Learning Technologies Staff Help and Support

Question:  When will the feature be available to directly add a Teams meeting to SOL?

Answer:  This feature will be available after our SOL upgrade, which is currently taking place on Sept. 9.

Question:  Can we use Zoom instead of Teams?

Answer:  Unfortunately, the university will not be renewing Zoom licenses.  Instead, we are recommending using Teams, which will allow for an unlimited meeting time, and will be integrated with SOL.

Question:  How do I name my Teams link?

Answer:  To name your Teams meeting link, first type the title of your meeting link into the label.  Next, highlight the text, and select the Teams meeting creator.  Follow the instructions on the Teams meeting window, give your meeting a name and select a time.  Then click 'Create' and 'Add Link'.  This will assign your Teams meeting room to the selected text.

Question:  Do I need to create a new meeting link every week?

Answer:  No, you can re-use the same link every week.  This will also mean that all resources, recordings and chat history will remain.  The link will be valid for 60 days from the last point of use.  

Question:  How can I set up Breakout rooms using multiple Teams links?

Answer:  We recommend setting up multiple Teams meeting rooms within a label.  Using the instructions above, give each one a different name (ie. Group A, Group B, etc.).  Instruct the students as to which group they should join.  You, as the lecturer, will be able to come and go between the meeting rooms.  Remember that you will have to 'Leave' a meeting room to join another.

Question:  Can I set up separate Teams meetings for different seminar groups?

Answer:  Yes, in the same way that you set up Breakout rooms - we recommend creating a different Teams meeting link per seminar group.  You could use the same links all semester - one link per seminar group that you re-join every week.  

Question:  Can I restrict access to Teams meeting links so that groups will only be able to see their assigned links?

Answer:  Yes - First, you would need to set up groups in SOL.  We have detailed instructions on how Groups can be set up in SOL here. 

Once your groups have been created, you can then use the 'Restrict Access' features to only allow one group to see each link.  

First, start by creating a meeting link for each group in separate labels - one meeting link per label.

Second, in the settings for each label, find the option for 'Restrict Access':

Then select, 'Add Restriction' and select 'Group' from the list:

Then, select the group which you want to have access to the label (and subsequently the link) that you are editing:

Finally, save changes at the bottom.  This will restrict access to the Teams meeting link within the label to the group you have selected.

Question:  Can my students select their own working / breakout groups?

Answer:  Yes, you can allow students to select and manage their own group using the 'Group Self-Selection' tool.  To use this, click to 'add an activity or resource' to your SOL module page, and add the 'Group Self Selection' tool:

Follow the instructions in the editor by giving the tool a name (ie. Working Group Selection), and amend the settings for minimum/maximum number per group.  

When you direct students to the link, they will be able to set up groups, join a group or leave a group.  If you would like to stop students' being able to access the group self-selection, simply 'hide' the activity.

Finally, follow the instructions above if you want to restrict access to each group's link.

Question:  Can timetabled seminar groups be imported into SOL?

Answer:  No, unfortunately you would need to create seminar groups manually.