This tip describes the use of Teams to support learning and in-depth understanding of a subject during large courses where student-teacher interaction is limited.
A course includes lectures that introduce students to the basics of the topic. As the lectures are attended by a large number of students and consequently student-teacher interaction is limited, a Teams space is used to facilitate working in smaller groups.
What do I have to do?
The teacher creates a collaborative class space called Other. As there are so many students, it is takes too much time to individually add them to the team. The teacher therefore creates a team code that students use to sign up as team members. The team code is announced during the first lecture.
Structure of Teams
The Basic team includes the General channel that includes the following tools:
- Discussion: Space for the teacher to share information and provide answers. The teacher provides instructions to the groups on a weekly basis.
- Files: General course instructions. Folders named after lectures containing PowerPoint presentations and other lecture materials.
- In addition, the teacher creates a Site tab to link videos created in external services to Teams.
- The teacher creates a Wordfile that lists the different student groups. The teacher places this file into a tab, so it is easily visible to students.
- In addition, the teacher creates a Weekly feedback survey (Forms) for the groups to report on their progress. The multiple-choice survey enables the teacher to quickly determine how the groups are doing and see if the groups need additional support.
Group working through channels
The teacher divides the students into groups and publishes the groups in the General channel. The teacher creates a dedicated channel for each group. Students have to find their own group from the list and go to their group’s channel to complete the assignments.
In Basic teams, the following features are automatically available:
- Discussions: Students discuss in groups based on instructions and questions provided by the teacher.
- Files: The groups keep notes of the week’s theme and lecture in a Word file.
Group working
Different roles are assigned to the group members. The group channels include a Wiki tab that enables them to easily co-write a list or a piece of text. Students assign the weekly roles and responsibilities based on the teacher’s instructions.
- Each week, one group member has to fill in a feedback form (Forms survey) posted on the General channel.
- Each week, one group member has to start and manage a discussion on the group’s channel based on the teacher’s instructions. The other group members contribute to the discussion. This makes it easy to keep track of the discussions carried out from week to week.
- Each week, one group member edits and polishes a file containing the group’s notes of the week’s theme and lecture.
What do I need to consider?
Although the groups have their own channels, all students are able to view all channels. (Closed channels will be added to Teams later).
When a course is attended by a large number of students, it is important to provide detailed instructions. The teacher will not be able to instruct all students individually and monitor everyone’s progress. Use the General channel as a dedicated page for all the instructions and guidance so they reach all the student groups at once.
In Teams, the teacher will not see a log or a report of the students’ activities, so it is not that easy to keep track of what students are doing. The weekly or intermediate feedback surveys (Forms) will help you monitor the progress of different groups and provide additional support to those who may need it.
You should check the group members user rights: how extensive changes are students able to make to their group’s channel?
If you do not invite students to join the team but expect them to join themselves using a code, you need to provide them with clear instructions outside of Teams before they start working on the assignments.
Read more:
Microsoft: How to create Teams code
Microsoft: Join Teams with code
Updated 1/2024