Teams Learning Path

Microsoft Teams Logo

This Teams Learning Path supports GW faculty, staff, and students who use Microsoft Teams and guides you how to use it within Microsoft 365. Follow this learning path in the order of the modules or choose topics to review. 

Explore how to set up a Team, add members, add files, communicate and collaborate.  Also learn about ways to customize your Team with Channels, Tabs, Connectors, and Bots. 

NOTE: To get assistance logging into GW’s LinkedIn Learning contact the IT Support Center at [email protected]. 

Get to Know Microsoft Teams 

Teams is a chat-based workspace for people to communicate, share, and collaborate on files together. 

What is Microsoft Teams? (video, 54s)  

How to Access Microsoft Teams 

You can choose to use Teams online via teams.microsoft.com or download the Teams desktop app for PC or Mac.  

Download or Access Through Your  GW Microsoft 365 account 

Access the Full Version of Teams (video, 3m 46s) 

Accessibility Features and Keyboard Shortcuts 

Please note that an online document or tool is accessible when it can be easily understood by everyone, regardless of what browser or adaptive equipment they are using. 

Accessibility Support for Microsoft Teams (documentation)  

Keyboard Shortcuts for Microsoft Teams (documentation)  

When setting up a Team, there are four types to choose from: Anyone, Class, Staff Members, or PLCs (Professional Learning Communities). After you choose the type of Team, name the team and add members. 

NOTE: To get assistance logging into GW’s LinkedIn Learning contact the IT Support Center at [email protected]. 

Choose a Team-Type to Collaborate (documentation)  

Set up Your Team and Add Members 

The first video shows how to set up a Team for Anyone and add members. Choose the appropriate resource(s) to set up and add members to a Team for Classes, Staff Members, or PLCs. 

Create Teams and Add Members (video, 3m 53s) 

Create a Class Team (documentation)  

Add Students to a Class Team (documentation)  

Create a Staff Team and Add Members (documentation)  

Create a PLC Team (Professional Learning Community) and Add Members (documentation)  

Microsoft Teams allows users to communicate via Channels to talk to everyone, Chats for private conversations, and Meetings for video conferencing. You can keep track of all of these communications by viewing the Conversations tab. 

NOTE: To get assistance logging into GW’s LinkedIn Learning contact the IT Support Center at [email protected]. 

Communicate with Your Team in a Channel 

Messages added to a Channel’s Conversation are visible to all team members, but can only be edited or deleted by the original poster. View the Conversations tab to keep track of important messages, @mentions, and replies. 

Post and Receive Messages (video, 4m 6s)  

Edit and Delete Messages (video, 2m 9s) 

Keep Track of Conversations (documentation)  

Communicate Privately via Chat 

Chat messages are private and only visible to the Team members you choose. 

Use Chats for Private Messages (video, 3m 36s) 

Make Audio or Video Calls from the Chat Section (video, 4m 6s) 

Chat in Teams (documentation)  

Communicate via Meetings 

You can schedule a meeting to video conference with Team members instantly or in the future. 


Initiate a Video or Audio Meeting On-Demand (video, 4m 20s) 

Meet Now (video with text-based instructions, 1m 34s)  

Schedule a Meeting and Invite Attendees (video, 3m 58s) 

Manage Meetings (video with text-based instructions, 1m 33s)  

Add files from your local computer, OneDrive, or another Team to your Channels and/or Conversations. After a file has been added, all Team members can access and collaborate at the same or different times. 

NOTE: To get assistance logging into GW’s LinkedIn Learning contact the IT Support Center at [email protected]. 

Share Files (video, 4m 26s)  

Edit and Collaborate on Files (video, 3m 48s) 

You can personalize your Team by changing your profile, settings, or notifications. Add Channels to keep topics separate from one another, then add Tabs to open tools, services, or Microsoft apps within that Channel. Connectors can be added to link external tools and Bots can automate tasks. 

NOTE: To get assistance logging into GW’s LinkedIn Learning contact the IT Support Center at [email protected]. 

Explore Settings and Options 

Personalize your profile, settings, or notifications. 

Adjust User Settings (video, 3m 7s)  

Settings and Options (documentation)  

Add Channels to Organize Topics 

Channels keep different Team topics, conversations, or projects separate. 

Create, Manage, and Delete Channels (video, 4m 25s)  

Work in Channels (documentation) 

Add Tabs to Channels 

Add Tabs to access frequently-used tools and services, including Microsoft apps and websites. 

Customize Channel Tabs (video, 3m 40s)  

Using Tabs (documentation)  

Add Apps, Bots, and Connectors for Added Functionality 

Embed external (third-party) tools into your Team with Connectors. 
Bots can respond to questions and automate simple tasks, however additional set up is required. 

Use Apps to Add Extra Functionality (video, 5m 8s) 

Add or Remove App Notifications in a Channel (Connectors) (documentation)  

Create a Bot (documentation)