Microsoft Teams is UCL's preferred institutional platform. From July 2024 UCL's licence for Zoom has changed. If you have hosted a meeting in Zoom since January 2024 you will automatically be granted a Zoom licence. Otherwise you will need to apply for a Zoom licence. For this reason, our preferred platform for sessions delivered as part of our scheduled programme of library skills sessions is now Microsoft Teams.
Other factors which may affect your choice of platform include:
- Audience: For sessions for academic programmes, the academic teaching staff may specify the platform. As MS Teams is UCL's preferred platform, students are likely to be familiar with it. NHS staff can use MS Teams, but it's possible other platforms are blocked. Students based in China are more likely to be able to access Zoom.
- Accessibility: MS Teams and Zoom both have automatic captions.
- Interactivity: Both MS Teams and Zoom include chat and reaction features, the ability to share your screen and breakout rooms. Zoom includes a poll and whiteboard features. Polling is possible in MS Teams by utilising MS Forms.
- Personal preference and technical setup: Choosing a platform because of your personal preference is a valid reason. Additionally, some colleagues may have problems using certain platforms depending on their technical setup.
- Capacity: MS Teams has a maximum capacity of 1000. Zoom has a maximum capacity of 1000. For larger events you can upgrade to a live event (MS Teams0 or large meeting or webinar (Zoom) by contacting ISD.
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