Microsoft Teams is one of Microsoft’s most illustrious offerings. A virtual collaboration platform, Teams, is available in the Microsoft 365 suite, and you can use it for free. With Teams, you can train your employees, stay in contact with everyone and manage every aspect of work even from afar.
The pandemic introduced the need for remote work and effective digital technologies. Around 95 million users joined Microsoft Teams in 2020 as its popularity soared because of the coronavirus pandemic. As more and more companies set up their remote work arrangements, the numbers soared. According to Aternity, Microsoft Teams experienced 894% growth last year, surpassing Zoom. Along with learning platforms like Bites, collaborative platforms are in the limelight.
How to use Microsoft teams for training?
MS Teams increases employee engagement and encourages everyone to work in sync. Every team in the company can benefit from having a constant communication channel via MS Teams.
One of the most convenient employee communication apps, MS Teams is easy to set up. Upon creating the respective teams, the app will allow the members to share documents and establish a centralized network. Employees can either access Teams via a computer, or they can simply download the mobile app for on-the-go communication. All the teams can create further sub-channels via which members can discuss specific topics.
Teams is versatile, and it will allow you to educate employees on almost any topic under the sun. The conversation threads are always saved and can be searched easily. Preserving the communication records will allow team members to consult older training materials later on. You can open, edit, copy and share files within the Teams window. The collaborative editing process will leave nobody behind. Everyone will have access to the latest version of the training materials. The activity log ensures that every team remains connected.
Harvard Business Review found that communication tools (74%), collaboration tools (67%) and remote work tools (74%) could determine the efficiency of an employee. Hence, it is important to encourage employees to continue learning about the latest developments and training in crucial skills. MS Teams, when used in conjunction with tools like Bites, deliver results.
Using Microsoft teams for training
According to the Microsoft 2019 Q3 report, 91 of the Fortune 100 companies have used Microsoft Teams. Collaboration platforms like MS Teams and learning platforms like Bites are opening up several opportunities for employees located in different parts of the world. Microsoft Teams is one of the best teamwork platforms when it comes to connecting all employees in an organization.
Research by Deloitte found that collaboration results in:
- 15% of employees working faster
- 73% of employees performing better
- 60% of employees being more innovative
- 56% feeling more satisfaction
You can take advantage of the following Microsoft Teams features:
1. Transferring learning materials
With MS Teams, it is now easier than ever to transfer learning materials to employees. You can create the files within Teams itself and the share them in the various channels simultaneously. This way, the learners will have prolonged access to the materials and they can dedicate more time to training. The materials are backed up to the Cloud and will be available offline as well.
2. Engaging employees
In a survey by Gensler, effective team building and collaboration was ranked as the most important factor of a good workplace by 43% of the respondents. For employees to connect in a meaningful way and work together effectively, they need to be engaged in the workplace. With MS Teams, you will have access to numerous tools that will make the learners attentive. Microsoft Teams improves worker satisfaction and engagement and reduces the attrition rates from 11.8% to 11.4%.
3. Delivering media files
Learning becomes easier and more immersive when you use media training materials. With MS Teams training, you will be able to transfer photos and videos hassle-free. They are easily shareable and hold the attention of the learners for an extended period. You can even make your own videos with the help of Bites.
How to use Microsoft teams for online classes?
Microsoft Teams allows for smooth, real-time messaging which is why more than 500,000 organisations use the messaging platform of Microsoft Teams. Virtual lessons are easy to deliver, and you can complement them with videos and presentations. Video meetings are a great way to connect and get the conversation going.
In order to organize online classes, you can utilize the following features:
1. Built-in meetings:
You will be able to organize regular classroom meetings to discuss the training materials and collaborate on virtual whiteboards. Share documents during the meeting itself, and give assignments. The learners can take down notes in the online classroom.
2. Staff and learning communities:
Microsoft Teams training will allow you to save more time and be organized. You can assign built-in staff teams so that the educators and learners can communicate seamlessly.
3. Accessibility tools:
Not all employees will respond to the same training methods. You have to use the correct tools and technologies for everyone so they can improve faster. Teams also fosters an inclusive classroom with features like live captions and message translation.
4. Built-in rubrics:
Teams Assignments come with built-in rubrics so that you can provide useful feedback to the learners. The rubric grading system makes the assignment more transparent and impactful. You can give constructive feedback so the employees can improve their work consistently.
5. OneNote Class Notebooks:
An excellent note taking tool, OneNote offers a personal workspace for the students. They have a content library and a collaboration space to store their lessons. The OneNote page also allows employees to embed media.
Benefits of e-learning through MS Teams
Remote learning is slowly transforming the way we view education. With immersive technologies like VR and AI offering more intuitive learning opportunities, there is going to be a steady rise the use of virtual collaborations and training. According to Klaxoon, 75% of millennials want a remote or work-from-anywhere option in their company policy now.
Microsoft Teams e-learning allows for:
- Concise and clear work delegation
- Work efficiency across various geographic locations
- Smoother and faster workflow
- Higher productivity
- Accurate tracking and reporting
- Improved organization
More and more companies are choosing to expand internationally which has further increased the popularity of remote training. The ability to share media and documents easily gives you the opportunity to introduce more exciting lessons. Moreover, Microsoft Teams allows the learners to post comments and add things to the existing content. Instead of being one-dimensional, training becomes a collaborative process.
How to make online training effective using MS Teams?
According to a survey by McKinsey, 45% of employees said that social technologies are highly integrated with their day-to-day work. This is more likely in companies that use messaging platforms. Modern-day employees have to be comfortable using different types of technologies in order to use the tools given to them effectively. MS Teams offers efficient online training because of the following features:
1. Sharing assignments
All the evaluations and assignments are shared with both the instructors and learners simultaneously. The coursework is in one convenient location and can be graded and accessed later on.
2. Group projects
When team members work together on a project, they can keep updating the files and communicate seamlessly. Forrester found that collaborations can improve productivity by 10% and employees are able to save 5-10% of their time.
3. Chatting options
MS Teams is one of the best platforms for messaging trainers and co-learners. With MS Teams, learners can get clarification about the lessons and give feedback within the platform itself.
4. Video meetings
No remote training course can ever be complete without scheduled video meetings and online classrooms. Seeing each other on the screen and sharing a lesson promotes team spirit and also prevents misunderstandings.
Tools like Bites and MS Tools are changing the remote working space for the better, one space at a time. They are accessible, affordable and easy to use. It is important for companies to adapt with the times and use the latest technologies to improve their output and revenues. Well-trained, collaborative employees are the key to success.