It is a sponsored publish. All opinions are my very own.
We’ve reached the purpose the place we’ve numerous implausible instruments for enhancing our instruction, however every part is scattered: One piece of knowledge comes via e-mail, one other dialog occurs in a textual content, and one other file is distributed to us via Fb messenger. We preserve a number of tabs open for dozens of internet sites, toggle between apps, examine notifications in 4 totally different locations.
And we’re used to it, kind of. It’s wonderful. However wouldn’t it’s good if we might put all of our school-related communication in a single place?
Microsoft Groups provides us that one place and a lot extra. It’s a seamless platform that not solely streamlines your instructing workflow, but additionally makes it doable so that you can create an area for extra strong collaboration between your college students.
Let’s have a look at how Groups works and what it may do for you.
What’s Microsoft Groups?
Consider Microsoft Groups as a hub the place you and your college students work together on-line, a workspace the place you possibly can talk, share information, and even meet on-line. This video reveals the way it works:
Key Options
Communication and Collaboration
Utilizing the Microsoft Groups platform, lecturers and college students can talk one-on-one or in teams:
- Lecturers can ship messages and bulletins to particular person college students or complete courses directly. Particular person customers can create personal chats with different customers.
- With the Channels function, lecturers can create sub-categories inside every crew for file storage, particular tasks, or targeted subjects.
- Customers can conduct video conferences utilizing built-in Skype expertise or take part in video discussions with Flipgrid, which can also be built-in proper into the platform.
- Lecturers can use OneNote Class Notebooks to share notes and information and provides suggestions to particular person college students. Notebooks can be shared between college members to gather and curate sources, collaborate and develop new paperwork, and share skilled growth supplies.
channels could be created to maintain discussions and supplies organized.
Assignments
Microsoft has not too long ago added project administration instruments; many of those options got here from the Chalkup platform, which joined Microsoft earlier this 12 months. With this new addition, lecturers can now handle their assignments with out ever leaving the Groups atmosphere.
With the Assignments instruments, lecturers can:
- Create, assign, accumulate, and provides suggestions on assignments.
- Connect related information—Microsoft Workplace instruments like Phrase, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote are constructed proper into the platform, so you possibly can create with these instruments and assign college students to do the identical.
- Create, save, and use rubrics to evaluate pupil work: The rubric builder is customizable and permits customers so as to add written suggestions and return and alter a rating later. (Microsoft can also be engaged on including single-point rubric capabilities to the instrument!)
assess pupil work, and save them to reuse or adapt for different assignments.
App Integrations
I really like this function: When it is advisable take issues up a notch, you need to use a few of the hottest apps in schooling proper contained in the Groups atmosphere, together with Kahoot!, Nearpod, Quizlet, and Flipgrid. If a selected app will likely be used steadily by a bunch, you possibly can add a delegated tab to a channel only for that app, so customers can get to it rapidly.
use them with out ever leaving the Groups platform.
Nothing to Obtain, Nothing to Purchase
Microsoft Groups is all cloud-based, that means you don’t have to purchase new software program or set up something. And it’s all utterly free for educators and college students who’ve an Workplace 365 Training subscription (which can also be accessible at no cost).
On prime of that, you need to use Groups on the go: Simply put the iOS or Android app in your cellular machine and you may entry your classroom from wherever.
How Groups May Change the Means You Work
There’s one thing to be stated for integration: With a lot of what you want constructed into one seamless platform, you not need to take care of the effort of blending your accounts, a number of sign-ins and toggling forwards and backwards between apps. And having that problem merely disappear frees up time and vitality to settle in and actually benefit from what these instruments have to supply.
- Being able to arrange a fast video name with a trainer down the corridor means you’re more likely to collaborate, and which means higher instructing.
- Realizing college students can collaborate in a seamless atmosphere means you possibly can assign extra collaborative tasks, and also you’ll be capable of monitor how issues are moving into every group.
- Getting everybody educated on a platform the place every individual can take part ranges the taking part in discipline for introverts—even quiet college students have the chance to have an energetic voice in discussions.
- Having a central location for skilled studying and collaboration—the place you and your colleagues can share data and talk about essential points and tasks—might imply fewer time-consuming conferences.
The place Do You Even Begin?
The capabilities of Microsoft Groups can appear overwhelming at first. And in the event you’re already operating numerous your different techniques on different platforms, the considered beginning one thing new could also be daunting.
Right here’s what I recommend: Decide one challenge and take a look at working the entire thing via Microsoft Groups. This may very well be an occasion or fundraiser, a short-term committee, or a trainer e-book research. Make it one thing that’s bought a particular finish level, and have everybody concerned decide to sticking with it.
There will likely be some rising pains as everybody will get used to navigating it, however consider it as a studying expertise. When you’ve tried Groups out with a single challenge, you’ll have a greater thought of the way you would possibly wish to use it in different areas.
Extra to Come
Over this previous 12 months I’ve turn into extra conversant in the improvements Microsoft is including to their repertoire, and I’m extra impressed with each new layer I uncover. From their accessibility instruments to their STEM sources to the unimaginable energy of Groups, Microsoft is placing an unimaginable period of time, vitality, and mind energy into innovating for faculties. I can’t wait to see what they do subsequent. ♦
For a extra in-depth have a look at Microsoft Groups, try this 8-part video collection.
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