How you approach Academic Advising in an online or blended context will depend to some extent on your local model of advising.  However, some basic principles apply, and they are not very different from good practice in face-to-face advising:

• Outline some points for discussion in advance via email or in the invitation to join an online meeting, that way you will be both be prepared and your students will know what to expect.
• Consider having access to a shared document where you can make some notes – again this provides a framework for your meeting and a record to take away. 
• If you can share your screen (e.g. using MS Teams), you can prepare some links to refer your students to: For example; the Careers Service Website or My Learning Essentials.
• Encourage students to turn their camera on so that you can have non-verbal cues that aid effective communication.

• Not all students have Wifi or sufficient data on their phone to respond to an invite from an online platform - so if they are not responding and you are concerned please contact them by phone (someone in your School will be able to access their number).
• For some students, especially those whose first language is not English, it may be preferable for them either to have asynchronous communications with you, such as email) as this helps students to not miss fast spoken language, especially for a group chat with multiple speakers, and to mitigate possible poor sound quality.
• It may be necessary for advisors to think through the implications of possibly having students in different time zones and consider arrangements such as recording any online synchronous interaction to allow students to refer back at a later date.
• International students may have particular concerns around their accommodation, visas and travel so please signpost students to the University's Student Support site.
• See also, the section Interacting with students remotely.

MS Teams

Teams is the university's chosen platform for messaging and video conferencing service: it provides an online space to chat, hold meetings and make video calls. So you can use MS Teams to hold online Advising meetings and office hours - just let your students know when you’ll be available.

Note that, while Teams offers a convenient may of sharing files and keeping them together in one place, information classified as Very Sensitive must not be processed or stored on M365.

See IT Services - Software: Microsoft Teams for more information, as well as the Microsoft 365 at UoM group for collaborative Q&A / discussion.

Arranging a time to meet: MS Bookings and 'Book with me'

MS 'Book with me' enables students to book an online meeting slot with you at times when you are free (e.g. office hours). You will both receive a confirmation email and calendar invitation, and a reminder.  

You need to request a licence from IT, which can be done quite simply. See: 

• MS Bookings and Book with me access - Connect

Zoom

Since 2026 the University has ceased its the University-wide Zoom contract in favour of MS Teams.

When an academic advising takes place in a group, it is important that all students feel included and comfortable about contributing.

• The Building an Online Community toolkit contains some icebreakers to aid online socialisation.
• An article from Bustle.com recommends 21 Icebreakers to liven up Zoom calls
• An article by National Teaching Fellow Gary C. Wood suggests Four Ice-Breaker Activities for Virtual Classrooms

Being aware of how we use technology and how its use can affect us has never been more important in terms of living and working sustainably.  

• Resources to support discussions around Digital Wellbeing with your students are available on the Digital Capabilities Effective Practice Hub. (Developed by Dr. Jane Mooney and Dr. Sarah Shepherd, FBMH)