How can I use Echo to communicate with students and parents.

The Communication tool allows you to broadcast important messages to a class or several classes. To send an email message using the Communication tool:

1. Select "Communication" from the Main Navigation menu.
2. Select the course or courses you wish to send a message to.
3. Select the recipients (students, students and observers, or just observers). Parents must be added to Echo and associated with their students in order to receive these messages.
4. To get a copy of the email sent to yourself, check the "Send a copy to me" option.
5. Enter a subject and message into the form.
6. Click Send.

For more detailed information, click here.

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The Communication tool also allow you to post announcements which appear on the Announcement section of Echo's home page. To send an announcement using the Communication tool:

1. Select "Communication" from the Main Navigation menu.
2. Echo selects all of your courses by default. Remove any courses you do not want included in the announcement.
3. Select the start and end date you would like the announcement displayed.
4. Enter a subject and message into the form.
5. Click Post.

For more detailed information, click here.

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To send targeted emails to selected students, teachers can use the Clipboard tool.  Note, this is an advanced tool that may not be turned on in your domain. Contact your Echo Administrator is this option is not available to you.

1. From any page that lists students with a selection box option (People page, Gradebook, Assignment Scoring page, etc.), select the students you would like to send an email message to.
2. Click the Plus Sign icon in the upper menu bar to add the selected student to your Clipboard.
3. Click the Clipboard icon in the upper menu bar to open the Clipboard tool (or select the Clipboard tool from the Main Navigation menu.
4. Select the Messages tab on the Clipboard tool. The selected students will already be in the "To" field.
5. Select the recipients (students, students and observers, or just observers). Parents must be added to Echo and associated with their students in order to receive these messages.
6. To get a copy of the email sent to yourself, check the "Send a copy to me" option.
7. Enter a subject and message into the form.
8. Click Send.

For more detailed information, click here....

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Teachers can also use the Clipboard tool to assign a task or send a message that will appear on the student's To-Do list within Echo. This can be helpful for younger students that might not have a school email account.

1. From any page that lists students with a selection box option (People page, Gradebook, Assignment Scoring page, etc.), select the students you would like to send an email message to.
2. Click the Plus Sign icon in the upper menu bar to add the selected student to your Clipboard.
3. Click the Clipboard icon in the upper menu bar to open the Clipboard tool (or select the Clipboard tool from the Main Navigation menu.
4. Enter a title and and message into the form.
5. Select a method for marking the task complete and a due date.
6. Click Assign.

For more detailed information, click here....

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Echo Administrators can post announcements (landing page content) on the Echo home page.

1. From the Admin app, open the Domain Settings.
2. Locate the Landing Content panel in the Domain Settings.
3. Click the Add button to open a Landing Content window.
4. Select the sort order of the item.
5. Give the announcement a name (for your reference).
6. Select which Echo applications to display the content.
7. Select the size (height) of the content window.
8. Select the content type.
9. Click Done to save.

For more detailed information, click here.

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