blackboard connect webinar: bring your parents closer and your students will go farther
DESCRIPTION
These slides are from a Back2School webinar hosted by Blackboard Connect. Learn about important ways to get your parents involved in activities related to student achievement early in the school year.TRANSCRIPT
Bring Your ParentsCloser and Your Students Will Go Farther
Zach DemingClient Care Director, Blackboard Connect
Don MaceWeb Specialist, Union County Public Schools, NC
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Where does it start?Home - parental involvement is directly correlated to student achievement. The more parents are involved,the greater the chances for student success.
What are important ways parents can get involved?• Parent-teacher meetings• Back-to-school events• Meeting vaccination deadlines
There is no better time than Back2School for parents to get involved in all aspects of their child's academic success!
Positive Student Achievement
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• Construct a communication strategy• Engage with parents on their terms:
• Email, SMS, Voice Messages, Social Media• Correspond in parents’ native language• Share Important information related to academics
• Testing schedules• Achievement and performance updates• Changes in curriculum• Important health updates
How Does Your District Get There?
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Blackboard Product Enhancements
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20112009-2010
Integrated AlertNow and
txttools
Strengthenedmessaging architecture
Delivered 1B+ messages
Developed new features
• FB/Twitter
integration• HTML emails
• Email attachments
• Weather Alerts• Language
Translations
Set new record: 19M+ messages in a single day
Launched new applications
Connect for Teachers
Connect Integration Toolkit
for Learn
2009545M voice calls
153M emails4M SMS
2010639M voice calls
191M emails8M SMS
Connect 5.0
Connect 5.2
Connect 5.1
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What are District Needs?
“Maintaining contact info is a huge burden on our schools. A parent portal would be a HUGE benefit.”
“I want parents to have the ability to set a time to receive outreach messages and attendance calls.”
“I need my administrators to be able to manage complex access levels and sites.”
“I think a smartphone app would be a perfect addition to your program”
K-12 client in Arizona
K-12 client in Kentucky
K-12 client in Wyoming
K-12 client in Massachusetts
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Blackboard Connect 5 – What is it?
• A significant upgrade for Connect and AlertNow clients
• A proven and flexible messaging infrastructure
• New online environments for organizing leaders and the audiences they serve
• Dozens of enhancements designed to make communications more effective and parents, students and staff more responsive
Proven Capacity to Deliver
Same Connect Capacity and FlexibilityConnecting Leadership and Communities
• 4.4 million voice messages per hour• 3 million emails per hour• 2 million text messages per hour
Proven Capacity to Deliver
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InterfaceSimpler, more intuitive interface. Enhances ease-of-use and decreases training.
TemplatesStreamlined message workflow and pre-set scenario templates
Access PortalPortal to help you deliver a more customized user experience
Geo-mappingMessage targeting with enhanced geo-mapping and subscriptions
ReportingReal-time reports provide better visibility into message delivery
iPhone AppiPhone® app allows you to send messages from anywhere
What’s New in Connect 5?
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Let’s See How Connect 5 Helps With Your Back-to-School Activities
Back to School
Using Blackboard Connect
Don MaceWeb CommunicationsCoordinator
Who is UCPS?
• Union County Public Schools• Union County, North Carolina (Monroe)• 40,000 students (53 schools) – 68%
White, 14% Hispanic and 14% African American
• About 31% Free and Reduced Lunch• 5200 employees – 2900 licensed• “Prepare All Students to
Succeed!”
UCPS Vision
• Globalization – Innovation – Graduation• Our Communication Strategy…
– Provide clear, effective, timely and accurate information
– Expand our sphere of influence– Expand our web communications
Types of Communication
• Superintendent’s “Welcome Back!”• Cafeteria Menu changes• Open house, Orientation and school
“Welcome Back!”• Reminders about required paperwork,
supply lists and vaccinations• We use several avenues to present these.
Vaccination Communication
• Inform parents and the community about vaccination clinics available to them“…The Union County Health Department will be offering NC required kindergarten health assessments at the fair. The assessment includes all required immunizations. The cost will be $60 flat fee, cash or check only. A limited number of appointment slots are available. … The NC required Tdap will be available free to all rising 6th graders. Tdap for adults will be available at $40.00…”
• Keeping families informed and providing a cost effective vaccination alternative
• NC Immunization Requirements• NC Immunization Law
Looking forward…
• We like …– The Simpler Interface– The Streamlined Message Center– The Community Portal– The Improved Message Targeting– The Real-time Reports– The Smartphone App
• …it all!
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Q&A
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Please contact us to upgrade to Connect 5: (888) 599-2720
Not a part of the Bb Family? Join Today:(800) 424-9299