Slack kind of works like text messaging and is conducive for group work, but good for general conversation, too. We will use it to coordinate our Writing Groups, to do large group conversations, and for smaller messaging between pairs or small groups.

Slack is a communication platform that has become sort of like texting for businesses. Slacks are organized into “groups,” which have their own pages (such as the group for our course). Discussion topics are organized by “channels.”

You can select how or if to receive notifications in each channel, and leave or join channels. For this class, we’ll have a channel open for general questions for the class as we move along, and use Slack for messaging to communicate with each other. You can also create your own channels and send direct messages to one more multiple people in the class.

How We Will Use Slack

Soon, we are going to solidify your Writing Groups. These groups will help offer extra support in your writing through some positive peer pressure. You will use Slack to coordinate with your Writing Group.

We will also use Slack to communicate as a class via different channels. Right now, all we have is #general (for general comments or questions about the class) and #random (for any random things that might only be indirectly related to the class or not related at all).

I also have a #music channel to share recommendations for songs, playlists, albums to listen to while reading and writing. Another channel I made is #tv-movies-activities to share shows we are watching, hobbies we have that help get our minds off things, etc. Periodically, I’ll ask you to contribute to some of these channels.

There’s a #say-hello channel that you will use to get some practice in a bit.

Finally, there is the #writing-practice-and-process channel. This is a space to work through how our methods of writing are and are not working as ways to pool resources and approaches together. We will start using that channel this class in a below activity.

I’d be very excited about creating other channels though!

Instructional Videos for Slack

Here’s a quick video from the Slack people that introduces how to navigate their software: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2JuAa6-ors

And here’s more information from Slack about posting to channels and sending direct messages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IECPfpSB1RM

Slack for Mobile is a fairly solid app version. Here’s a video walking through that platform, as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xsU4wbbuRY

Instructions To Get Set Up

1. Go to the class Slack here. I would open it in another window or tab so you can stay on this module page and have Slack open at the same time. I also invited you through your Baruch email, so you should be able to open it from there, too.
2. Create a Slack account and login. Since I invited you already to our workspace, it might be easier to create your account there.
3. Be sure to remember your username and password so you can return here. Bookmark our Slack workspace so it is easy to return to. All web browsers have capability to bookmark page. Once bookmarked, you can just go to bookmarked pages and select it.
4. Setup your bio and profile photo (if you want to).
5. Post something to the Slack group’s #say-hello channel to introduce yourself.
6. Bookmark this Slack page URL and keep it handy in your browser (I keep mine on my browser’s “Bookmarks Bar”).
7. Go back to to your Profile (click your name at the top and select “View Profile”) and click the three dots meaning “More” underneath the profile photo.
8. Write down your Member ID number.

Comment below before clicking button to continue: Post your Member ID number in the Comments below. If you had any trouble getting setup on Slack, also note that in your Comment.