Custom groups are a great way to group existing students into groups that are not synced from your SIS. Some examples of groupings are sports teams, all students who were absent on a given day, clubs, bus routes, etc. Learn how to create groups within your TalkingPoints for Districts account.
Please Note: To bulk add existing students to a group, they must already be in TalkingPoints through the Clever, ClassLink, Infinite Campus, or TalkingPoints Connector sync with an SIS ID or added to TalkingPoints via the self-serve .csv Uploader.
Screenshots below may look slightly different as TalkingPoints is constantly evolving! Don't worry, we periodically make sure our guides are up-to-date so that you have the latest how-to's.
Make the .csv File:
In our template or a spreadsheet tool of your choice, please format your file as follows:
Title Column A, Row 1 with sisId, studentid, or id (not case sensitive, but it must be one word)
Please note that Column A, Row 1 must have a title because our system will not recognize this cell as an ID.
In all subsequent rows within this column, please list out the student identifiers that you are sending TalkingPoints of the students you would like to be added to the custom group you’re creating. Only one ID should be listed per cell.
For Clever: The field that we're pulling as the SIS ID is the value your school or district is sending to the {sisID} field in Clever. Please ensure that the IDs in the spreadsheet match this value.
For ClassLink: The field that we're pulling as the SIS ID is the {identifier} field in ClassLink. Please ensure that the IDs in the spreadsheet match this value.
For IC OneRoster (infinite campus): The field that we're pulling as the SIS ID is the {identifier} field. Please ensure that the IDs in the spreadsheet match this value.
For TalkingPoints Connector: The field that we're pulling as the SIS ID is the {identifier} field. Please ensure that the IDs in the spreadsheet match this value.
For .csv Uploader: The field that we're pulling as the student ID is the Student ID from the first column of your student list tab from your .csv that you uploaded using the TalkingPoints self-serve .csv uploader.
Tip: It is recommended to only have this single column in the .csv file. However, if it makes it easier for you to add additional columns with student first name and last name as a reference for yourself you may do so, but it could increase upload times. Only the first column will be used by our system.
Download the sheet as a .csv file.
Create a Group in TalkingPoints:
District Mode:
Step 1: Click 'Groups.'
Step 2: Select 'Add Group.'
Step 3: Name the group and click 'Create.'
Add Students:
Step 1: Open the group & click 'Add Students.'
Step 2: Select 'browse your computer' to find the .csv file you created and click 'Add.'
To upload the .csv file: Drag and drop the .csv file you downloaded, or browse your computer files. The 'override group with this new student list' option will appear. Check the box if you would like to replace a current student list with the student list in the new .csv file. Leave the box unchecked if you would like to add the students in the .csv file to the students already in the group.
Please Note: A popup at the bottom of the screen will let you know the number of students that were not found by our system. This is either because they are a manually added student with no student ID, or the student ID in the .csv file does not match a student ID in the TalkingPoints platform.
