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Microsoft Teams Basics

Microsoft Teams is FVSD's primary tool for video meetings, chat, and collaboration. This guide covers the essentials.

Accessing Teams

  • Desktop app — pre-installed on your FVSD computer
  • Web app — go to https://teams.microsoft.com and sign in with your FVSD account
  • Mobile app — available on iOS and Android

Chat

Sending a Message

  1. Click Chat on the left sidebar
  2. Click New chat (pencil icon at the top)
  3. Type the person's name or email address
  4. Type your message and press Enter to send

Group Chat

  1. Start a new chat
  2. Add multiple people in the To field
  3. You can name the group chat by clicking the pencil icon next to the participant names

Meetings

Joining a Meeting

  • Click the meeting link in your calendar invitation or email
  • Or go to Calendar in Teams and click Join on the meeting

Starting a Meeting

  1. Go to Calendar in Teams
  2. Click New meeting
  3. Add a title, participants, date, and time
  4. Click Save — participants will receive a calendar invitation with a join link

During a Meeting

  • Mute/unmute — click the microphone icon
  • Camera on/off — click the camera icon
  • Share your screen — click the Share button and select your screen or a specific window
  • Chat — click the chat icon to send messages during the meeting
  • Raise hand — click the hand icon to get the presenter's attention

Teams (Groups)

You may be a member of one or more Teams based on your school or role. These are shared spaces for files, conversations, and collaboration.

  • Posts — group conversations visible to all team members
  • Files — shared documents stored in SharePoint (accessible through Teams)
  • Channels — sub-sections within a Team for organizing topics

Common Questions

Q: I'm not receiving Teams notifications.

A: Check your notification settings: click the three dots (...) next to your profile picture > Settings > Notifications. Make sure notifications are turned on for messages and meetings.

Q: I can't hear anyone in a meeting (or they can't hear me).

A: Check that your microphone and speakers are set correctly: click the three dots (...) in a meeting > Device settings. Make sure the correct microphone and speaker are selected. Test them before the meeting starts.

Q: How do I share a file in Teams?

A: In a chat or channel, click the paperclip icon (Attach) and choose to upload from your computer or browse OneDrive/SharePoint.

Q: I accidentally left a Team — how do I rejoin?

A: Some Teams are assigned automatically based on your role. If you were removed or left accidentally, contact IT or the Team owner to be re-added.

Contact IT

  • Submit a ticket through the IT helpdesk
  • Email: helpdesk@fvsd.ab.ca
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