Microsoft Teams + Virtual Meetings = BIG WIN!

So the pandemic hit in 2020 and we all learned Zoom really fast... like crash course in a virtual platform. Zoom is an amazing virtual platform and their company offered free connection for the pandemic and beyond. 

However, Zoom has returned to providing unlimited meeting times for paying customers. Free accounts are limited to 40 minutes. If this fits your needs, great - 😍 - we still love Zoom!

It's possible though that you need longer meeting times and are simply having your participants rejoin the Zoom link over and over. If this is not optimal for your situation, you have a solution in Keller ISD. 

It's Microsoft Teams - 🤩. And you already have an account. This is a service that we pay for in our district; therefore allowing you to have unlimited virtual meetings. 

Curious to give it a try? Here is a Teams / Zoom side-by-side comparison. 

Give TEAMS a try! You are going to ❤️ it!

Teams Meetings How-To

Chrome Tabs out of control? Rein them in!

So, let's talk about the issue. You have 62 tabs open on your device at any given time in 5-10 different Chrome windows. Yes, tab hoarder, I'm talking to you. 

In fact, before I started writing this blog post, I pointedly closed every extra tab I had open just to make myself feel organized and accomplished. I don't know about you, but I struggle with closing tabs when switching from project to project... I just want to make sure I don't 'lose' anything or that I can 'pick back up' exactly where I left off when I return to that project. 

You NEED  a way to keep tabs on your tabs and Google has one for you! Tab Groups is what you are missing. 

Tab Groups let you 'group' multiple tabs together using name and color customization. These groups can be collapsed to simplify your Chrome window and help you focus on whatever task is at hand. Then when it's time to switch projects, you can simply collapse one group and open a new set keep up the productivity.

Here's how:

1️⃣. Right-click on a tab and choose Add Tab to New Group.

3️⃣. Enter a name for the group (optional) and choose the group color.

4️⃣. Add more tabs to the group by right-clicking and adding.

5️⃣. Expand or collapse a tab group by clicking its name or colored circle.

6️⃣. Reorder tab groups by clicking and holding the name of the group and dragging to the desired spot.

Just like that you have reined in those out of control Chrome tabs! Now focus on one project at a time without worry that your tabs will disappear.

Note: Chrome tabs will not hold on your device if you quit Chrome and shut down your device UNLESS you are using this setting:

➡️ 3 dots on Chrome Window > Settings > On Startup > Continue where you left off

Chrome Tab Groups Google Support