Going Live: Best Practices for Online Classes with Microsoft Teams
Student Engagement and Participation
Student Engagement and Participation in Teams Meetings
Keeping students engaged in a virtual classroom can be challenging—but Microsoft Teams offers a suite of interactive tools to support active learning, collaboration, and participation. This page outlines best practices and practical examples for fostering engagement in Teams-based lectures and seminars.
Best Practices for Engagement in Online Lectures
| Strategy | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Start with a warm welcome/check-in | Builds rapport and lowers anxiety |
| Use a variety of participation methods | Supports different communication styles and comfort levels |
| Set clear expectations for participation | Helps students know how and when to contribute |
| Pause regularly for interaction | Maintains attention and allows processing time |
| Use visuals and screen sharing | Reinforces key ideas and breaks up text-heavy sessions |
| Incorporate breakout rooms | Facilitates small group discussion and peer connection |
| Acknowledge contributions | Encourages continued participation |
Using Teams Tools for Participation
| Tool | How to Use It | Engagement Example |
|---|---|---|
| Chat | Enable and monitor for ongoing text-based input | Ask “What’s one key takeaway so far?” mid-lecture |
| Raise Hand | Structured way for students to request to speak | Use for Q&A, or call on students in order |
| Reactions | Real-time emoji feedback | “Give a thumbs up if you understand this concept” |
| Polls (Forms) | Quick in-class quizzes or opinion checks | “Which of these theories do you agree with most?” |
| Breakout Rooms | Small-group discussions or problem-solving sessions | Discuss a case study, work on a sample problem, or peer feedback |
| Whiteboard | Visual collaboration space | Group mind-mapping, brainstorming ideas, or drawing diagrams |
| Screen Sharing | Show slides, videos, examples, or student work | Demo a website or app; share student responses to an activity |
| PowerPoint Live | Allows slide navigation, speaker notes, and live reactions | Ask students to move ahead to preview next topic or leave a comment bubble |
| Meeting Chat Files | Share links, documents, or visuals in real time | Upload an image or PDF to annotate or discuss during class |
Practical Ideas for Engaging Online Sessions
✅ Icebreakers & Warm-Ups
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“Drop a GIF or emoji in chat that describes your week.”
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Poll: “How confident are you feeling about today’s topic?”
✅ Mid-Lecture Checkpoints
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Use chat: “In one word, summarize what we just covered.”
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Quick poll: “Which of these three terms is most confusing?”
✅ Structured Participation
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Assign rotating roles in breakout groups (note-taker, reporter)
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Ask a student to share screen and walk through their process
✅ Visual Engagement
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Use Whiteboard to co-create a concept map
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Use PowerPoint Live and annotate in real time
✅ End-of-Class Reflections
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Post a final prompt in chat: “What’s one insight you’re taking away?”
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Poll: “What topic should we review next class?”
Tips to Encourage Participation
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Normalize low-stakes interaction: Praise simple responses in chat or reactions
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Offer multiple modes of engagement: Not everyone is comfortable speaking on mic, some prefer to use text chat
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Recognize effort, not just accuracy: “Thanks for jumping in with your thoughts”
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Use names when possible: Builds connection and accountability
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Follow up asynchronously: Reference chat discussions or group ideas in Moodle announcements or discussion forum posts
Sample Syllabus Text
Face-to-Face Course
Web Conferencing for Office Hours and Support
This course is delivered in person. However, any virtual meetings (e.g., office hours, one-on-one support, or make-up sessions) will now take place using Microsoft Teams, instead of Zoom. . You can sign into all Microsoft Apps (Office365) with your UNBC user name and password.
Course materials—such as readings, announcements, and quizzes—will still be available on Moodle (moodle.unbc.ca).
Student help for Microsoft Teams can be found here:
https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/unbcstudents/
Blended Course (In-Person + Online)
Web Conferencing Now in Microsoft Teams
This is a blended course, with both in-person and online components. For any online sessions (e.g., lectures, tutorials, or office hours), we will now use Microsoft Teams instead of Zoom.
All course content—readings, quizzes, assignment instructions, and announcements—remains available in Moodle (moodle.unbc.ca).
Meeting links for Teams sessions will be posted in Moodle and/or your course calendar. Please ensure you have access to Teams before our first online session. You can sign into all Microsoft Apps (Office365) with your UNBC user name and password.
Student help for Microsoft Teams can be found here:
Fully Online Synchronous Course
Live Sessions Now on Microsoft Teams
This course is delivered fully online with scheduled live sessions. All real-time class meetings and office hours will now be held in Microsoft Teams, replacing Zoom.
Moodle (moodle.unbc.ca) will continue to host all course content, including readings, quizzes, assignment instructions, and announcements.
You will receive a recurring Teams meeting link through Moodle. Please install Teams (desktop or mobile) or access it via browser to participate in live classes. You can sign into all Microsoft Apps (Office365) with your UNBC user name and password.
Student help for Microsoft Teams can be found here:
Fully Online Asynchronous Course
Optional Live Support via Microsoft Teams
This course is delivered fully online and asynchronously, meaning there are no required live class meetings. However, if you’d like to attend virtual office hours or drop-in help sessions, these will now take place in Microsoft Teams, not Zoom. You can sign into all Microsoft Apps (Office365) with your UNBC user name and password.
Moodle (moodle.unbc.ca) remains the main hub for all course materials, including lectures, readings, assessments, and announcements.
Links to Teams support sessions will be posted in Moodle.
Student help for Microsoft Teams can be found here:
https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/unbcstudents/
