Communication Tools

DeanDesk offers various communication tools to facilitate interaction between administrators, instructors, and students.


Announcements

Post general announcements visible to all users or specific groups.

Types of Announcements

System-Wide Announcements: Visible to all users across the platform

Course Announcements: Specific to individual courses

Group Announcements: Targeted to specific user groups or roles

How Students Receive Announcements

When an announcement is posted, students receive notifications through multiple channels:

  • Email notification
  • In-app notification on the DeanDesk platform
  • Push notification (if logged into the mobile app)

Messaging

Send direct messages to individuals or groups within the platform.

Features

  • One-on-One Messaging: Direct communication between users
  • Group Messaging: Send messages to multiple recipients
  • Message History: Access previous conversations
  • File Attachments: Share documents and files through messages

Notification Settings

Users can customize their notification preferences to control how they receive communications:

  • Email notifications
  • Push notifications
  • In-app notifications
  • Frequency settings

Best Practices

For Administrators

  • Use announcements for important, time-sensitive information
  • Send personalized welcome emails using tags like {{firstName}}
  • Create dedicated courses for onboarding materials

For Instructors

  • Post course announcements regularly to keep students informed
  • Use messaging for individual student communications
  • Set clear expectations for response times

Related Sections

  • Initial Setup - Learn about welcome emails and onboarding
  • LMS - Learn more about course announcements