The Role of IT: Enhancing Microsoft Teams for Teachers

The rapid adoption of online learning in recent years has led to IT leaders taking on new and diverse roles within schools. As digital technology has become an integral part of the learning experience, the role of IT departments has expanded beyond traditional functions, such as providing technical support and a strong technology infrastructure. Instead, schools have asked them to take the lead in the adoption and integration of new technologies like Microsoft Teams for Teachers.

Educators have increasingly incorporated Microsoft Teams into their classrooms as a way to better connect with their students. From remote learning to hybrid and flipped classrooms, Teams and related apps have given teachers the tools to maximize educational outcomes by providing a central hub for collaboration and learning.

IT leaders across the country have answered the call to assist teachers in managing the rapidly changing educational landscape by ensuring that these educators have all the tools that they need to reach students using Teams to maximize educational outcomes. In this article, we examine how IT leaders can help teachers get the most out of Microsoft Teams.

Ensure the Successful Integration of Microsoft Teams

At first glance, Microsoft Teams may appear to be a sophisticated messaging app. While that may be true, there's so much more to this communication platform. Microsoft Teams for Teachers enables educators to create a digital classroom where they can organize all their school-related communication in one place. Whether hosting office hours or live class sessions, they can do it all in Teams.

However, teachers may not always know how to take advantage of all the tools that the platform has to offer. That's where IT departments come in, communicating in non-technical terms to ensure that educators understand how to use the tools and apps at their disposal.

Teachers are generally enthusiastic about introducing new technologies into the classroom. Nevertheless, without the support of the IT department, they might attempt to implement Teams and other technologies but then give up if they find it too complex. IT leaders can help educators take on these challenges by designing policies that ensure that teachers can receive the support that they need to make Teams work for them.

Furthermore, IT leaders can identify potential obstacles that educators may face in their attempts to fully integrate Teams into the classroom and develop workarounds to aid them. By providing this assistance and setting them up with the right tools to succeed using Teams, IT staff ensures that teachers don't waste valuable time trying to figure out technology in the classroom.

Offer a Listening Ear

While setting up a webpage to answer frequently asked questions about Microsoft Teams for Teachers and other technologies can go a long way toward helping teachers take full advantage of these resources, having someone available to listen to their concerns may prove decisive in assisting educators in taking full advantage of the platform.

One way that IT leadership can connect with educators is by joining them in the classroom to see how they use Teams and observing how it responds. They can take this one step further by identifying the tools and apps that educators find most useful in Teams to help them get the most out of them.

Furthermore, IT leaders can take an active role in enhancing Microsoft Teams for Teachers by highlighting apps that would be beneficial to educators and getting them up to speed on how to use them. They can also reach out to teachers themselves and help them meet their requirements by being responsive to suggestions and requests that could improve the learning process.

Finally, this dialogue should include asking teachers what they need from IT departments to help promote learning using Teams.

Encourage Early Adoption of New Technology

With new apps being released for Microsoft Teams almost daily, it's difficult for educators to keep up. IT leaders can help by staying up to date on what's available and identifying those apps that would be most useful to teachers and students.

IT departments play a critical role in ensuring that schools are early adopters of new technology by creating an atmosphere that encourages the use of apps like Beedle, which provides educators with the tools to streamline classroom management, collaborate with parents, and give feedback to students. IT leaders can also work to ensure that educators are aware of the educational technology that can support them in the classroom and improve student learning.

Create a Digital Learning Team

While educators know that their schools have an IT department, they may not think of it beyond its traditional role of helping out when an app freezes or they forget their password. IT leaders can help change the perception of IT's role in education by creating a digital learning team that provides educators with an easy way to get in touch with the department to offer suggestions and feedback on educational software.

Additionally, setting up an internal page dedicated to Microsoft Teams and tutorials on how to use educational apps with the platform can be instrumental in ensuring that educators have the resources that they need. IT departments can also hold workshops on best practices for Teams and explain how to maximize the platform for educational purposes.

Help Teachers Create an Engaging Learning Environment

Increasing student engagement in the learning process is a goal of most educators for good reason: engaged students are more likely to excel academically and form a stronger connection with their schools. IT leaders play a critical role in supporting educators in their use of tools that encourage dynamic and fun learning.

One way that they can help teachers enhance engagement is by ensuring that they have the tools that they need to create an engaging learning environment. They can do this by explaining to educators how they can use Microsoft Teams to foster a collaborative learning experience and assist them in removing barriers to remote learning.

Final Thoughts

Educational technology is transforming the classroom, creating new opportunities for IT departments to lead their schools in adopting and using these new resources. IT leaders have played an integral role in ensuring that educators understand its benefits and setting them up for success with the communication platform. Microsoft Teams for Teachers and associated apps have enabled teachers to transform the learning experience for their students.

Beedle is an all-in-one solution for teaching and learning in Microsoft Teams, giving schools the power to leverage Teams for improved resource and lesson planning, class management, insight organization, and more!

If you’re in a Teams district or school and want to unlock the true potential of Microsoft Teams, contact our specialists to maximize the worth of your Microsoft Teams investment today!