Article #14: Class Notebook in Microsoft Teams: Useful?

The Class Notebook in Microsoft Teams is a digital notebook for the whole class to store and share text, files, links, etc.

I started using Class Notebook for my accounting students in Spring 2021 semester. All lectures and tutorials were conducted online in that semester. In the ‘Collaboration Space’ which can be assessed and edited by everyone in the class, I encouraged students to share useful resources, such as web links, videos and exercises (Q & A). I uploaded extra resources in the ‘Content Library’ which is a read-only space to students.  I created two sections in the ‘Student Notebooks’ for students to insert their answers to exercises and tutorial questions. These sections were shared between me and each individual student in the class. I can access every student’s sections. The students can only see their own sections. 

As a lecturer, I find using Class Notebook a convenient way of getting students’ answers and providing feedback on their answers. The answers need not be type-written. Hand-written answers can be captured as pictures. I can put comments or remarks on the answers without going through the uploading and downloading processes, due to real-time synchronisation. In a physical classroom, some students may forget to bring the hardcopy of their answers for discussion. If they have their answers in Class Notebook, the answers will be accessible anywhere, anytime.