Photo courtesy of Microsoft Inc.
Microsoft Teams
Zoom to Teams Transition
In March 2020, ITS promptly implemented and introduced the widely recognized collaboration software Zoom to address the urgent need for a virtual meeting platform for academics and administration. Over time, Microsoft has made substantial investments in advancing its online collaboration platform, Microsoft Teams. Following a thorough examination of budgets and feature comparisons between the two platforms, we will capitalize on our longstanding partnership with Microsoft and adopt the collaboration tool integrated into our software agreement, Microsoft Teams. Effective August 12, 2024, discontinued the use of Zoom. We are confident that Microsoft Teams has reached a sufficient level of evolution to serve as our primary collaboration and virtual meeting platform.
Key Details:
- Transition Timeframe | All virtual meetings and collaborative efforts will be conducted through Microsoft Teams
- Training | To ensure a seamless transition, we will be offering training sessions on effective Microsoft Teams usage.
- Support Resources | Documentation and resources to help you become familiar with Microsoft Teams can be found on the Microsoft Teams website. For questions, you can contact the IT Service Desk.
- Feedback | Your feedback is important to us. If you have suggestions or concerns during this transition, please share those with us by sending an email to it@liu.edu
We recognize that embracing change can present challenges, yet we are confident that Microsoft Teams will deliver the collaboration features required and enhance our overall communication experience.
Here is a short comparison of the tools between Zoom and Teams.
| Zoom Feature | Microsoft Teams Equivalent | Notes |
| Meeting Scheduling | Teams Calendar / Outlook | Schedule directly from Teams or Outlook |
| Waiting Room | Lobby | Control who enters the meeting |
| Breakout Rooms | Breakout Rooms | Pre-assign or manage during meeting |
| Screen Sharing | Share Content | Share screen, window, or use Whiteboard |
| In-meeting Chat | Meeting Chat | Persistent chat available before/during/after |
| Recording | Recording to OneDrive/SharePoint | Auto-share via meeting chat |
| Virtual Backgrounds | Background Effects | Blur, built-in, or upload your own |
| Polling | Microsoft Forms | Integrated live polls/quizzes |
| Reactions & Raise Hand | Reactions and Queue | Hand raising and emoji feedback |
| Attendance Tracking | Attendance Report | Downloadable after meeting |
| Course Material Integration | OneDrive/SharePoint + LMS | Direct access and sharing |
Conclusion
Transitioning to Microsoft Teams will enhance our ability to collaborate and communicate effectively. By familiarizing yourself with these tools, you can ensure a seamless migration from Zoom and continue to deliver high-quality education and support to our students.
Setting Up Your Account
- Ensure you have a Microsoft 365 account provided by the university.
- Download and install the Microsoft Teams app on your computer and mobile devices.
Scheduling Your First Meeting
- Open Teams and navigate to the Calendar tab.
- Click “New Meeting” and fill in the details.
- Invite participants by entering their email addresses.
Hosting a Meeting
- Click “Join” to start your scheduled meeting.
- Use the toolbar to manage participants, share your screen, and access meeting options.
Using Breakout Rooms
- During a meeting, click on the breakout rooms icon.
- Create and assign participants to breakout rooms for group discussions.
Meeting Scheduling
- Zoom: Schedule meetings via the Zoom app or integrated calendar.
- Teams: Schedule meetings directly in Teams or through Outlook integration. You can also set recurring meetings and send invites easily.
Video Conferencing
- Zoom: Host video meetings with HD video and audio, virtual backgrounds, and breakout rooms.
- Teams: Teams provides HD video and audio, customizable backgrounds, and breakout rooms for group discussions. Additionally, Teams offers AI-powered noise suppression and real-time transcription.
Screen Sharing
- Zoom: Share your screen or specific applications during meetings.
- Teams: Share your entire screen, specific windows, or PowerPoint presentations. Teams also allows collaborative editing of shared documents during meetings.
Chat and Messaging
- Zoom: In-meeting chat and persistent chat channels.
- Teams: Teams offers robust chat functionality with persistent channels, private chats, and integration with other Office 365 apps. You can also use rich text formatting, emojis, and GIFs.
File Sharing and Collaboration
- Zoom: Share files during meetings and via chat.
- Teams: Teams integrates seamlessly with OneDrive and SharePoint, allowing easy file sharing and collaborative editing. You can co-author documents in real-time and access shared files directly from the Teams interface.
Recording and Transcription
- Zoom: Record meetings and save locally or to the cloud.
- Teams: Record meetings and save them to OneDrive or SharePoint. Teams also offers automatic transcription and searchable recordings.
Security and Compliance
- Zoom: Provides encryption and meeting security features.
- Teams: Teams offers enterprise-grade security with end-to-end encryption, compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulations, and advanced threat protection.
Can I use the portable Microsoft Office 365 applications on my cell phone or tablet?
Yes. You can download and install iOS and Android versions of the Microsoft Office 365 applications from Microsoft the Apple App Store (Apple iOS) and Google Play (Android).
Only download and install genuine Microsoft mobile applications for use with Office 365.
To get the mobile applications directly from Microsoft, follow the links below:
https://products.office.com/en-us/mobile/office-mobile-apps-for-ios
https://products.office.com/en-us/mobile/office-mobile-apps-for-android
https://products.office.com/en-us/mobile/office-mobile-apps-for-windows
Do I have access to the full suite of Microsoft Office 365 applications?
Active LIU faculty staff and students have access to all Office 365 applications and services.
If I accidentally delete a file in OneDrive, can I recover it?
- If you accidentally delete a file or folder, however, you may be able to recover it from the recycle bin.Restoring items in the Recycle Bin in OneDrive: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/restore-deleted-files-or-folders-in-onedrive-949ada80-0026-4db3-a953-c99083e6a84f?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US
What happens to my Microsoft Office 365 content if I am no longer a University employee or student?
- Access to Microsoft Office 365 applications and online services is tied to your active employment/enrollment at LIU, and your access to these applications and services will remain available as long as you are still able to log in.
Training Videos: Access Teams training videos provided by the university’s IT department.
Help Desk: Contact the university’s IT help desk for support with Teams