Using Teams and Other Tech Tools During In-Person Classes

As many post-secondary institutions prepare to return to in-person classes following the switch to remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, we're all wondering how we can effectively return to classroom teaching with social distancing practices in place. If there's one thing that we've learned from the shift to online teaching and learning, it's that there are a number of digital tools that we can use to share resources and maximize student engagement during virtual classes. Well, the good news is that many of those tools and approaches can also be leveraged in the classroom. 

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In preparation for a return to in-person classes at Cape Breton University, my colleagues and I took some time to visit one of our campus' large lecture theatres to record some demonstrations of how we can leverage digital tools, including Microsoft Teams, to engage with our students safely and effectively. The following are a series of videos that I edited from that demonstration session. In these videos, we cover how to:

• Start up Teams to share resources during an in-person class
• Start sharing a presentation and use in-class polls using PowerPoint and Poll Everywhere
• Use Poll Everywhere to administer an open-response poll
• Use videos and Padlet
• Use Kahoot!
• Collaborate with Breakout Groups
• Help students navigate to Teams resources
• Get students to present resources using Teams

Additional Resources

Resources Referenced in Demonstrations

• Kahoot! (instructor portal)
• Kahoot.it (student portal)
• Padlet
• Poll Everywhere

Microsoft Teams
Access the complete video library of Microsoft Teams Tips and Tricks for Educators at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIJ8QfsveW2Zp0ksxQAoBMqZkRvTyF1pa

Moodle
Access the complete library of Moodle Tips and Tricks for Educators at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIJ8QfsveW2Zbm4pm-W6rtdI_vj4gnDMM