This document provides tips for several start-up tasks.

  • logging into an SPS laptop
  • downloading software updates
  • connecting a headset
  • requesting technology support

Tips on using Microsoft Teams

  • Installing Teams: On district devices, go to the Start menu and look through the alphabetical list of applications.  If Microsoft Teams is installed, you will see it listed in the “M” for Microsoft Teams section (not “T” for Teams). If Teams isn’t installed on your SPS laptop, leave the device plugged in, connected to the internet and allow updates to occur. If that doesn’t solve it, manually download and install the Teams software. From the Start menu of the SPS laptop, go to “Software Center” and find the Teams icon to download it. Once it’s downloaded, when you click a link for a Teams meeting you should see the option to Open Teams. Select that option.
  • Logging into Teams: Make sure the student is logged into Microsoft Teams before clicking a link to join a meeting. Clicking a Teams link in Schoology or Seesaw and choosing the option to launch Teams will ensure that you are logged into Teams. Some features are only available to meeting participants who are logged in.
  • Disabling Chat Notifications: If you find the pop-up chat notifications distracting or if the notifications are covering up other parts of the screen that you need to see, you can turn them off. Click on the student’s profile icon (photo or initials) –> click on ‘Settings’ –> click on ‘Notifications’.     Now you have some choices.  To just stop the notification audio chime, scroll down to “Other” and turn “Notification Sounds” off.  To stop the pop ups, go to “Messages” and change “Chat Messages” to “off”.   There a lot of other notification options, but these 2 are the easiest way to control the notifications.
  • Finding Teams Links: Unfortunately this will differ by teacher and/or school.  The links can be posted on the Schoology calendar or class materials, or Seesaw (for elementary students), but teachers may choose different sections of those tools to post the links. 
  • Seeing other Students’ Faces: Microsoft Teams now allows participants to see more than the standard 3×3 grid (9 participants).  To enable this, you must be using the Microsoft Teams application (not the browser version) and have the most up to date version of Teams installed (if you are doing regular updates to a district Laptop or iPad, you should already have this).  To view more participants, go to the “More Actions” icon (three dots) and click on “Large Gallery” or “Together Mode”.  
  • Why Can’t I… (raise hand, chat, or view large gallery mode). If you don’t seem to have the same options as others in the class, you may not have the most current version of Teams.  District provided laptops will usually be the most up to date and this is another reason to consider using a district device.  Another possible reason that you are not seeing the options is that you are using the browser version of Teams instead of the Application.  See above under “Installing Teams.” The last reason the options may not appear is because you are logged in as a guest (for example, if you clicked a Teams link from a personal email address).  See above under “Logging into Teams.”
  • Getting into the Meeting when only the Teams Chat is Visible: You might see the chat for a class, but can’t see or hear the meeting. In this case, you have not joined the meeting. Please find out where your teacher has posted the link to the Teams meeting and click on that link to join the meeting.