WhatsApp 1.0 and 2.0

During the month of March 2020, there were three sessions for WhatsApp 1.0 and three sessions for WhatsApp 2.0. This page has the consolidated resources from both workshops

Descriptions

WhatsApp 1.0 - Exploring features for Individual Instruction:

Many students, parents, and families already use WhatsApp to communicate. In this session, we will explore WhatsApp for 1:1 communication to understand the advantages and practice the basic features of WhatsApp like individual messaging and video chat to support distance learning. We will also walk through how to save and send educational materials with your mobile device via WhatsApp.

WhatsApp 2.0 - Exploring features for Group Instruction:

Learn and practice how to use the basic features from WhatsApp 1.0 for group messaging and to support distance learning for small group instruction with your mobile device.

The content in these presentations is geared towards serving the migrant populations in New York State as defined under Title I, Part C and the approved State Service Delivery Plan, and may NOT be appropriate to all situations.

Presented/Developed by

Travis Williamson, Training Program Coordinator/Statewide Recruiter

About the Presenter

In his 12th year with the Migrant Education Program, Travis has held many positions. While working alongside with OSY Specialists and fellow recruiters around the nation, he has had the opportunity to share his ideas and strategies in hopes to better serve our students.

Travis has been with the ID&R program, after a three-year stay with the South Carolina Department of Education where he played a role in all of the duties associated with their MEP. He currently is a member of the GOSOSY IRRC consortia. This past summer Travis worked with students enrolled at New York’s SUNY Oneonta Migrant Leadership Academy (SOMLA) and last year’s Close Up program. He has presented at several national and state conferences to demonstrate how mapping and technological strategies can improve with serving and finding students.

Post Workshop Notes

Attached PowerPoint notes handouts include

• WhatsApp 1.0: Exploring WhatsApp for Individual Instruction  
• WhatsApp 2.0: Exploring WhatsApp for Group Instruction

Respecting Data Limits

• Video Calls use up phone data; recommendation is to turn on Wi-Fi or keep calls short.
• Images do not use data. Consider sending documents or other items that you would like to send students as a photo.

Reminder: Delete practice group chats from the workshops you attended.

Android Users:

1. Click on the group name, and then on the three dots in upper right corner.
2. Select Group Info, then scroll to bottom and tap [Exit Group]
3. If you created the group, you will get a another choice to tap: [Delete Group]

iPhone Users:

1. Go to Chats
2. Select Edit in the top left corner
3. Select the group chat that you want to delete
4. Click Delete in the bottom right corner.

Protecting Personal Data in Group Chats/Calls

Question:

When added to a group chat, how come I see names for some people, but for others I only see them listed by their phone number.

Answer:

The group members with a name are already in your phone’s contact list. The phone number means that the person is not currently one of your contacts.

Question:

Is there a setting in WhatsApp that enables group chats (that I create) to receive information from me, but hides the phone numbers of other people in the group?

Answer:

Each WhatsApp user can choose how profile information is displayed. Therefore, the people in your group control their own settings.

Solution 1

WhatsApp users can change their own privacy settings, to hide information about themselves. To edit profile display information, go to settings, then your account, then privacy. 

1. In “Chats” – click the 3 dots or settings
2. Select Accounts, then Privacy
3. Privacy choices default to “everyone.”

Choices to change include:

• “Last Seen”- options are Everyone, My Contacts, or nobody
• “About” – options are Everyone, My Contacts, or nobody
• “Group” gives each user the choice about who can add you to a group: Everyone or My Contacts

Solution 2

Reserve group chats and calls to people on the same farm, or family.

Solution 3

If setting up a group chat for a virtual adolescent, OSY, or parent group on WhatsApp, advise student/parents about the privacy settings, and ask permission to share phone numbers with other members of the group.

Google Phone Numbers

Question:

If someone has a Google phone number, can we use it in WhatsApp?

Answer:

Enter your Google voice number when setting up WhatsApp. In the verification step, a temporary password will be sent to the Google phone number via text or call. Once you get it, enter it in the app, and you can start using your WhatsApp account with the Google phone number.

Sharing Documents

Question: I can’t open the file shared.

Answer: The file was sent in WORD, so your device needs to the ability to open a version of a Word document.

Alternative: take a picture/screen shot of the document.

• Take a picture of the document to send from the phone’s photo gallery.
• If using WhatsApp on your desktop or laptop, use the WhatsApp web features to take a screen shot and send it via WhatsApp chat. Once it is in the chat, you can FORWARD to more students or families.

Use WhatsApp on your computer!

Make sure you already have installed WhatsApp on your phone so you can sync/connect the web version to that account.

• To download the program on your computer, go to: https://www.whatsapp.com/download
• Each time you want to use WhatsApp on your computer, go to: www.web.whatsapp.com
• Each time you log in to the web version, you will need to scan the QR code to reconnect to your WhatsApp account.

More Help

You can contact Travis using WhatsApp, if you have more questions! Don’t hesitate to ask!

Other Questions – Not directly related to WhatsApp!

How to take a screen shot on your computer using Snipping Tool:

Snipping Tool is a Microsoft Windows screenshot utility. It can take still screenshots of an open window, rectangular areas, a free-form area, or the entire screen. Snips can then be stored as an image and attached to emails, etc… For more information, check out this link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4027213/windows-10-open-snipping-tool-and-take-a-screenshot

Question:

How do I change my background in Zoom?

Answer:

1. Click the arrow [^] next to the video icon, and select “choose a virtual background.”
2. Next, you will see options to “Choose a Virtual Background” as shown below.
3. You can personalize your background by clicking “+ Add Image”
4. Select “NONE” when you want to stop using the background.

Question:

What’s this I’m hearing about unlimited data for Verizon customers during the pandemic? Is it real?

Answer:

Check out this link about what Verizon is doing for current customers.

• https://www.verizon.com/about/news/covid-response-customers
• Once there, click to expand the section titled “What is Verizon doing to help customers?”