Share Ideas & Opinions: Remind

Name of App: Remind

Hyperlink to website: http://www.remind.com
Rating: 

Cost: Free
App Icon: 


Age Group: All

Description: Remind is a free app that is accessible through smart phones and tablets or through the company's website. Brett Kopf founded the company in 2009 with the goal of helping students, parents, and teachers succeed. Essentially, the app is a way for teachers to send messages, reminders, files, documents, trivia questions, etc... to their students and even the parents if they would like. It is also a way to communicate with colleagues and staff members of a school to do things such as coordinate meetings, set up conferences, or discuss/share new ideas. After downloading the app, you create a user account based off your status (teacher, student, parent) and from there you can navigate through the site/app to do things such as join groups, receive notifications, send messages, even send voice memos. Teachers can create a class group and then invite students and parents to join so they can receive the messages and reminders needed for the class. There is also a new Chat feature which allows a teacher to communicate to an individual student or the regular option of the entire class or selected students.  

Supporting instructional strategy in Social Studies: This app is great for all teachers, colleagues, or even sports teams. It is a fast and easy way to communicate and remind members of important information and a way to share opinions and ideas to the group. As a Social Studies teacher, I feel this app will be extremely beneficial because I will be able to easily share resources and documents with my students, share some of the ideas and topics discussed in class as a review, ask trivia or Do-Now questions before class so that the students are prepared and thinking about the topic of the day before they even walk through my doors. For example, this app will allow me to send current events or a history fact of the day straight to my students' cell phones and then notify them of the notification. Once notified, the students will then open and read the message sent and I can monitor who views the message and who does not. By sending a hook or message that will lead into the next class before they even get there will help navigate through the class period and give students plenty of time to collect their thoughts in regard to the message of the day. 

Potential problems in classroom: One potential issue that may arise in the classroom is if students become to dependent on the app holding the files we may need for class. For example, if i were to send a document that I wanted the students to print out and bring to class but instead they just pull it up on their phones, their phones now become a distraction. Another potential issue would be an ethical one. By this I mean that some administrators, parents, school districts etc... may find it inappropriate for students and teachers to have the option of directly communicating with one another. There is always the issue of having access to a smart phone, tablet, or computer for all parties involved, and getting permission from administration and parents. The last potential issue I could think of would be the school policy or how your school accepts such a thing. If you use the app for your class but other teachers do not, that may cause some tension amongst your colleagues and make them feel that they must also do it. 

App Main Screen: Once the app is downloaded, this screen is prompted as a 'main-screen' (it looks different when navigating on web) Before you being to setup/create/manage your own personalized account you are required to select if you are a teacher, parent, or student. All pages are rather similar (with the teacher page acting as a 'manager' page) however certain verification and confirmation is needed for teacher/parent accounts.

Create Group/Class: After setting up your teacher account, you are able to create a 'class' on your Remind account. You will be able to name you course, select if the age group of students is +/- 13 years old, customize a class page, and most importantly create a 'Class Code' which is how students/parents will be able to find/join this class (with you approval)

Joining a Class: Once you have created the class account, students and parents will now be able to join. After they have created their personal accounts they can either search you on the Remind app/web, scan a bar code, or follow the steps in the image above that involves texting a message to the class code which grants them access once approved

Teacher Options: This image demonstrates a few of the options given to teachers as ways to communicate/engage with students and parents. Teachers are able send messages to students and parents, teachers are also able to schedule notification/reminders for their class groups ahead of time, and teachers are also able to send/share files, photos, or voice memos with selected class or students

Message Example: This is an example of how it would look if you (as a teacher) were to schedule/immediately send a message to your students/class. It is set up like a text message and allows you to schedule when to post it to the class feed. You also are able to group classes together like a 'group text message' since the classes are set up as a contact

Notification Settings: Since the app is designed as a form of communication through phones/tablets/computers you will be notified of new updates and notifications. Just as any other app that functions with notification and communicating, you have the ability to select how you will receive notifications on your phone through your Remind app.