How do I send a message in Highlights? Follow
In this article:
Quick guide to communication in Highlights
While using Hāpara Highlights, you can communicate with students within a matter of seconds. Highlights has three main communication features:
- Message
- Snaps
These features allow you to build relationships with your students, give consistent formative feedback and provide additional structure and support. At any point in the online learning process, you can send students feedback in Highlights.
Message students
In Highlights, you can send a message to individual students, groups or the class. The message can be 170 characters or less, and once you send it, it will pop up on student screens instantaneously. It’s a great way to give quick, concise feedback such as positive comments, redirections or time reminders. You can even include an emoji.
There are two ways to send an instant message to students.
Blue Message button
1. From any of the tabs in Highlights, click the blue Message button in the top right-hand corner.
2. Select The Class, Students or Groups.
3. Type your message in the text box.
4. Click Add emoji, if you’d like to include an emoji.
5. If needed, select the student or students. Or select the group or groups.
6. Then click Send message at the bottom.
7. The message will instantly appear in a small window on the student’s screen. They can click OK after they view the message. Once they do, the message will disappear.
Message icon on Student Tiles
1. From Browser Tabs or Current Screens, click the Message icon located on an individual Student Tile.
2. Type your message in the text box.
3. Click Add emoji, if you’d like to include an emoji.
4. Then click Send message.
5. The message will instantly appear in a small window on the student’s screen. They can click OK after they view the message. Once they do, the message will disappear.
Email students
Highlights also allows you to send an email to students, which is great when you want to give more lengthy feedback about a recent learning activity, student collaboration or progress. With this feature, you don’t have to scroll through your class roster to start an email.
Instead, Highlights allows you to email directly from a student’s individual Student Tile in Browser Tabs or Current Screens.
To email a student:
1. On their Student Tile, click the three dots to open the drop-down menu.
2. Select Email.
3. It will automatically open a blank email from your school email account. It will also be addressed to the student’s school email account.
4. Then type your email and send it.
5. The student will see the email when they view their Student Dashboard notifications.
Share Snaps with feedback
A Snap is a screenshot of a student’s browsing activity. It also includes:
- The student’s name
- The date and time the Snap was taken
- Whether the Snap related to a single student or a group of students
- The website address the student or group viewed
- A timeline of the browsing activity
You can save Snaps and show them to students as concrete evidence when providing feedback. It’s also a great way to communicate with parents and co-teachers to update them on a student’s learning progress.
In Highlights, you can take Snaps in the Activity Viewer, Browser Tabs or Current Screens.
Take a Snap from the Activity Viewer
1. Hover your cursor over the student’s activity.
2. Click the camera icon to instantly take a Snap.
Take a Snap from Browser Tabs
1. On a Student Tile, click the three dots to open the drop-down menu.
2. Select View screen.
3. At the bottom of the screenshot, click Take a snap.
Take a Snap from Current Screens
1. Select the image of what the student is viewing on their screen.
2. A larger view of the screenshot will open.
3. At the bottom, click Take a snap.
Find your saved Snaps
Snaps are saved for seven days in Highlights.
1. In Highlights, click the Snaps tab at the top of your page.
2. Select the correct Snap to see a larger view of the screenshot, along with the Snap information.
Send feedback to the student
1. Select the correct Snap to open a larger view of the screenshot.
2. Click Send learner(s) feedback, located in the top right-hand corner.
3. Verify that the student’s name in the template is correct.
4. Select from the feedback templates options.
5. Type the subject and message into the boxes.
6. Select Include timeline + current screen. These details will be sent to the student.
7. Click Send feedback.
Email a copy of a Snap
You can also email a copy of the Snap to yourself if you’d like to keep it for longer than seven days. This also allows you to later forward it to a parent or a co-teacher along with feedback you want to provide about the student’s progress.
1. Click the Snaps tab at the top of your page.
2. Select the correct Snap to see a larger view of the screenshot, along with the Snap information.
3. Click Email me a copy in the top right-hand corner.
4. When you visit your email, you’ll see a Highlights email that has the Snap information along with an attached screenshot.
Quick guide to communication in Highlights
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Message |
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Snap |
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Why it’s useful |
Send students instant messages that are 170 characters or less. Use this feature to send quick, in-the-moment feedback to encourage, redirect or provide additional support. |
Use this feature to give specific feedback, suggest next steps or provide examples of best practices. |
A Snap is a screenshot of a student’s browsing activity. You can send the Snap with formative feedback to the student, giving them a visual example of their learning activity. |
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Examples |
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