How to set up a SharePoint Hub site with associated student SharePoint sites for blogging

Staff Guide: How to set up a SharePoint Hub site and associated student sites for blogging.

Workflow

• Create a module site (either Team or Communication site).
• Log a ticket with ServiceLine so that a SharePoint administrator can convert the module site into a Hub site.
  • Request the automated creation of an individual site for each student.
  • Provide a comma separated values (csv) file of student email addresses.
  • State who the hub site owner will be and the details of any other staff involved in the module who need access.
  • State when editing access should end for students.
    
• Train students on how to manage their sites and create news posts.
• Use the Hub site News web part to aggregate all student blog posts into one feed.

Receiving notifications via Microsoft Teams

As we use Microsoft Teams integrated with Viva Connections, users can receive notifications about new posts.

Users receive notifications when:

• A SharePoint news page is published to a site they follow.
• A SharePoint news page is published by someone they work closely with.
• A SharePoint news page is boosted, and they are part of the audience target.
• They are @mentioned in a comment on a SharePoint news page.

Authors also receive notifications when:

• A user likes their SharePoint news page.
• A user comments on their SharePoint news page.

Requirements for notifications:

• The Viva Connections app is installed in Teams.
• Notifications are enabled in the Teams mobile app and desktop app.
• The notification is outside the user’s set quiet hours.
• The user has access to the news post.
• If audience targeting is enabled, the user is included in the selected Microsoft 365 audience.

Likes are batched for 60 minutes after the first like. Comments are batched for 20 minutes after the first comment. This reduces the number of notifications sent to authors.

Where news appears

News posts can appear in multiple locations:

• On the SharePoint site where they are published.
• On the Hub site, if the News web part is set to show All sites in the hub.
• In the SharePoint start page news feed, if users follow the site.
• In Microsoft Teams, if SharePoint is integrated with Viva Connections.
• In customised News web parts on other SharePoint pages.

Preventing editing after the deadline

Changing editing rights after a deadline is a simple task. The hub site owner must visit the Microsoft Flow and change each student’s permission level. This should only take a few minutes. Exceptions can be granted for students who require extensions.

Version history provides a full audit trail for assessment.

After assessment, staff can return to each site and restore Owner permissions so students can access their work again.