GETTING STARTED WITH THE BLOOMZ APP

Transcription

1 GETTING STARTED WITH THE BLOOMZ APP The following instructions will help you navigate through our app and familiarize with some of the app s features. Notice that, while this is an in-depth look into some of the core app features, there are many other delightful moments that can only be experienced with time as you use the app in the school environment and we are constantly adding or improving on our app functionality. Notes: Index: - Below is a list of features, with quick descriptions of their functionality and steps to use them. - If you already have created an account, you won t need to go through the sign-up process, however we have described it under Getting Started so you have an idea of how simple it is for other users. - The descriptions below are based on a mobile device, which is how most of our users experience Bloomz. However, the app is also available on the PC through a web browser ( and the experience will be very similar, with a few exceptions specific to navigation and touch controls described for mobile users. - While our experience is fairly consistent across devices, we have separated below ios from Android. - For test-drive purposes, Bloomz is best experienced in ios devices (iphone or ipad), thanks to the Demo Class feature (only available on ios). Demo Class is a fake class in the app that we created to give people a window into an active class, where they could act as a teacher and post updates, create events, etc. with confidence. Because the Demo Class is fictitious, no content created there is exposed to a person s real-life contacts. Getting Started (For both ios and Android)....Page 2 ios Devices. Page 5 Android Devices. Page 10 Page 1

2 GETTING STARTED (FOR BOTH ios AND ANDROID) 1. Account Creation To get started, Teachers and Room Parents can download Bloomz from the App Store or Google Play and sign up for a Bloomz account, or through an invitation from someone they know. Parents and PTA Leaders are required to sign up through an Invitation. To create an account, all you need is your name, address, zip code. After entering your personal information, you will be asked to select the school community you belong to. 2. Create a Class You can add a class to your school community. Bloomz provides this feature to make your community grow stronger. The navigation tray opens up. Under Communities Click on the Community you want to add a class to Click the + sign at the top right of the screen (bottom right for Android) Select Invite/Subgroup option (People/Subgroup for Android) On the Add, Organize, Collaborate screen, click on Create Class Enter name and description. Click on Save You will be taken to your new class feed Page 2

3 3. Invite Parents Bloomz can add members to a class, which allows you faster communication with parents on the latest announcements, updates and other important information. If for some reason, a parent chooses not to create an account with Bloomz, they will still receive the teacher s communications via , as long as they were in the teacher s distribution list. Click on the name of the Class, Community or Group you want to invite parents to. Click the + sign at the top right of the screen (bottom right for Android) Select Invite/Subgroup option (People/Subgroup for Android) Click on Invite Members option Select the role type (Parent, Teacher, Room Parent or Class Admin). Select the method by which you want to invite parents you ll see three options: default app, copy and paste or enter manually. On the PC, teachers can import addresses from a spreadsheet as well. Once you select, Bloomz will automatically generate an to the parents, which you can customize and make it personal. Parents will receive a code they can enter at the time of sign up. Once Parents sign up, they will be grouped based on child name. Page 3

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5 ios DEVICES 1. Demo Class The Demo Class is a great way for teachers to get familiar with Bloomz. It s a fake class that shows all the above mentioned features already pre-filled to experience what a regular class will look like. Users can navigate in a risk-free environment, making posts, comments, etc knowing these will not be exposed to their contacts. Under Classes click on the Demo Class item. Use the bottom navigation bar to navigate the different tabs Feed, Calendar, Photos, Volunteer, More. As you do this, look at the examples of posts, events, pictures that are there as example of a regular class. Steps below start from the Feed tab in your Demo Class. You can always leave the Demo Class by clicking on Exit Demo at the top left of the Demo Class. 2. Communicating with parents Bloomz makes communication easier by allowing you post announcements and updates. On your Demo Class page/feed, click the + sign at the top right of the screen and select the type of post you want Bloomz allows you to do 4 types of communications: o Post: for quick updates and photos o Announcements: to pin messages to the top of the feed for a period of time o Message Class: instant messages to one or more parents o Alerts: for immediate/urgent communications Make sure the to: field has the person/group you want to communicate to. Class is the default in this page. Click on the Text box and enter a title and body for your message. For announcements, enter the time you want it to be pinned to the top of the feed. Click Send. Page 5

6 3. Sharing photos Photos are a great way to share amazing class moments with parents, giving them a window into the classroom. On your Demo Class page/feed, click the + sign at the top right of the screen and select Post The Post screen will open. At the bottom left of the screen, click Insert Photos Select the album you want to post photos from, click Done You can add a name or description to your post. All photos are stored in the Photos tab at the bottom of your class screen and can be ordered in albums. Page 6

7 4. Creating events You can share any upcoming events like field trips or talent shows at school, so parents can have immediate access to all the upcoming events. Click on the name of the Class, Community or Group you want to schedule an event for. Click the + sign at the top right of the screen and select Event Enter the details of your event, like name, location, start and end time. Don t forget to set up an alert for when you want to be reminded of the event. You can invite parents or other members, and require to RSVP to better manage your event. You can also request for items or people should your event require it. Click Save. All Events will show on the Calendar tab at the bottom of your class screen. 5. Requesting volunteers With Bloomz you can request members of your class (parents, room parents or staff) to help with items or volunteers. Click on the name of the Class you need help with. Click the + sign at the top right of the screen and select Volunteer Help Select the type of help you require, whether it s +Need Items or +Need People Enter the details of items or people you need and quantities. Enter the details of your event, like name, location, start and end time. Don t forget to set up an alert for when you want to be reminded of the event. Page 7

8 You can invite parents or other members, and require to RSVP to better manage your event. Click Save. All volunteer requests will show on both the Calendar and Volunteer tabs at the bottom of your class screen. Parents will be able to go to the Volunteer tab and sign up for each request, which will get blocked once a parent takes it. 6. Parent-Teacher Conferences With Bloomz you can schedule Parent-Teacher conferences in seconds. Click on the name of the Class you want to schedule conferences for. Click the + sign at the top right of the screen and select Parent Teacher Conference Enter the details of your event, like name, location, start and end time. This feature will allow you to set the duration for each conference, and the break time in between them, as well as add a break for lunch. Don t forget to set up an alert for when you want to be reminded of the event. Click Next on the top right The app will automatically generate the time slots for parents to choose, and you can remove specific times should you need to. Click Next. Decide whether you want to invite the whole class or specific parents to choose first (don t worry, you can always invite the rest of the class) Click Done at the top right Bloomz will auto-generate an you can customize for parents to be notified of the Conferences. Click Send. Parents will receive the notification directing them to schedule their conference. You can track who selects which times at any point in time. Page 8

9 All PT Conferences will show on the Calendar tab at the bottom of your class screen. Page 9

10 ANDROID DEVICES 1. Communicating with parents Bloomz makes communication easier by allowing you post announcements and updates. Click on the name of the Class, Community or Group you want to post to. Click the + sign at the bottom right of the screen and select the type of post you want Bloomz allows you to do 4 types of communications: o Post: for quick updates and photos o Announcements: to pin messages to the top of the feed for a period of time o Message Class: instant messages to one or more parents o Alerts: for immediate/urgent communications Make sure the to: field has the person/group you want to communicate to. Class is the default in this page. Click on the Text box and enter a title and body for your message. For announcements, enter the time you want it to be pinned to the top of the feed. Click Send. 2. Sharing photos Photos are a great way to share amazing class moments with parents, giving them a window into the classroom. Click on the name of the Class, Community or Group you want to share photos with. Click the + sign at the bottom right of the screen and select Post The Post screen will open. At the bottom left of the screen, click Insert Photos Select the album you want to post photos from, click Done You can add a name or description to your post. All photos are stored in the Photos tab at the top of your class screen and can be ordered in albums. Page 10

11 3. Creating events You can share any upcoming events like field trips or talent shows at school, so parents can have immediate access to all the upcoming events. Click on the name of the Class, Community or Group you want to schedule an event for. Click the + sign at the bottom right of the screen and select Event Enter the details of your event, like name, location, start and end time. Don t forget to set up an alert for when you want to be reminded of the event. You can invite parents or other members, and require to RSVP to better manage your event. You can also request for items or people should your event require it. Click Save. All Events will show on the Calendar tab at the top of your class screen. 4. Requesting volunteers With Bloomz you can request members of your class (parents, room parents or staff) to help with items or volunteers. Page 11

12 Click on the name of the Class you need help with. Click the + sign at the bottom right of the screen and select Volunteer Help Select the type of help you require, whether it s +Need Items or +Need People Enter the details of items or people you need and quantities. Enter the details of your event, like name, location, start and end time. Don t forget to set up an alert for when you want to be reminded of the event. You can invite parents or other members, and require to RSVP to better manage your event. Click Save. All volunteer requests will show on both the Calendar and Volunteer tabs at the top of your class screen. 5. Parent-Teacher Conferences With Bloomz you can schedule Parent-Teacher conferences in seconds. Click on the name of the Class you want to schedule conferences for. Click the + sign at the bottom right of the screen and select P-T Conf. Enter the details of your event, like name, location, start and end time. This feature will allow you to set the duration for each conference, and the break time in between them, as well as add a break for lunch. Don t forget to set up an alert for when you want to be reminded of the event. Click Next on the top right The app will automatically generate the time slots for parents to choose, and you can remove specific times should you need to. Click Next. Decide whether you want to invite the whole class or specific parents to choose first (don t worry, you can always invite the rest of the class) Click Done at the top right Bloomz will auto-generate an you can customize for parents to be notified of the Conferences. Click Send. Parents will receive the notification and a link to schedule their conference. You can track who selects which times at any point in time. Page 12

13 All PT Conferences will show on the Calendar tab at the top of your class screen. Page 13