Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams can be a valuable tool to support the teaching strategy of Explicit Instruction. With its robust features and collaborative platform, Teams allows teachers to deliver explicit instruction effectively. Teachers can use the platform to create and share instructional materials, such as presentations, documents, and videos, providing clear explanations and step-by-step demonstrations. Teams also enables teachers to engage students through live video conferences, facilitating real-time interactions and opportunities for immediate feedback. Additionally, teachers can utilize the chat and discussion features in Teams to encourage student participation, ask questions, and clarify concepts. By leveraging the capabilities of Microsoft Teams, educators can deliver explicit instruction in a structured and interactive manner, promoting comprehension, engagement, and collaboration among students.

BCE Due Diligence Rating

Low Risk - Use Responsibly

Year Level Suitability Rating

Developmental Considerations

Potential Uses

Microsoft Teams can be used to enhance Explicit Teaching in the classroom.

Virtual Classrooms

Teachers can create virtual classrooms in Microsoft Teams, where they can deliver explicit instruction through live video sessions, screen sharing, and interactive discussions. This transforms traditional face-to-face instruction into a digital and collaborative learning environment.

Assignment Management

Teachers can use Microsoft Teams to distribute and collect assignments related to explicit instruction. Students can submit their work digitally, receive feedback, and track their progress, enhancing the efficiency and organization of the assignment process.

Collaborative Note Taking

Students can collaborate on shared documents within Microsoft Teams, such as OneNote notebooks or Word documents, to co-create and annotate explicit instruction materials. This transforms traditional individual note-taking or worksheet completion into a collaborative and interactive process.

Guest Speakers

Teachers can invite guest speakers or subject matter experts to deliver explicit instruction sessions through Microsoft Teams. This expands students' access to diverse perspectives and expertise, transforming traditional classroom instruction into a more enriched and connected learning experience.

Discussion Boards

Teachers can create discussion boards or channels in Microsoft Teams to facilitate asynchronous discussions related to explicit instruction. Students can engage in discussions, ask questions, and share their understanding, promoting active participation and peer learning.

Polls and Surveys

Teachers can use Microsoft Teams to create polls or surveys related to explicit instruction, gathering real-time feedback and assessing students' understanding. This enhances traditional paper-based surveys by providing immediate results and data analysis capabilities.

PHYSICAL

COGNITIVE

SENSORY

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL

Accessibility Features

Keyboard Shortcuts: Teams supports keyboard shortcuts, enabling individuals with physical disabilities to navigate and interact with the platform using keyboard commands.

Screen Reader Compatibility: Teams is compatible with popular screen readers, allowing individuals with physical disabilities to access and navigate the platform using text-to-speech or braille displays.

Dictation and Voice Commands: Teams supports dictation and voice commands, providing an alternative input method for individuals with physical disabilities.

Keyboard Shortcuts: Teams supports a wide range of keyboard shortcuts, providing an alternative input method for individuals with cognitive disabilities.

High Contrast Mode: Teams offers a high contrast mode, allowing users with cognitive disabilities to adjust the color scheme for enhanced visibility and readability.

Accessibility Checker: Teams includes an accessibility checker that scans documents and presentations for potential issues, ensuring content is accessible to individuals with cognitive disabilities.

Screen Reader Compatibility: Teams is compatible with popular screen readers, enabling individuals with visual impairments to access and navigate the platform using text-to-speech or braille displays.

High Contrast Mode: Teams offers a high contrast mode, allowing users with visual impairments to adjust the color scheme for enhanced visibility.

Live Captions: Teams provides live captions during meetings and video calls, ensuring accessibility for individuals with hearing impairments or auditory processing difficulties.

Closed Captioning for Recorded Meetings: Teams allows users to add closed captions to recorded meetings, ensuring accessibility for individuals with hearing impairments or auditory processing difficulties.

Focus Mode: Teams includes a focus mode that minimizes distractions, supporting individuals with social/emotional disabilities in staying focused during meetings or collaborative work.

Compatibility with Assistive Technology: Teams is designed to work seamlessly with various assistive technologies, ensuring accessibility for users with social/emotional disabilities who rely on specialized devices or software.

Making Functional Adjustments

PHYSICAL ADJUSTMENTS

Alternative Input Methods: Teachers can encourage students with physical disabilities to use alternative input methods, such as voice commands or external switches, to navigate and interact with Teams independently.

Keyboard Shortcuts: Teachers can teach students with physical disabilities to utilize keyboard shortcuts in Teams, allowing them to navigate through the platform and access features without relying on manual dexterity.

Screen Sharing: Teachers can use the screen sharing feature in Teams to provide enlarged views of content or demonstrations, supporting students with physical disabilities in accessing information more easily.

SENSORY ADJUSTMENTS

Closed Captioning: Teachers can enable closed captioning during live meetings or recorded sessions in Teams, ensuring accessibility for students with hearing impairments or auditory processing difficulties.

Visual Supports: Teachers can incorporate visual aids, such as images, videos, and infographics, within Teams to support students with visual impairments or sensory disabilities in accessing and understanding content.

Alternative Formats: Teachers can provide alternative formats of materials, such as text-based transcripts or audio recordings, within Teams to accommodate the needs of students with sensory disabilities.

COGNITIVE ADJUSTMENTS

Structured Communication: Teachers can use Teams to provide clear and structured communication by organizing information, instructions, and assignments in a consistent and easily understandable format.

Visual Supports: Teachers can utilize visual aids, such as images, charts, and diagrams, within Teams to support students with cognitive disabilities in understanding and processing information effectively.

Simplified Language: Teachers can modify their language and use plain language techniques to ensure that instructions and content within Teams are accessible and comprehensible for students with cognitive disabilities.

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENTS

Collaborative Projects: Teachers can facilitate collaborative projects within Teams, allowing students with social/emotional disabilities to work together, fostering teamwork and providing opportunities for shared contributions.

Private Channels: Teachers can create private channels within Teams to provide a safe and supportive space for students with social/emotional disabilities to communicate and collaborate with their peers.

Individual Check-ins: Teachers can schedule individual check-ins with students through Teams, providing a platform for students with social/emotional disabilities to express their concerns, ask questions, and receive personalized support.

Support for Universal Design for Learning

Multiple Means of Representation

Microsoft Teams supports the representation pillar of UDL by offering various tools and features to present information in multiple formats. Teachers can share documents, presentations, and videos within Teams, ensuring that content is accessible to diverse learners. Additionally, Teams supports closed captioning, screen reader compatibility, and high contrast mode, making content accessible to students with visual or hearing impairments, and providing options for customization based on individual needs.

Multiple Means of Engagement

Microsoft Teams supports the engagement pillar of UDL by providing a collaborative and interactive platform for students. Through features like chat, discussion boards, and video conferencing, Teams enables students to actively participate, ask questions, and engage in meaningful discussions. Teachers can also use multimedia tools within Teams to create engaging presentations, share videos, and incorporate interactive elements, fostering student engagement and motivation.

Multiple Means of Expression

Microsoft Teams facilitates the action and expression pillar of UDL by providing opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding and express their ideas. Students can use Teams to collaborate on projects, create and share documents, and participate in discussions. Teams also offers features like video recording, screen sharing, and virtual whiteboards, allowing students to showcase their knowledge, present their work, and engage in creative expression.