Microsoft Planner
What is it?
Microsoft Planner is a way to organise teamwork and tasks. It provides a hub for team members to create plans, organise and assign tasks to different users and to check updates on progress through dashboards. It also provides a centralised place where files can be shared and gives visibility to the whole team.
With Microsoft Planner, you can:
- Create a task list for your team/project.
- Set task owner, completion dates, sub-task checklists, group tasks in ‘buckets’, assign labels and add attachments.
- Set notifications for task owners to indicate tasks have been assigned/are due.
- Plan an event or a project launch.
- Publish content and manage the publishing process for articles and blog posts.
- Create and follow a process such as monitoring colleagues or student tasks from scheduling to follow up.
Planner is accessible online via Office.com.
Support
The help available within each application should be the first place to visit for ‘how to’ questions. The help function can be accessed by pressing the F1 key or going to the ‘Help’ menu on the top ribbon in most Microsoft 365 (M365) applications.
For further help with Planner, please visit the M365 Help and Support site. Here you will find:
- Bitesize videos and webinars explaining how to use the key features of Planner.
- Pages to help you find your local M365 Digital Champion for support with any other questions that you may have.
- Our University frequently asked questions about Planner.
Planner is supported by IT Services. If you are unable to resolve your query using the above resources or if you appear to have a technical issue, you can contact the IT Support Centre.
There is also a Microsoft Planner Issues page where you can see questions other Planner users have raised and raise questions yourself.
Instructions for staff and students on how to install Microsoft 365 are available here:
- Microsoft 365: Staff personal computer install
- Microsoft 365: Students personal computer install
- Microsoft 365: Staff accessing MS365 applications via the web
- Microsoft 365: Students accessing MS365 applications via the web
- Microsoft 365: Staff install MS365 applications on your mobile or tablet (iOS & Android)
- Microsoft 365: Students install MS365 applications on your mobile or tablet (iOS & Android)
Learning about Planner
Microsoft provide a number of written resources, with supporting videos which tell you more about Planner:
- Training and help guides for Microsoft Planner can be found in the Planner Help and Learning centre.
- Learn the basics of Planner with this Getting Started guide.
- Learn about building plans and building tasks.
- Learn about staying on track – viewing progress and collaboration.
- Learn about integration (with Microsoft Teams, Outlook and SharePoint.
Information handling
Information classified as Very Sensitive must not be processed or stored on M365 and advice must be sought from the Information Governance Office if you handle this type of information.
If you’re processing/storing information or data classified as Highly Restricted in M365, please follow the information handling minimum controls set out in the Information security classification examples and handling guidance for confidential information.
Continue to adhere to the Information Governance Office Best practice guidance on sharing and storing information and Records Retention Schedule whenever you’re working with data.
Need help on information handling? Contact your Information Governance Guardian.
Limitations
Global limitations:
The official document containing limitations of Planner is not available at present, however this thread in the Planner forum contains a list of known limitations.