Microsoft Teams & Zoom
Secrets for Success in College - Part 1
Many Pierpont instructors use Microsoft Teams or Zoom to meet with their students, especially in online classes.
Using Teams or Zoom is easy when you get the hang of it.
How will your instructors provide a link to you?
This varies by instructor and class.
Check your syllabus and/or contact your instructor for specific information.
If you have questions or problems,
contact Pierpont's IT
304-333-3731 or 304-333-3701
Microsoft Teams
Joining with a computer, tablet, or a browser on your phone with video and audio
If you receive a link by email, you click on the "Click here to join the meeting" link. It takes you to the sign-in page.
The video that you see on the sign-in page is what others in the class or meeting will see.
If you do not want to change anything (video, audio), just click "Join now."
If you have trouble with your video or audio, you can check your settings by clicking the setting button on the right side just below your picture.
If you are already in the meeting, you can click on the 3 dots and "More," which will open a menu. Click on "Settings," which opens a second menu. Click on "Device Settings."
On the device settings menu you can check your speakers, your microphone, and your video settings.
If you need help with any of this, enter the meeting if you are not in it and share what is happening with your instructor. If the issue is that they cannot hear you, type the information into the chat box, which is explained later on this page.
If you need to leave the meeting for whatever reason and return, you can do that as look as the person who created the Teams meeting has not ended the meeting.
If you are in a place that you prefer people not to see, you can use background filters.
Click on "Background filters" below your picture. When you find the filter you like, click on it.
To close the background setting section, click on the "X" on the upper right.
When you move or hold things up, like the paper in the picture below, it sometimes looks blurry or disappears. This is normal when background settings are used.
When you join the meeting, this is what you will see. Your picture will be small and on the bottom.
If there are other people in the meeting, you will be part of a grouping of pictures of everyone who is attending.
On the top of the picture, there is a toolbar of options.
If you prefer not to be seen, you can click on the camera.
To turn the camera back on, just click on it again.
If you don't want to speak, turn on the microphone (mic). Like the camera, just click on it again to turn it back on.
It is a good idea to turn the microphone off right away so people don't hear what is happening around you.
Many times a meeting organizer will mute (make silent) all of the participants' microphones.
You can connect with the other members using the 'chat' function.
Click on 'chat,' which will open a window. You type your message and click enter.
To close the chat window, click on the X on the top right of the chat window.
If your instructor is asking you to do something in Teams that you do not know how to do, don't be shy. Many people don't know, which is why there are instructional videos.
Ask the instructor how to do it.
Below is a PDF copy of Microsoft Teams: Quick Start Guide
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)
For more information about other Teams options, check out Microsoft Teams tutorials on YouTube or contact one of your resources.
Resources
Pierpont's Information Technology (IT) - help@pierpont.edu
Pierpont's Support Services - access@pierpont.edu 304-534-7878
Joining with your phone (as a phone call)
If you need to join the meeting by making a phone call (without video).
Call the phone number listed below the meeting link under "Or call in (audio only)." If it asks for a meeting ID, type in the "Phone Conference ID" listed below the phone number.
If you have trouble with this, contact your instructor immediately. They might not get back to you right away.
If this is during Pierpont's business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm), contact your resources shown above.
Teams Video Resources
Joining a Teams Meeting
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)
Joining a Teams Meeting Video Transcript
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)
Tips for Teams Meetings
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)
Tips for Teams Meetings Video Transcript
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)
Zoom
Joining a Zoom Meeting
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)