Setup

Install the Desktop and Mobile Apps

• If you don’t already have Slack installed on your computer, download the desktop app for Mac or Windows.
• If you use your phone or tablet for most of your work, download the mobile app for iOS or Android.
• Installing Slack on your mobile device is a great way to keep up with important messages. You can download mobile apps for iOS or Android from the App Store or Google Play.

Signing In

• You’ll need to log in to our Slack workspace

Fill out your Profile

Add details to your Slack profile, such as:

• Your full name
• Your display name (how others will @mention you in channels)
• A profile picture, preferably of your face.

Accessibility

If you need to use a screen reader with Slack, go here for more information.

The Basics of Slack

This section provides an overview of Slack’s interface controls and basic features. Once you are familiar with what they are, where to find them, and how to use them, you will be ready to dive into the rest of Slack!

A Tour of the Interface

Workspaces

• The workspace sidebar shows you which workspaces you are signed into. You might have more than one if multiple courses use Slack, or you also use it for work.

Channel Sidebar

• The channel sidebar is where you navigate into your conversations on each workspace. It is divided into sections for channels, direct messages, threads, and apps. Our course has channels for specific types of information- please read through and note the descriptions for each.

Messaging Area

• The messaging area is where the action happens! Here you can view and post messages, search, post files, and more.

Search Bar

• Type in the search box to quickly find messages, files, channels, and users.

Join Channels

• In the Channels section of the main sidebar, you will see a few channels to which you are automatically subscribed. To add additional channels, click the Channels heading, browse or search the directory to find the channel you would like to join, click on it to preview, then click the “Join” button. The channel will be added to your sidebar. If you need to create a new channel, see the section on Creating a New Channel).

Posting Basic Messages in Channels

• To post a message to a channel, first select the appropriate channel in the sidebar (if you don’t see the channel you need, follow the directions above). Then, type something in the chat box, and hit Enter. Unless the channel is set as private, your message can be viewed by anyone who visits the channel.
• If you want to mention someone to get their specific attention, begin by typing the @ symbol. Keep typing to find their name, and select it from the dropdown list that appears. You’ll know you’re about to notify someone when their name gets highlighted in blue. When you send your message, you’ll send that person a notification.

Sending Direct Messages (DMs)

• A key benefit of using Slack is transparency. Best practices for Slack use promote the idea of first searching and/or asking questions in channels, as opposed to private messages. This approach allows other members to see your question and any knowledge shared in response. It is likely that others may have had a similar question and were not as comfortable to ask, or they may gain from hearing the question and associated answers or discussion. The more perspectives at the table, the better the discussion.
• When you need to send a message to one person instead of a group, Slack provides traditional instant messaging functionality for you to do so. To send a direct message, navigate down to the Direct Messages section of the main sidebar. If the person is not already on your list, click the + icon, search for the person you would like to message, click on their name, and click GO. Then, type something in the chat box, and press the Enter. Unlike public channels, your direct messages are private between you and the recipient(s).
• Note: While DMs are private conversations, sensitive or confidential information should not be discussed.

Search

• Messages and files added to Slack are instantly searchable, so you can quickly come back to documents and discussions when you need them. Slack’s robust search functionality enables you to find key information quickly, even inside shared files.
• To access Search, type your query in the Search field and hit Enter or Return. Your results will appear in a panel on the right of the Messaging area. You can refine results by channel, person, date, file type and more.

Finding New Activity in Slack

• Slack informs you of activity in your channels or conversations in a variety of ways:

In the main sidebar:

• When a channel name is bold in the channel list, it means there’s new, unread messages in that channel.
• When a channel name is bold with a red badge, it means there are unread messages where you were mentioned.

On your desktop dock icon:

• A red circle with a white dot means there is some unread activity in one of your Slack teams.
• A red circle with a number indicates direct messages, mentions, or messages containing one of your highlight words.

Through desktop notifications:

• By default, Slack will send you desktop notifications only when you receive a direct message or mention. You have the option to adjust these settings to your own preferences.
• If you’re not online on your computer, Slack will send you mobile notifications when you receive a direct message or mention. You can also adjust these settings as needed.

In the Activity pane:

• The Activity pane lists out your latest mentions, highlight words, and emoji reactions. You can think of this pane as a bit like your Slack inbox. It’s generally a good place to check first when getting caught up in Slack. To access, click the @ icon in the top right corner of Slack.

Channels: Where collaboration happens

The true power of Slack comes from having conversations organized into public channels that anyone can join. This transparency means it’s quick to find out what’s happening.

Public vs Private Channels

• Public channels: Can be browsed and joined by anyone in the workspace. Public channels are denoted with a # in Slack. Searching a workspace will return results from all public channels on your workspace (even if you’re not a member of that channel). Workspace members can join and leave public channels at will.
• Private channels: Can only be viewed and joined if you’re invited by an existing member of the channel. Private channels are denoted with a lock icon (🔒). Search will only return results from private channels of which you are a member — even if you’re an administrator. Private channels should be reserved for group projects and other topics that are not for the entire team’s eyes.

Creating a New Channel

Before you create a new public channel for discussion topics on Slack, consider this:

• Search first! There might be a channel setup already for the same purpose as the one you are trying to create.
• To create a channel, press the + button next to the “Channels” heading in the main sidebar. Select whether this will be a public or private channel.
• Adhere to the Center’s channel naming structure. By naming our channels in a consistent and predictable way, team members can more easily browse channels and quickly identify which ones they need to join.
• Include a channel purpose. This will communicate why the channel exists, what the appropriate use is, and help others determine whether they should join.
• Invite others to your new channel when you first create it, or later by using /invite or clicking the invite others link at the top of the channel. Because people may not notice a new channel right away, it may also help to message them privately.
• Use groups conversations (up to 8 people) instead of channels for temporary, quick, or ad hoc conversations.

Be Kind to Others

Slack offers a lot of control over how and when you choose to receive messages, however we also need to be aware of how much we are demanding attention from others. To avoid inadvertently causing a lot of noise for teammates, here are a few tips and matters of Slack etiquette that are worth pointing out:

• Use channels: In most cases, if you just have a general, non-urgent question or want to provide a quick update, just post your message in the appropriate channel without mentioning anyone. Your colleagues will see your message when they’re catching up on their work and respond accordingly.
• Mention people through their display name (@Johnny): This can be used to get someone’s attention in a channel, or to loop someone into a conversation. They will most likely be notified right away, so do not mention to include someone unless it’s important that they are pinged. Avoid using continuously or routinely after the initial mention.
• Thread discussions using the “Start a Thread” icon (💬) so that conversations stay organized and focused, and to reduce scrolling in main channels.
• @channel: This will notify every member of the channel, online or offline. While it’s useful for important announcements, it can quickly be distracting if abused. Students should generally only use @channel in smaller channels, like group project channels for example.
• @here: This will notify every person who is currently online in Slack. While it’s useful for getting a quick answer from people who are around, it can also be distracting and create noise for others. Use @here in smaller channels or if the situation is urgent.
• Stay on topic: If you find yourself veering off topic for a while, you may want to consider moving to another channel, creating a new channel or starting a group message. This will minimize distractions to others.