PD

Using the Slack app

Module
Fundamentals
Skill
[Professional Basics]
Minutes
45

Learning Objectives

  • List the reasons why it is important to react to channels, messages, and threads in Slack

Preparation

Everyone must have their laptops connected to the internet and the Slack app open.

Introduction

Slack is a collaboration platform that enables efficient team communication, file sharing, and integration with various tools.

It’s important because it enhances productivity, fosters collaboration, and centralises communication for remote and distributed teams.

Exercises

Let's share our knowledge about Slack (10 minutes)

Goal: Share your knowledge about Slack

Trainees should discuss the below questions about Slack and how to use it to share their knowledge with others.

  • What is a thread? 
  • How do we find a particular channel? 
  • Where do we look for notifications?
  • How can I turn off notifications so I am not overwhelmed?
  • Why is it important to react to a channel/message/thread?
  • Why do we need to check Slack daily?
  • Why should I avoid long texts and use short titles/paragraph with details in a thread? 
  • Why should we avoid using private messaging?

Let's practice using a thread (10 minutes)

Goal: For everyone to actively use Slack and reply in a thread

  • One trainee posts something on the cohort Slack (for example, do you like Slack? or What is your favourite colour?)
  • Every trainee must reply to it - this exercise only finishes if we have the same number of replies as the number of trainees in the class!

Organising the cohort thread (10 minutes)

Goal: Organisation of tasks whilst using Slack

Someone should post this question on Slack: “What would you do if you come to a class and there are no volunteers to guide it? How would you organise yourselves?”.

  1. Add on the thread one suggestion of what could be do
  2. React with a pertinent emoji to the suggestions you think should be adopted
  3. React with an emoji showing the suggestions you think should not be adopted

Discuss how you would organise your lesson (15 minutes)

Goal: Understand how the cohort will self-organise

With the input of the previous discussion in the thread, in groups of 4, discuss:

  1. List the 5 actions that are the highest priority, if you arrive and there is no volunteer available.
  2. Define what steps would you take to solve the 5 steps.
  3. 1 team to share their reflection and importance of knowing this
  4. Other teams to their complementary reflection

Remember: self-organisation is a goal for the cohort!