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Canvas - How do I use MS Teams for open group rooms?
For instructors that used Collaborate Ultra sessions for groups to work in, Microsoft Teams meetings (MS Teams) can be added to Canvas pages as another solution. (Zoom only allows two sessions from one user to be run simultaneously).
MS Teams does not show up in the left hand navigation of the course, but can be added as a link through the Rich Content Editor in a Page, Announcement, or Assignment.
Add meetings to Canvas course
1. Edit the item (page, announcement, assignment) you are adding the meetings to.
2. Locate MS Teams meetings from one of these two ways:
- Tools > Apps > View All > Microsoft Teams Meetings
- Plug in icon > View All > Microsoft Teams Meetings
3. After you select Microsoft Teams Meetings, you will need to sign in with your UWL email/password.
4. Select Create Meeting Link.
5. Give the meeting a title. Include the group name and/or students names. You can always add additional text describing the group on the page.
6. Select the start date/time and end date/time for the meeting. If you would like to use the same meeting link for multiple meetings, it doesn't appear to make a difference for accessing the meeting if it's set up as a long, multi-day session or if the session end time has passed.
7. Select Create.
8. Select Copy to have the link added to the page or check the meeting options before selecting copy. Clicking meeting options will open in a new tab. Once you save changes you can close the tab and copy from the original tab.
Meeting options you can change include:
- Who can bypass the lobby
- Announce when callers join or leave
- Who can present
- Allow attendees to unmute
- Allow meeting chat
- Allow reactions
7. Create additional meetings following steps 2-8 or make any additional edits to the page and save.
If you made a mistake in the meeting creation, you will need to delete it and create a new meeting link.
Student Access
- Students will join the meeting from the link provided on the page, announcement, or assignment. Meetings cannot be restricted to the members of the group, make it very clear which link they will use to join their group.
- When the link is clicked, a pop up will open to access the Microsoft Teams app. If students do not wish to use the app, they can continue in the browser for Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
- Students will need to be signed in (UWL email/password) to Microsoft Teams to run a meeting without the instructor.
- Microsoft guide: Recording a meeting in Teams
Reporting for Instructors
- Go to the meeting chat to find the reporting download. If you are currently in the meeting, the reporting download from there will only show who is currently in the synchronous meeting.
- You have to join the meeting through the link in Canvas. Then the link and access/reporting information will show up within your MS Teams chat. You can either join before students have started to use the meeting or during/after for the chat access.
Tips & Tricks
- To zoom in on a shared screen, hold the Ctrl button + scroll on the mouse wheel.
- For MS Teams technical assistance, please contact the Eagle Helpdesk.
24/7/365 Canvas Support is available through the help icon in Canvas, by calling the phone support for faculty, staff and students or email us directly at canvas@uwlax.edu.