Description
Another communication and collaboration app that can be used for personal and professional purposes is the GroupMe app. GroupMe is an app that allows users to send group text messages. The app allows users to create multiple separate groups and to send individual and group messages. Users can also create names or labels for their groups that are specific to the purpose of the group.
Warnings
When implementing GroupMe amongst school-aged children, one should be aware of the potential for group messages to derail from the topic of discussion. Students utilizing the app may veer off and start their own private discussions within the group chat. This can in turn lead to an excessive amount of messages which can cause confusion or make it difficult for anyone not following the conversation to catch up (Kim, 2020). Previously, GroupMe users were limited in their ability to actively monitor groups and separate groups of students if needed.
Safeguards
Sun et al. (2018, p. 257) found that participants in one study engaged in more social exchanges when using the mobile instant messaging app. One of the safeguards that can be put in place when GroupMe is used for distance learning is utilizing the tag feature. GroupMe has included a feature that allows group administrators to highlight important messages within group conversations. This will help administrators to more effectively facilitate conversations between students so that are engaging in constructive learning rather than social interactions.
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