Getting started with Teams

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is a messaging app for teams where all conversations, files, and notes can be accessed by everyone on the team. It's a place for collaboration and work to happen in the open.

Here's why you should use it:

• It makes communicating one-on-one and with groups a snap.
• Collaboration happens in real time.
• Everything your team cares about (all your files, docs, contact info, and more) is in one place.

Accessing Microsoft Teams

1. Navigate to MyUTHealth, https://uthealthsa.sharepoint.com/Pages/Home.aspx
    
2. Click on the grid in upper left-hand corner.
    
3. Click on Teams.
   

Create a new Team

1. Select the Teams tab located in the far left column.
    
2. Select Add team at the bottom of the screen.
    
3. Go to “Create a team” and Select Create a team.

   

4. Pick the Other team type.

   

5. Enter a name and short description for your team. The privacy default within this setup screen is Private which is recommended so you can control who has access and can view your team. If public is chosen, anyone can see your team and its contents and conversations.
    
6. Enter a person's name you want to add to the team, after the name appears, left click to select, then choose Add.
    
7. Select Close.

Create a channel for your team

Channels are key to organizing team collaboration and you can name them by topic, project, role or something creative that makes sense to your team members' work. Channels keep conversations and content easy to find by all members.

1. Select the three dots  next to the team name.
    
2. Select Add channel.
    
3. Enter a name and short description for your channel.
    
4. Select Add.
   If you frequently access a channel, you can make it a favorite by selecting that channel, click the three dots  then click on the star.

Add people to your team

1. Select a team, then select the three dots next to the team name.
    
2. Select the Add channel option. When prompted, enter the person's name you want to add, and select them from the list.
    
3. Select Close.

Start a new conversation

1. Select a team and channel.
    
2. In the Start a new conversation box, add your message and press Enter.

Reply to a conversation

1. Find the conversation thread you want to reply to.
    
2. Select Reply directly below the conversation text you want to reply to. Type your message, attach a file, insert an emoji or sticker, and press Enter.
   

Conversations and chat entries are kept within the team until it is deleted so you don’t have to toggle between other apps and emails to find and reply to dialog threads.

Collaborate with Microsoft Teams

@mention someone

1. In the Reply or New Conversation box, type the @ symbol, then type the first few letters of the person’s first name.
    
2. In the Suggestions box, select the person. Repeat for as many people as you want to @mention.
    
3. For those who you @mention, the @ symbol shows in the message in their Channel and on their Team icon. Check your Team icon now to see if someone has @mentioned you.

Stay on top of things with Activity and notifications

1. Select the Activity icon.
    
2. To view conversations that apply to you, select Feed, then, My Activity or Team Activity.

Search for messages, people, or files

1. Type a phrase in the Search box and select the search icon,
    
2. Select Messages, People or Files which can be found above all the conversations listed.
    
3. Select the item in the search results. Alternately, you can click the Filter icon to sort or filter your search results.

Additional Information

You can find the Teams FAQ here or additional information on Microsoft Teams can be found at support.office.com

For technical support contact the service desk at ims-servicedesk@uthscsa.edu or 210-567-7777