The new feature in Microsoft Teams is being able to enable and disable chat throughout the meeting. This can be used for collaboration in the classroom as you can disable chat when going over new information and need everyone focused on the information being given. Then when wanting collaboration inside the classroom you enable the feature in real time and allow the students to chat in real time with each other.

This feature will make it easier to…

Keep students focused when needed with the chat off

Keep students ready at all time for the chat to open back up and collaborate with each other.

Change the ways of the class throughout the class by having the class student centered when chat enabled and speak to eachother

Also being able to have parts be teacher centered where chat is disabled

I watched a video on the new tool and how to use it which can be watched here.