

      Caution: For compliance reasons, if you have data stored outside of Teams, try to ensure that the data is stored in South Africa. Where this is not possible, ensure that your data is stored in line with that specific region’s compliance regulations.

      For any new data related to the work that you’re doing, you can save it your team’s Files tab, which is available as one of the tabs in the General folder.

      Also, when communicating with others via email, if the content is stored in Teams, don’t send it again as an attachment. Instead, rather send links to where the documents are stored in Microsoft Teams.

      Outdated or unused Microsoft Teams sites

      ICTS will archive any Teams sites that are inactive for 12 months. We will contact Team owners beforehand so that they can download any content that is still required.

      Security

      If you will use Microsoft Teams on your mobile device, ensure that you’ve installed an anti-virus app on the device. This will keep your Team site protected and secure when you access it. It’s also crucial to keep your device’s operating system and applications up-to-date.

      Into the future with Microsoft Teams

      Microsoft Teams is here to stay, and in the future, it will replace several services – including Skype for Business.

      We will communicate these changes as they occur at UCT, but for now, we invite you to take advantage of the powerful collaboration features within Teams.