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Peer Review

Along - Check-in on Students

Reviewed:
Apr 16, 2022 by Teacher Education
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 5.0 stars
Content Quality: 5.0 stars
Effectiveness: 5.0 stars
Ease of Use: 5.0 stars
Overview:

Along is web-based platform designed to facilitate positive relationships and open communication between educators and students with the help of research-informed resources that enable meaningful interactions.

Type of Material:
  • Digital reflection tool with a library of research-informed questions designed to help students open up about important topics 
Recommended Uses:
  • could be used as self-paced feedback for students
  • could serve as part of a specific homework assignment
  • optional supplement to lecture
  • as part of student services support
Technical Requirements:
  • Students are notified via email.
  • Students respond with video, audio, or text messages.
  • accessed via Google Chrome; educators encouraged to use the desktop version on Chrome
  • available on desktop and mobile web
  • In order to use Along with students, educators must use an email domain tied to a K-12 school in the United States.
Identify Major Learning Goals:

The purpose is to:

  • help instructors and students shares details about who they are and what’s on their mind.
  • give instructors instant access to research-informed questions and ready-to-use resources.
  • facilitate reflection—either over text, audio, or video messaging.
  • help students reflect on their most important values.
Target Student Population:
  • upper elementary
  • middle grades
  • high school grade levels
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
  • English language proficiency is a requirement for registration and successful participation in this platform.
  • Students need to understand reflective techniques.

Teachers must inform both administrators and parents that they are using Along.  Along provides written material to assist them in getting permission.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:
  • well-written and informative content for instructors and students
  • high quality, relevant content on resource page
  • engaging documents with interactive infographics and hyperlinks
  • original material for instructors to access as resources
  • Along's privacy statement is aligned with many state-specific terms
Concerns:

Some parents/administrators may feel that Along is intrusive.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:
  • A research-based overview of this relationship-building approach is provided.
  • Video supplements help streamline platform integration and assignment creation, and specifically the clips about From Research to Check-in: Follow the Journey of a Reflection on Along.
  • A number of webinars are provided to support building student-teacher relationships.
  • The platform could be used to nurture trusting relationships between students and a caring adult, their teacher.
  • The platform supports instructors by providing a range of reflection questions that express care, challenge growth, provide support, share power, and expand possibilities.

Along has the potential to help students feel heard and have a space where they can discuss important topics.  Because it is private, it might give students the confidence that allows them to connect more closely with their teachers.

Along provides many resources for teachers and administrators on how to use Along, how to develop relationships with students, and how to turn insights into support.

Concerns:

Some teachers may need support if students share information that requires a mental health professional to handle.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:
  • provides access to a customizable calendar
  • Along is designed to be flexible for educators and students to use on their own time and in their own way.
  • Stock classroom activities and reflective prompts available for instructors.
  • The site is fully operatable.
  • The site is easy to navigate.
Concerns:
  • Starting this new interaction takes time and commitment on the part of the instructor and the student.
Other Issues and Comments:
  • Complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  • Complies with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
  • Support Team available at support@along.org
  • Parental permission is required for minor children.

 

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