What's new in Microsoft Teams - August 2021
Microsoft constantly innovating and updating Microsoft Teams, which is why at Excel and Flourish, we like to take a moment each month to go over some highlights that might benefit your company or team. Let’s take a look at what’s new in Microsoft this month.
Q&A app in Microsoft Teams meetings
With an aim to ensure better user engagement, Microsoft announced that it is planning to rollout Q&A app in Teams Meetings, which is currently in private preview. The Q&A app will allow meeting organizers and presenters to add open or moderated Q&As to any Teams meeting. It enables attendees to ask and reply to questions before and during a meeting.
Organizers and designated presenters can mark best answers, filter responses, moderate and dismiss questions and pin posts. Responses to questions are threaded in a conversation with the original question, the company said in statement. Q&A is ideally suited for large and more structured meetings, such as leadership presentations, webinars, classroom trainings, all-hands meetings and community events, it added.
Communities app
The company has also announced the new Communities app for Outlook, which brings the full Yammer experience inside Outlook for the web.
Starting soon, users will be able to engage in communities, participate in conversations and live events, and share knowledge openly with your peers without leaving the Outlook app, the company said.
According to the company, the Communities app for Microsoft Teams helps you stay connected to what's happening in your communities, tap into knowledge across teams and departments and crowdsource solutions and best practices from frontline workers.
Reporter and Side-by-Side options in Presenter Mode for desktop and window sharing
In addition to the previously offered Standout option, two new presenter modes are available when sharing your desktop and window in the Teams desktop app. Reporter mode places content as a visual aid above your shoulder like a news story. Side-by-side mode displays your video feed next to your content. You can now select a mode that fits your needs and promotes a more engaging presentation and experience.
The Reading Progress app for Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams' new Reading Progress app is beginning its global rollout, which should take roughly two weeks in total to reach everywhere it's intended to. The app is free and is localized in over 100 languages. It's built into Teams Assignments and works across every platform Teams is supported on.
Here's a quick overview of what you can accomplish in Reading Progress, courtesy of Microsoft:
Students can record themselves reading aloud on either audio and/or video.
This allows students to read at their own pace and in a comfortable setting, removing any stigma, stress, or distraction associated with reading out loud.
The app has streamlined a typically time-intensive process by seamlessly integrating with Teams' Education Insights dashboard. Once submitted, educators can review the recorded assignment and provide feedback at their own convenience.
Educators can use the auto-detect feature to quickly review errors such as mispronunciations, repetitions, phrasing, intonation, and omissions, and can use them to customize instruction for each student.
Implementing What’s Right for Your Business
Wondering how to sift through updates or new features and determine which ones would benefit your business? When you work with Excel & Flourish, we help you get set up with a certified Microsoft Trainer that would fit your needs- now and in the future. Your dedicated trainer sifts through those new updates and keeps you posted on what new technology you and your team can benefit from. We’re not just a “one and done,” company. Our goal is to save you and your employees time and money, while implementing our Ripple Effect.
Curious? Reach out to us today and learn more about how Excel and Flourish can get your team on the same page with Microsoft 365, Teams and/or Zoom training.