If you aren’t already using it, chances are you have probably heard of the online communication platform known as Slack. Slack is a cloud-based software program that is used for project management, information sharing, individual and group communication, as well as synchronous and asynchronous collaboration. There are free and paid plans available; the main difference between the plans is the number of messages that are accessible (10,000 with the free plan) and how many third-party tools are supported (10 with the free plan). What began in 2013 as a mode for inter-office conversation between two business offices has quickly expanded to hundreds of workplaces worldwide as well as many classrooms.
From planning and teaching curriculum to managing student services, there’s a lot to running a physical college or university campus, let alone a digital one. What’s inspiring to us is that over 3,000 higher education institutions, totaling approximately 1.2 million users, are using Slack to keep classes and campus affairs running online. Using Slack in the classroom isn’t just for educator-to-student communication. It’s also great for communication with colleagues. Dylan Ferniany from Noodle, a place to discover schools and educational programs, points out that Slack has many uses for connecting educators. Poll the class – Slack includes a free polling tool which can be used to survey students for a variety of reasons in real-time, during class, or asynchronously, outside of class. Polls are optionally anonymous. Getting Started (Slack) - Everything you need to know to get started and get to work in Slack; UCLA's Good Slacker Guide (Slack best practices & etiquette) UCLA Slack Use Cases - For students, faculty, and staff; Using Slack at UCLA - Student Quickstart Guide (PDF) Slack 101; Using Slack - From channels to search, learn how Slack works from top. A Slack channel has been created for members of any CSE student group to come together to discuss, ask/answer questions, and collaborate! General discussion topics that may be of relevance to student groups will be posted bi-weekly to obtain various groups’ opinions and feedback on which other groups may be able to benefit from.
With the number of existing communication tools already available, you may be wondering how this one differs and why you might consider using it. Slack is organized into ‘channels’ which are like chat rooms dedicated to specific conversations. Messages posted to a channel can be seen by everyone who subscribes to that channel or directed to specific individuals and kept private. Unlike traditional chat rooms which may be hard to follow, Slack supports threading, which allows participants to respond directly to posts within a channel without interrupting the overall flow of conversation. Slack integrates with several third-party services, such as Box, Google Drive, and Dropbox, as well as developer platforms such as GitHub and Bitbucket. It also has a powerful search feature, making it easy to find files and specific topics in cross-channel conversations.
Slack was designed with efficiency in mind, therefore communication tends to be succinct and streamlined. Generally speaking, participants write short, direct messages closer in style to a messaging app without the ‘formality’ often used when composing an email. While this lack of formality may take some getting used to, many students are already accustomed to this style which they frequently use in various social media apps and when texting. Also unlike email, Slack follows more of an ‘opt-in’ model, where users can join in on conversations they feel are relevant and ignore those that are not. Settings are available to determine how often users are notified of messages being posted.
The following is a list of possible ways instructors can use Slack in the classroom:
- Share information – Create channels for posting announcements, sharing articles, links, relevant content, etc. Students can immediately ask questions or comment on the post which could lead to a dialogue around a specific topic. This may help to engage students in the topic as well as build a sense of community in the class.
- Manage group projects – Each group can have its own channel to collaborate, share files, and communicate with each other. Instructors can post resources for groups in their specific channels and periodically check in and offer assistance as needed.
- Crowdsource class notes – Create a channel for students to contribute main ideas from notes taken in class. This could eventually be used to create a study guide.
- Poll the class – Slack includes a free polling tool which can be used to survey students for a variety of reasons in real-time, during class, or asynchronously, outside of class. Polls are optionally anonymous.
- Include experts ‘in the field’ – Invite subject matter experts and/or those working ‘in the field’ to Slack so they can participate in conversations and answer student questions. JHU instructor Jennifer Bernstein invites former students to stay involved in her Slack channels so that current students can benefit from the perspective of someone who has recently graduated and is now working in the medical profession.
- Monitor student engagement – Slack provides an optional weekly summary of usage statistics, including charts and graphs showing how many messages were posted, files uploaded, etc.
If you decide to use Slack in a classroom environment, there are some considerations to keep in mind. For example, there is no FERPA compliance in Slack. Sensitive data such as grades and personal information should not be shared in Slack spaces. Instructors should be clear with students about what types of conversations are appropriate for Slack, and what might be better served in an email or face-to-face. Another thing to consider is the capability available to members (students) that are invited to a Slack space. Instructors may be surprised with the permissions and features available to students (i.e. the ability to create their own channels). Therefore, it is recommended that instructors familiarize themselves with the established permissions of Slack before getting started. Finally, it may be worth noting that Slack is not a course management system (Blackboard, Canvas, etc.), and does not contain many of the features available in those systems, such as a gradebook, assignment creator, rubrics tool, etc. It may, however, provide an interesting, alternative means of communication in relevant situations as determined by the instructor.
Amy Brusini, Senior Instructional Designer
Center for Educational Resources
Center for Educational Resources
Image sources: Slack logo, Phil Simon: How I Use Slack in the Classroom
If you are a marketer that isn’t using Slack channels outside your company group, I’m about to change your life.
As you probably already know, Slack is a messaging app for teams that radically cuts down on email and makes corporate communication more efficient by relying on Slack channels. It’s intuitive, it’s effective, and it’s weirdly fun to use.
When Slack was chosen as Inc. Magazine’s Company of the Year in 2015, Jeff Bercovici wrote about the emotional attachment users have to Slack almost immediately upon use. Slack is a very simple concept, but people are obsessed. With the interface, the efficiency, the attention to detail, the integration with other products, the immeasurable delight of automatic GIF use…the list goes on.
Who better to appreciate such a product than the digital marketing community?
And appreciate it they have. Slack channels extend far beyond the one you use for work. There are Slack channels for designers, developers, freelancers, music festivals, psychedelic miscellanea, and yes – many, many for marketers.
Here are seven Slack Channels every marketer should join:
1. OnlineGeniuses
![Slack For Students Slack For Students](/uploads/1/3/4/1/134125269/725362760.jpg)
Members: 15,000+
Online Geniuses is the biggest (and fastest growing) Slack channel for marketers, and with good reason. The OG group boasts members from top companies including Facebook, Macy’s, GrubHub, Google, Best Buy, Viacom, and engagement is always high.
You truly can get real-time advice on all 59 channels, from some of the most popular like #socialmediamarketing and #seo to the smaller local channels like Vancouver, NorCal, and Austin.
One member, David Hoos of The Good, says the OGs has helped to round out his digital marketing skillset. “One particular recent example is when I was working on updating some content and had some questions about URL redirections. I was able to hop on OG, head to the SEO channel, and had a number of helpful answers in about ten minutes.”
Best of all, they boast regular AMAs with incredible people like Matt Mickiewicz (co-founder of 99designs, Sitepoint, Flippa and Hired), Mark Josephson (CEO of Bitly), Neil Patel (co-founder of Crazy Egg and Hello Bar), and Micha Hershman (Sr. Director of Inbound Marketing and Demand Generation at Eventbrite).
And if I somehow haven’t sold you yet, I probably learn more from their monthly newsletter than all the other emails in my inbox combined.
2. #CreativeTribes
Members: 750+
Working in a niche industry myself (book marketing), I absolutely love the concept behind this group. “Find, connect with, and grow your tribe – no matter your particular niche, profession or creative endeavor.”
This Slack channel is not just for marketers – it includes entrepreneurs, developers, writers, designers, and more – but it is perfect for marketers who are focused on community building. There is a one-time sign-up fee of $25, but as far as I’m concerned it is well worth it.
3. Open Strategy
Members: 500
While Open Strategy is fairly new to Slack, it has been a vibrant community for marketers (with a must-subscribe newsletter) for much longer. “Open Strategy started as a website, email list and social media play to bring together useful strategy tools and people,” says Mark Pollard, founder of Mighty Jungle and an Open Strategy member.
“It can be difficult to get access to mentors, tools, techniques, and knowledge as a strategist in advertising, marketing, and digital agencies. It’s a competitive domain. Open Strategy is trying to make strategy more accessible.”
Though it is still growing, Mark expects that the community will be a place to connect and even to search for new hires. “I’m sure people will find jobs, freelance gigs, future business partners, and spirit animals through the group,” he says. Count me in.
4. Inbound.org
Members: 900
Already a beloved resource for marketers, it’s no surprise that Inbound.org took their talents to Slack. One big-time Slack user, Derric Haynie, Head of Growth for Rebrandly.com, put Inbound.org’s community at the top of his Slack shortlist.
“I get a lot out of these communities,” says Haynie. “I can ask people questions about daily problems I’m having, get feedback, make partnerships and new connections, get help promoting content. Slack channels to me are about meeting real people and working together to solve real problems.”
5. Inbounding
Members: ~900
Guess who else jumped on the Slack train? Hubspot of course. If you aren’t going to ship up to Boston in a few weeks for Hubspot’s The State of Inbound Conference, joining this group is the next best thing.
6. Buffer
Students For Bernie Slack
Members: ~1500
Slack Education Discount
You’ve most likely interacted with or at least seen Buffer pop up in your socialmediaverse due to their weekly #bufferchats on Twitter. As helpful as those are, the Slack community is even better.
“[Slack is] a lot more interactive and useful than things like Twitter chats and Facebook groups,” Haynie says. “I’ve essentially gone “all-in” on Slack groups this year and it’s paying off big time.” I am right next to him on that train.
7. Growmance
Members: ~800
Slack For Higher Education
I’m hoping that after a year in this community I’ll be able to call myself a “growth hacker,” because who doesn’t want that outrageously cool-sounding moniker??
Slack For Teachers
Luckily, people in the Growmance community seem very friendly and open to giving feedback and advice to aspiring growth hackers like me. Is it intimidating sometimes? A little. Should that stop you from joining and asking questions? Absolutely not.