Teams is an ideal environment for online collaboration with audio, video, chat and file sharing capabilities. It offers full videoconferencing capabilities on any internet-connected device with a camera, meaning it can be used on mobile devices anytime, anywhere. Teams is available in addition to Web Ex.
- Any time, any place, any device: All you need is an internet connection to access Teams
- Network and performance enhancements: Reduces capacity and performance issues with governments network
- Collaborate easier: Streamline user experience for meetings, video and voice calls from desktop
- Secure: Microsoft automatically updates your software, so you can be confident your information is always secure
Teams is part of the Microsoft Office 365 suite of software in the cloud — offering a new connected digital workplace where government employees securely work, collaborate and communicate from any device, anywhere, anytime.
As Teams is a cloud service, Microsoft activates new features and functions for Government of Saskatchewan employees on an ongoing basis — just as you would see with your personal devices. The IT Division will keep you updated on any new Teams features that will benefit you and your organization.
All how to videos and user guides
Many of the features and functionalities of Teams will not be immediately available to users to accommodate the rapid rollout across government. Check back regularly to find information about new features and functionalities as Teams evolve over the course of the project.
Videos
- Microsoft Teams Training
- Teams Notifications on Android Video Tutorial
- Teams Notifications on iOS Video Tutorial
- How to use Microsoft Teams Live Event
User guides
- Manage Online Meetings in Teams
- Chatting in Teams
- Calling and Contacts in Teams
- Teams on a Mobile Device
- Hotkey Shortcuts in Teams
- Recording and Sharing Online Meetings in Teams
Teams Live Events
Microsoft Teams Live Events allows you to host online live events such as town halls, webinars and more! Deliver scalable events with video and interactive discussion with up to 10,000 attendees. Whether at home, work or on the go, everyone has a seamless experience across web and mobile apps. Teams Live Events can also be recorded to ensure that anyone who may have missed the event can gain access to the information that was shared!
To learn more about how to use this feature:
- Schedule a live event
- Invite Attendees
- Produce your live event
- Present in your live event
- Manage the recording and reports
- Teams Live Events User Guide
- Teams Webinar and Registration Tracking
For more information on how to run Teams Live Events, visit the best practices page.
Teams Audioconferencing
With Teams Audioconferencing, every time you create Teams meetings, a phone number and conference ID will automatically appear in in the calendar invite below the “Join Microsoft Teams Meeting” link.
This number is for invitees who are not able to join via the Teams desktop or mobile app. It allows them to participate in the audio portion of a Teams meeting using only a landline or cellphone — there is no need for an internet connection or data, and there is no additional charge to use it. Learn more by reading the Teams audioconferencing guide (under "How do I start or join a Teams meeting?").
Additional Features
Here is an ongoing list of additional Teams features Government of Saskatchewan employees have access to and links to information and user guides:
- Channels – Allows you to create an internal collaboration and file sharing site for any project, group, or branch. Create a "team" by submitting an IT service request, and assigning varying levels of permissions. You can create private channels and even collaborate with external guests.
- Virtual Breakout Rooms – If you're in a virtual meeting with a large number of people, you can create breakout rooms that automatically send people into smaller groups.
- Teams Apps – Allows you to add new functions to integrate with Teams. Click the links below to add the following ITD-approved apps to your Teams and Channels:
- ITD Virtual Agent – The ITD Virtual Agent is your gateway to ITD support. It enables you to report technical issues, check for outages, and find answers to common IT-related questions. It provides helpful information for troubleshooting IT problems and, if needed, can connect you with an ITD Live Agent for further assistance. Read the ITD Virtual Agent User Guide.
- Lists – Create a new list from scratch or from templates. These lists can be tasks, issues, event itinerary, team evaluations, new hire checklists, etc. Have conversations about list items, organize processes and track status in an environment built for teamwork and collaboration. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- Calendar – Access all events and meetings in the channel from one place. All members of your Teams and Channels — except guests — can add events to the calendar and view event details. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- Bookings – Enables professionals and administrators to schedule bookings with Microsoft Teams Meetings. Use this scheduling tool to send appointment reminders from your organization or department to meet virtually with any attendee. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- Tasks by Planner and To Do – Tasks makes it easy to stay organized across all your Planner and To Do tasks. This function is like To Do in Outlook. Create, assign and track tasks individually or collaboratively with your team, and see everything come together in one place. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- Images – Search Bing for the image you need and share it directly in a channel or chat. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- Praise – Show gratitude for peers who went above and beyond at work. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- Wikipedia Search – Do a quick search directly within Teams for a Wikipedia article and share it in a conversation. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- Issue Reporting – Log and manage issues related to a plan from the Planner app. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- SharePoint – Add SharePoint Online sites as tabs in your Teams channels. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- Inspection – Log and manage inspections related to a plan from the Planner app. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- News – Find coverage of local, national and worldwide news, then share it in a channel.
- Places – Look up detailed info about different businesses, restaurants, venues and more. Find out the address, hours of operation or reviews for a business, then share them in a conversation.
- SharePoint News – Receive news updates from your SharePoint site. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- SharePoint Pages – Add a tab for a SharePoint news article or page.
- Bing News – Get news articles and summaries powered by Bing.
- OneNote – Use OneNote to collaborate on digital content with your team. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- Insights – Provides personalized recommendations to change how you work to do your best work. Get insights to build better work habits, such as following through on commitments made to collaborators and protecting focus time in the day for uninterrupted, individual work. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- Power BI – The Power BI personal app brings the entire basic Power BI service experience to Microsoft Teams. Learn more in this Video Guide.
- Shifts – The Shifts app in Microsoft Teams keeps Frontline Workers connected and in sync. It is built mobile first for fast and effective time management and communication for teams. Shifts lets Frontline Workers and their managers use their mobile devices to manage schedules and keep in touch. Learn more in this Video Guide.
Logging into Teams
Your Teams login is your Government of Saskatchewan username (i.e. jsmith@gov.sk.ca) and network password, not your email address. You may be asked to enter a code sent to another one of your devices to confirm your identity.
For more information, check out the How to Log into Teams user guide.
Prompted to enter a code?
Multifactor authentication prompts you to submit a code that has been sent to one of your devices, confirming your identity for greater security of yours and government's data.
You will need to register for multifactor authentication if you have not done it already, and you intend to use Office 365 software (such as OneDrive and Exchange Email Online) on any of the following:
- a personal mobile device app or browser;
- a government mobile device app or browser;
- a government device not connected to the government network; or
- a non-government device.
More information on multifactor authentication and how to register is available on the Multifactor Authentication page.
Managing Team Members
Learn how to manage a Team, add users or request access.