With the launch of the summer term and a host of new technologies to support online learning, staff may be wondering where to start with the new collaboration tools suddenly available. Resources from University Systems have spent time building and deploying these new services, ensuring compliance with University policies and applicable legislation, as well as undergoing comprehensive reviews by the Chief Privacy Officer and Chief Information Security Officer.
Information on how to leverage Zoom as a live virtual classroom and online meeting space, as well as Teams for conversation and collaboration has been made available as part of the UVic Learning Technology Ecosystem, however there are also plenty of opportunities for use of these platforms as collaboration tools for staff across campus working in an administrative setting.
Zoom
The Zoom Video Conferencing service is available to all faculty, staff, and students to allow for sharing of video, audio, and screens between all participants. Zoom help resources are available to for everything from setting up an account and booking a meeting, through to managing participants and populating breakout rooms. Additional training videos are available on the Zoom training site, and University Systems is also hosting a Zoom basics boot camp every Thursday at 2pm, with connection information available on the Zoom training site. Lastly, targeted training sessions can also be arranged for administrative units by contacting uvicav@uvic.ca.
Microsoft Teams
The Microsoft Teams service is part of the Microsoft 365 platform, and is available to all faculty staff, and students. The service functions as a communication and collaboration tool designed to quickly connect team members and enhance collaboration. A Microsoft 365 microsite is available on the Online Academic Community, and includes a multitude of support information including Frequently Asked Questions, instructional videos, and a Teams Quick Start Guide. Microsoft Teams Training for Staff is also available for sign-up through the HR Learning Central registration system.
Which option is right for you?
Finally, wondering which option is best for collaboration? University Systems has created a comparison of online collaboration tools to help guide your decision-making.