Service overview
Microsoft Planner is an intuitive, collaborative task management tool that enables people to plan, manage, and complete task-based initiatives.
Planner allows you to:
- assign and manage tasks on a Kanban board,
- populate task cards with various information, such as due dates, status, checklists, labels, and file attachments,
- communicate and collaborate with other users,
- receive progress updates via email.
Planner integrates with several Microsoft apps, including Teams, SharePoint, and To Do. As a web-based tool, Planner is accessible from anywhere and available as a mobile app for both iOS and Android.
Who can use it
This service is available to active students, faculty, and staff members.
How to request & access the service
Log into the Microsoft 365 site at https://office.com using your McGill Username and Password.
As soon as you enter your McGill Username, you will be redirected to McGill's authentication server to sign in. Once you are in the Microsoft 365 portal, click the App Launcher then Planner to access your plans. If you don’t see Planner in the list of apps, click All Apps to view all the application you have access to and locate Planner there.
Cost
There is no cost associated with this service.
Availability
The service is available 24 X 7, except during planned maintenance or outages. Check the home page of the IT Support site for announcements.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any limitations on my usage of Planner?
Your usage must be in accordance with the Policy on the Responsible Use of McGill IT Resources and the Cloud Directive.
Is Planner the right tool for my project?
Please refer to the article When to use Microsoft Project, Planner, To Do, or Tasks app in Teams to find out the differences between Microsoft Project, Planner, To Do, or the Tasks app in Teams. In summary, Planner is suitable for group projects which don’t involve complex dependencies and budgets.
Best practices & policies
- Never give your McGill credentials to another person to allow them access to your plan, or for any other reason. This is a violation of the Policy on the Responsible Use of Information Technology Resources.
- Only share your plan with people you know and trust, because whoever has access to the plan can edit or delete all the tasks and buckets in the plan.
- Deletion of plans is permanent and NOT recoverable.
- All files attached in the task cards are stored in the group’s SharePoint. Please follow the policies on sharing and storing files on SharePoint.
Training & documentation
Instructions on the Microsoft Support knowledge base:
- Planner Quick Start
- Build Your Plan
- Apps and Integrations
- Planner Blog
- Other instructional articles on the Microsoft Support site
Training:
Register for an introductory training session at Planner Intro.
Support
Contact the IT Service Desk
Microsoft Support: