Copyright © 2025 Cody Squadroni All Rights Reserved.
3x3 Technologies: Communicating
Communicating With:
Discord
Discord is a voice, video, and text chat app that's used by tens of millions of people ages 13+ to talk and hang out with their communities and friends. People use Discord daily to talk about many things, ranging from art projects and family trips to homework and mental health support. It was targeted at gaming communities, but it became one of the most used communicating tools when the pandemic hit.
The great thing about Discord is it is free. This allows everyone to use and start communicating in no time. All you have to do is set up an account, and you can jump right in. Another nice thing is that Discord is supported on all devices. You can use Discord on Windows or Mac, iOS, or Android devices, and it even supports running in the browser. Discord as a communication tool allows you to create or join servers specific to the needs of someone. This can enable students to have a one-on-one conversation with an instructor or another student. An instructor could even have an office hours server where students can drop in anytime.
Discord is a communication tool that isn't specific to any group. It can be for school clubs, gaming groups, higher-education courses, or worldwide communities. This makes it the ultimate communication tool by being available to anyone.
Discord as a communication tool has a simper user interface and is easy to use but can be more advanced. Being easy to use allows anyone to jump right in, but Discord recommends 13+. Being an easy-to-use tool allows anyone to quickly jump into Discord and create a server or find a server by just clicking an invite link. I recommend using this software to anyone because of the ease of use, and I've even created an office hour server for all my classes where students come in anytime to ask questions or even talk to each other. An example of this is I have multiple channels, and these channels are all for the different sections of the courses I teach. I also have an area for private voice chat where we can talk together. Having these is just a small portion. I can also video chat and stream my screen. Also, when a common issue arises that multiple students ask, I can pin that comment so everyone can see the solution. Discord also allows integration with bots to allow custom commands to help moderate your channels.
I believe Discord promotes and supports the intended learning outcomes when it comes to communication in the classroom or in general. Using a tool that students are already used to using, I feel, keeps students engaged, and I have noticed they talk more. Having engaged communication is critical with the switch to online learning, and I think that is where a tool like this strives. If you are looking for a tool to communicate with students and have all the abilities needed to make sure a student gets the best outcome, I think this is the communication tool to use.
Below is a YouTube video that demonstrates how to setup and get started with Discord. Once up and going you will be able to communicate in multiple different areas and interests.
Communicating With:
Slack
Slack is a messaging app for business that connects people to the information they need. By bringing people together to work as one unified team, Slack transforms the way organizations communicate.
The great thing about Slack is that it has a free tier with limitations to get hands-on experience. It is also one of the most used industry-standard communication tools in the software area. Slack is supported on all devices such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Having access to all platforms makes it a great communication tool. As with most communication tools Slack allows large chats and one-on-one conversations. One feature that makes Slack stand out is its functionality to integrate applications into the communication tool.
Having the ability to integrate apps allows for a more professional communication environment. This allows integrating things like Google Drive or Adobe Creative Cloud. This allows the users to find and share projects they are working on quickly to discuss and talk about any item needed. That is just a tiny piece of all the integrations that can be done. It has many categories of integration like analytics, customer support, design, developer tools, file management, health and wellness, finance, sales, and much more. Having a wide range of integration tools allows the process of communication to go very far. Even though this communication tool is targeted towards business professionals, it is an excellent tool to include in a classroom setting because this gives students hands-on an industry-standard tool.
I have used Slack in my programming classes. It has been a great communication tool because students can interact with me and ask questions. The great thing, though, is the integration of GitHub. This allows students to quickly postcode in the chat where I can help walk through with them and help them fix the problem. Just with that integration, it makes the tool worth it.
I believe Slack promotes and supports the intended learning outcomes expected from students in the Computer Science realm because it shows they can communicate problems effectively. It gives them experience using an industry-level tool that they will use when they get hired as a programmer. Using a tool like this in students' learning allows us to measure the students' success in communicating effectively.
Below is a YouTube video that demonstrates how to setup and get started with Slack. Once up and going you will be able to professionally communicate.
Communicating With:
Horizon Workrooms
Horizon Workrooms is the VR space for teams to connect, communicate and develop ideas together. Meet teammates across the table, even if you're across the world. Horizon Workrooms does require an Oculus Quest 2, but this is a very future communication tool, even though it is much more than that as it incorporates collaboration as well.
Horizon Workrooms is technically a free tool, but since it requires an Oculus Quest 2, I feel like this is the payment needed in order to use the tool. I have been lucky to have some headsets to test this tool out, and I find it fascinating what the future could bring. With Workrooms being a part of Facebook, it has access to a large community, but the application is focused on communicating with groups close to you. As of right now, Workrooms supports groups of 16 or less. This makes it a good communication tool for smaller group-type projects where people can't be in the same room. Workrooms can be used as a collaboration tool, but the base use is communicating.
The target audience for Horizon Workrooms is for anyone who needs to communicate and has access to an Oculus Quest 2. it allows users to voice chat in a professional setting like a meeting room. It also allows users to display themselves as avatars, enabling others to see how they would like instead of just a username like traditional communication tools. I would recommend anyone who needs to communicate and has a VR headset to give it a try as I think VR is a way of the future.
I have used Horizon Workrooms personally but not in the classroom due to the limited ability to have a VR headset for everyone. I have been able to experience it with friends, and it gives a great environment to communicate with others. It was very easy to jump right in and join a workroom with my friends. Once in the room, we were able to see each other's avatars and start talking. This is such a small part of the tool because it allows for other things like putting a pen on a whiteboard. You can bring your physical desktop into the virtual space and present your desktop virtually so others can see it. Jumping into a workroom felt like I was there. Even with the cartoon-looking avatars, I felt like I was present because the communication felt real.
I believe Horizon Workrooms promotes and supports the intended learning outcomes for students trying to communicate. If I could provide a VR headset to all students, I would implement a tool like this due to the immersion and the feeling of really being there. Also, allowing everyone to communicate or present something that they are working on quickly makes it a powerful tool. Even though it isn't doable, I look forward to the day I could implement such technology into my online courses.
Below is a YouTube video that demonstrates how to setup and get started with Horizon Workspaces on Quest 2. Once up and going you will be able to professionally communicate.