Bar Exam Resources: Virtual Study Groups

Several platforms offer the ability to create virtual study groups to meet online and in most cases to also share screens and documents.

• Microsoft Teams, part of the Office 365 suite, is available to all NIU students at no charge. You can use Teams in a browser, by downloading the Teams program to your PC, or by using a mobile app. See the box below for instructions on using Teams.

The following services are not currently offered, supported, or recommended by NIU, but may be of interest.

• Zoom has a free version (time limit of 40 minutes if more than two participants) or a paid version (starting at $14.99 per month per host, with up to 100 participants).
• Google Meet, the premium version of Hangouts, is free for all Google accounts until September 1, 2020. As of early May the product is still rolling out and not all Google accounts may have access.
• Join.me offers monthly pricing starting at $10 for up to five people.
• Proficonf offers a pro version for $12/month for up to 100 participants.

Tips:

• From Law School Toolbox: Should You Start a Virtual Study Group?
• From PC Magazine: Zoom vs. Microsoft Teams vs. Google Meet.

To access Microsoft Teams, log into your NIU Office 365 account. Look for the blue 'Teams' icon at the top of the page. If you don't see it there,  click All Apps -> to find the Teams icon.

Here are some links to help you get started using Teams for group meetings:

Short training videos from Microsoft:

• Get Your Team Up and Running (video, 2:11) - how to create a Team and add members
• Manage Meetings (video, 1:33) - schedule a meeting & invite participants
• Join a Teams Meeting (video, 1:31) - if you've been invited to a Team meeting, how do you join?
• Join a Meeting on the Go (video, 0:40) - use the mobile app to attend a meeting
• Show Your Screen During a Meeting (video, 0:47) - share your whole desktop, a specific window, or a document
• Upload & Share Files (video, 1:07)

Teams software - links to desktop/mobile downloads

Teams can do a lot more than host meetings. For more information about Teams' features:

• Microsoft Teams Quick Start Guide (.pdf)
• Additional Microsoft training videos

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