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Getting Started with Microsoft Teams

Kevin Speyer
Updated
Getting Started with Microsoft Teams

Getting Started with Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is La Sierra University's hub for chat, video meetings, file sharing, and team collaboration. This guide walks you through signing in and using the features you'll need most.

Sign in note: Use your full La Sierra email address (yourusername@lasierra.edu) and your La Sierra password when prompted.

1. Getting Started

Sign in to Teams

You can use Teams in three places:

  • Web: Go to teams.microsoft.com and sign in with your @lasierra.edu account.
  • Desktop app: Download from microsoft.com/teams/download. Install, launch, and sign in.
  • Mobile app: Search "Microsoft Teams" in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android), install, and sign in.

Video: Sign in and get started with Teams

Tour the interface

The main areas of Teams are in the left sidebar:

Icon What it does
Activity Notifications, mentions, and recent actions
Chat One-on-one and small-group conversations
Teams Group spaces organized by class, department, or project
Calendar Your meetings (synced with Outlook)
Calls Make and receive voice/video calls
Files Shortcut to your OneDrive and shared files

Video: What is Microsoft Teams?

2. Common Tasks

Send a chat message

  1. Click Chat in the left sidebar.
  2. Click the New chat icon (pencil) at the top.
  3. Type a name or email in the To: field.
  4. Type your message and press Enter.

To start a group chat, add multiple names in the To: field and give the chat a name at the top.

Video: Start chats and make calls

Join or schedule a meeting

To join a scheduled meeting:

  1. Click Calendar in the left sidebar.
  2. Find the meeting and click Join.
  3. Choose your audio and video options, then click Join now.

To schedule a new meeting:

  1. Click Calendar, then New meeting in the top right.
  2. Add a title, attendees, date, and time.
  3. Click Send.

Video: Meetings in Microsoft Teams

Share your screen during a meeting

  1. While in a meeting, click the Share icon in the meeting controls.
  2. Choose Screen, Window, or PowerPoint Live.
  3. To stop sharing, click Stop sharing in the meeting toolbar.

Video: Share content in a meeting

Join or create a Team

To join a Team:

  1. Click Teams in the left sidebar.
  2. Click Join or create a team at the bottom.
  3. Enter a team code provided by your instructor or team owner, or browse public teams.

To create a Team (faculty/staff):

  1. Click Teams, then Join or create a team.
  2. Click Create team and choose a type (Class, Staff, Other, etc.).
  3. Add a name, description, and members.

Video: Create a team from scratch

Post in a channel

  1. Open a Team and click a channel name (e.g., General).
  2. Click New conversation at the bottom.
  3. Type your message. Use @mention to notify someone, or click the formatting icon to add a subject, attachments, or emojis.
  4. Click Send.

Share a file in chat or a channel

  1. In the message box, click the paperclip (Attach) icon.
  2. Choose OneDrive or Upload from this device.
  3. Select your file, then send the message.

Video: Upload and share files

Manage notifications

  1. Click your profile picture in the top right.
  2. Choose Settings > Notifications.
  3. Adjust notifications for chats, mentions, channels, and meetings.

Video Tutorials

A consolidated list of helpful Microsoft training videos:

Need more help?

If you run into trouble or have questions, contact the La Sierra University A-Team:

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