Step 10: Communication Tools

Introduction

On this page, you will identify which tools are used when communicating with a professor including Zoom, Voicethread and Microsoft Teams

Zoom

Zoom is the primary videoconferencing tool used for synchronous class sessions and meetings at the School of Social Work. All UMB students—including MSW students—have access to a full Licensed Zoom account with equal access to settings, meetings, and recordings.  See more about Zoom.

You can log in at https://umaryland.zoom.us using Single Sign-On (SSO) with your UMID.

Single Sign-On (SSO) allows you to use your UMID and password to log into multiple university services, including Zoom, Blackboard, Office365, and more—without needing separate usernames or passwords.

Support is available through help@umaryland.edu or 410-706-HELP.

We encourage you to:

• Log in and explore your Zoom account ahead of your first class.
  Practice starting a session or adjusting settings to become familiar with the platform.

(NOTE: OMSW Students use Engageli instead of Zoom during their synchronous classes - there is a separate page for that in the OMSW Student area.  However, if you are a OMSW student you will likely still use zoom for group work or to attend virtual campus events.)

Voicethread

Voicethread is an asynchronous tool for presentations, communicating, and discussion. Please start by reading the student voicethread page  and then view the presentation using this link, in which you can also practice adding a brief comment. You will need to be logged into https://umaryland.voicethread.com with your UMID first, in order to add a comment.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a group collaboration tool that provides for team communication, collaboration, persistent workplace chat, video meetings, file storage (including collaboration on files), and application integration using Office 365. This tool is perfect for student group communication. (Note that few if any classes at SSW are officially using this tool, but we mention it because you do have access and can use it to communicate with fellow students.) 

• 1. Visit office.com and click Sign in.

  2. Login using your UMID.

  3. Authenticate via Duo.

  4. Select Teams from the list of available icons. 

  5. In the search bar, type the name or email address of the person you wish to message.

  6. Type a New Message to begin an instant messaging session.

  7. You can add video and audio or create a Team with more than one person.

  8. There are loads of resources about Teams on YouTube or via Microsoft's website. If you plan to use Microsoft Teams in any capacity, we encourage you to check these resources out. 

Page Summary

On the Communication Tools page, you learned about various platforms used for interacting with professors and classmates, including Zoom, Voicethread,  and Microsoft Teams. Zoom is  the primary videoconferencing tool, providing seamless class and meeting experiences. Voicethread, an asynchronous platform, facilitates presentations and discussions, enhancing collaboration beyond real-time interactions. Microsoft Teams, offering group collaboration features, stands out for its utility in student group communication, despite its limited use in official SSW classes. You also gained insights into accessing and utilizing these tools effectively, ensuring smooth communication throughout your academic journey. 

✅ Exercise

1. Log in to Zoom and practice starting a meeting.  Generate a join code to invite another person.

2. Log onto Office.com and launch Microsoft Teams.

3. After you have completed exercise 10, please go to Step 11. 

This page was last edited 7/1/2025.