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  • 1.  Remind instead of text messages

    Posted 07-29-2024 09:17 AM

    We are looking into using a tool like Remind or Google chat as an alternative to giving students their teachers cell phone numbers for communication during a field trip or off campus activity.  We are wondering if schools have had success with a tool other than text messages. Ideally the tool would have the ability to contact parents directly as well.  We have been using Ruvna for these types of communications.

    Any feedback / ideas are welcomed!

    Thanks,

    Dan


    #TeachingandLearning

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    Dan Crowley
    Friends' Central School
    Wynnewood PA
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  • 2.  RE: Remind instead of text messages

    Posted 07-30-2024 09:13 AM

    Hi Dan,

    We use Remind for exactly this purpose (to avoid sharing cell phone numbers) and have been using it for 6+ years. Happy to share our experience. We are not actively looking to replace it with anything else at this time.



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    Nick Marchese
    Emma Willard School
    Troy NY
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Remind instead of text messages

    Posted 07-30-2024 09:20 AM

    Remind is probably a better fit for this situation. Google Chat could also do the job, but you'd have to set it up for both students and staff, and make sure you're creating the right closed-off spaces for your students, like only letting them chat with internal staff and not outsiders. Remind is still the go-to for many schools, especially those with fewer than 5k students. Cheers!



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    Eric Sizemore
    CDW-Education
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Remind instead of text messages

    Posted 07-31-2024 09:15 AM

    Dan,

    We just moved to Zoom Phone. One of the benefits of the system is the ability to text. Each teacher has a direct dial phone number assigned to them. They can use Zoom to text while on a field trip, and it works great when traveling globally too. They also have the option to use Zoom and Google Chat as well.

    Kim



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    Kimberly Pearson
    Kent Place School
    Summit NJ
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Remind instead of text messages

    Posted 08-01-2024 07:39 PM

    Does Zoom phone allow texting without an additional fee? or fee per text? I use GoToConnect that has the same feature except I have to pay more to use it :-)



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    Jody Moore
    Canterbury School of Florida
    St. Petersburg FL
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Remind instead of text messages

    Posted 08-06-2024 05:50 PM
    Edited by Susan Fuhs 08-06-2024 08:37 PM

    Hi Dan,

    We're a Microsoft school and adopted Teams and we also use Teams Phone.  I realize you're a Google school and this may not apply to you, but wondering if anyone else has taken this path.  

    I have been looking for a solution and I read that someone is using the Zoom chat.  I looked into using Teams chat for this purpose, and ran into a problem.  The teachers want to limit replies, and in a standard chat  or group chat, you can't restrict replies.  I think I have discovered an alternative for this and that's using a Communication channel in the teams.  Then we can use posts and we can limit replies.  

    Typically we would not want to connect with parents in this manner, and they would not be a member of most teams, so that is OK.  But, I have also looked at creating a Team for our experiential learning programs and study abroad programs where parents serve as chaperones.  They can then be guests of the team and have the ability to chat directly with students, and they can also use the "communication" channel idea where we post reminders that limit repies.  There are two issues I'm cognizant about:  1) students will need to put the app on their phones (should not be a problem!) and 2)Students need to turn on notifications for this.  

    We went live with Teams phones last year and that was about all I could handle!!  This year I hope to expand our use of Teams and hope that someone will take me up on the idea of the communcation channel.  

    Any other Microsoft schools out there doing interesting things with Teams?  I'd love to connect!!

    Susan



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    Susan Fuhs, Director of IT Services
    Norfolk Academy
    Norfolk VA
    swfuhs@norfolkacademy.org
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    Original Message


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