Microsoft Teams is a powerful collaboration platform that can be effectively utilised for conducting oral tests, providing educators with a versatile tool to assess students' communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and subject knowledge through verbal interaction. With its integrated features for audio and video communication, screen sharing, chat, and collaboration, Microsoft Teams offers educators a comprehensive solution for facilitating engaging and interactive oral assessments in both synchronous and asynchronous formats.

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Key Features of Microsoft Teams for Oral Tests:

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• Video Conferencing: Microsoft Teams enables educators to conduct live video conferences with students, creating a virtual environment for oral tests that closely resembles face-to-face interactions. Video conferencing supports real-time communication, allowing educators to assess students' verbal responses, body language, and presentation skills.

• Audio Calls: In addition to video conferencing, Microsoft Teams offers audio calling capabilities, providing flexibility for oral tests in situations where video may not be necessary or feasible. Audio calls allow educators to focus on students' verbal responses and auditory comprehension without the need for visual cues.

• Screen Sharing: Teams allows educators to share their screens during oral tests, enabling them to present visual aids, prompts, and multimedia content to students. Screen sharing facilitates interactive discussions and enhances the assessment experience by providing additional context and supporting materials.

• Chat: The chat feature in Microsoft Teams allows for text-based communication between educators and students during oral tests. Chat can be used for providing instructions, clarification, or additional prompts to students, as well as for recording notes or feedback from the assessment.

• Recording: Microsoft Teams allows educators to record audio and video of oral test sessions for later review and analysis. Recording oral tests enables educators to capture students' responses, evaluate their performance, and provide constructive feedback for improvement. Recordings also serve as valuable artifacts for assessment validation and documentation purposes.

• Breakout Rooms: Teams offers the option to create breakout rooms, allowing educators to divide students into smaller groups for individual or group oral assessments. Breakout rooms enable focused discussions, peer interactions, and collaborative problem-solving activities, enhancing the depth and richness of the assessment experience.

• Directly link to and from Moodle (The College primary VLE) Lecturers can easily link to their Teams course to Moodle.

• Security and Compliance: Microsoft Teams prioritises security and compliance, providing robust data encryption, access controls, and compliance certifications to safeguard sensitive information and ensure privacy during oral tests. Secure communication channels and data protection measures instill confidence in educators and students alike, fostering a safe and trusted assessment environment.

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By leveraging Microsoft Teams for oral tests, educators can create dynamic, interactive, and inclusive assessment experiences that promote student engagement, communication skills, and subject mastery. The platform's integrated features for video conferencing, screen sharing, chat, recording, and collaboration empower educators to design authentic and effective oral assessments aligned with learning objectives and pedagogical goals.