Group codes are a way to flexibly bring students into non-SIS groups. Confirmed students (13 years old or older who have joined TalkingPoints) can use a unique school group code to join clubs, athletic rosters, leadership classes, and more.
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.
Step 1: Create a group.
Step 2: Click on 'Share with staff' so staff have access to the group.
Although this step is optional, please note that if you do not add any other staff members, students who join via SMS text will receive their welcome message from you, since you are the owner of the group. By first adding other staff, the welcome message will come from the first staff member who was added to the group. Any staff member(s) added to the group will be able to access and use the school group code.
Step 3: Click 'Add Students' to view the options to use the school group code.
Step 4a: To share the code with students using the Family app, select the app option. You can display the code or copy it and share it with students.
Step 4b: To share the code with students using SMS text, select the text option. You can display the code or copy the phone number and language code and share them with students.
The language code will indicate the language assigned to the student contact in the TalkingPoints platform and student contacts will receive any future messages from the designated language.
Students can join the group through the family app or SMS text by following the steps in this guide.
Only confirmed student contacts are eligible to use school group codes to join a group. Once they join a group, their student profile (student details, family contact(s), and confirmed student contact) are added to the group. A student profile that does NOT have a confirmed student contact can be added individually or bulk added via .csv.
Prepare the .csv file
Download group data from your SIS as a .csv file. This file will be used to add students to a custom group within TalkingPoints.
In 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.
Add students to the group
Step 1: Click on 'Add students' and select 'Add existing students by uploading .csv file.'
Step 2: Drag and drop the .csv file you downloaded, or browse your computer files.
Step 3: Click 'Add.'
When updating the group, the 'override group with this new student list' option will appear. Check the box to replace the current student list with the student list in the new .csv.