Tuesday's Tip #82: Best Practices for Training in Teams

Training in Teams

If you use the Teams app to deliver training, there are a few great features and best practices that are really helpful. 

Best Practices

1. Use the Attendance List.
   This allows you to keep track of who attended. It's a virtual "sign in list". This is especially helpful if the training is required or linked to objectives or goals.
   
   
2. Use 2 Screens.
   Having one screen to share and present and another screen to view the meeting is optimal. It lets you keep track of questions or activity in the meeting chat as well as if someone raises their hand.
   
   Share the Screen with the Camera.
   This might seem obvious or simple. But if you have multiple screens, be sure to have your "shared" screen be the one that has your camera on it. It's much easier as an attendee to watch the shared screen and the video of the presenter looking at you rather than the other screen.
   
   
3. Change the Meeting Setting to Everyone for the Lobby.
   Once your training session starts, you don't want to be interrupted or distracted to let someone in from the lobby if someone shows up late or logs out and back in again.
   
   
4. Auto Record (Or Record).
   A new meeting setting allows you to set the meeting to auto record. This is great in case you forget to hit record. You can also manually record the meeting too using the ...(More) menu. This allows you to distribute the training to people that couldn't make it or had to leave early/arrive late.
   
   
5. Mute All.
   Once you start the meeting, use the Mute All button to eliminate any background noise and unintended audio. Instruct your participants to unmute to ask questions or to use the chat/conversations area.
   
   
6. Raise Hand Reaction.
   There is a great feature where participants can raise their hand during the meeting. You will see this as a presenter in the meeting window and can call on people.
   
   
7. Stand Out Feature. 
   This is a fun new feature that lets you put your video on top of your presentation so when attendees are viewing your screen they see you AND the shared screen.
   
   
8. Close all NON-Training Related Windows.
   If you are sharing your screen while training, eliminate potential embarrassment and/or violate privacy issues by closing anything you don't need to or want to share. In addition to not accidently sharing something confidential or persona, it also makes it easier to share the right screen which less windows to choose from.