Digital tools for video conferences, lectures, consultations

Microsoft Teams integrates video conferencing, chat, document storage, and collaboration tools into a single environment. It is part of the Microsoft 365 suite, making it particularly suitable for institutions that already use it. Teams is used not only for lectures and meetings, but also for project meetings and teamwork because it allows communication to be structured across teams and channels.

The advantages of Teams include strong integration with other Microsoft applications, a high level of security and the ability to record meetings and store materials within the platform. It also offers breakout rooms, polling and various application add-ons. The disadvantages include a somewhat more complex user interface and higher technical requirements, which can be difficult for beginners to use.

Teams is a commercial tool, but many higher education institutions have free access because they have Microsoft educational licenses. This makes it a common choice for universities and colleges.

When we talk about the platforms from which it is possible to use this tool, these are:

• mobile application: iOS and Android
• desktop application: Windows, macOS, Linux (limited)
• Web browser: yes, almost full functionality.