Celly

Celly is an easy-to-use group texting/communication service that can operate on many different platforms: via the web on computers, as an app on both iOS and Android devices, SMS text, and/or email. The groups created on Celly are called "cells". According to the Celly website, "a cell is a mobile social network that works with any mobile phone or device. Members can join instantly with one text and exchange group messages, polls, reminders, and web alerts." Because members join Celly and your particular cell(s) via this third-party service, the personal phone numbers of both you (the teacher) and your cell audience (parents, students, colleagues, etc.) are kept private. Click here and/or watch the introduction video below to learn more about Celly.

Getting Started with Celly Uses for Music Class Resources
 * On this page:**

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Getting Started with Celly

 * Create a Cell (on Web platform):**
 * 1) Create a Celly account
 * 2) On the top left, click "+ Start a New Cell" or click on the black square grid.
 * 3) Give your cell a "friendly" name that does not have to be unique as well as a unique searchable name, such as "findleychorus." These can be the same.
 * 4) You can choose to add your cell to a public directory so that others can find it using search tags, like "music" and "school"
 * 5) Advanced Options:
 * Anyone can join: Do you want your cell to be open to anyone in the world or restricted to only those with an access code?
 * Hide Member List: Do you want anyone to be able to see a list of members, or do you want that information to only be available to curators and cell administrators?
 * Require people who text to join to choose a username: If they do not choose their own username, Celly will create one for them and you might not be able to know who they are. Knowing usernames is not necessary for all Celly uses.
 * Choose the "conversation mode" you prefer for your Cell: Curated Chat, Open Chat, or Alert Only. (I choose Curated Chat for Chorus parents so they can privately message back.)
 * Cell details: mission/description, welcome message, website
 * Celly for Leaders options: hide usernames in text messages (probably don't want to do this).
 * 1) Share your cell: distribute the PDF instructions sheet (see Resources), "Text to Join" code, share public link, send invites to specific usernames or email addresses, or embed widget onto your website (see Resources )
 * 2) Continue to your Cell
 * 3) To send a message, simply go to your Cell page and type a message in to the text box. Celly will automatically distribute your message to all current members of your Cell.
 * 4) Your messages can include hashtags to organize all the messages within your cell into different categories, such as #performances, #pictures, #links, etc.
 * 5) You can also use hashlinks to connect topics from your cell to the same topic in another cell. For more information about hashlinks, click here.
 * 6) If you want students to use and interact on Celly, you will need to send home the Parent Permission form (see Resources for editable document).

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Uses for Music Class

 * Set up a cell for students and/or parents to have a direct line of communication to you, the teacher (messages arrive to you through Celly, so there is no need to worry about students obtaining your phone number and prank calling you in the middle of the night!)
 * Set up a cell for your Chorus parents to join so you can send updates and notices directly to their phones
 * Set up a curated cell for older students to facilitate discussion of topics with the whole group on the cell
 * Set up a curated cell for students in BYOD/BYOT schools to have backchannel discussions during class or outside of class
 * Set up a cell for your PLC to coordinate meeting times and topics
 * Use your parent and/or student cells to send out quick polls to gather any information you need quickly and easily

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Resources

 * Instructions to Join Celly
 * Instructions to Join Your Cell
 * Embed Widget Guide
 * Parent Instructions to Join Celly
 * Parent Permission Slip


 * Click here for more information about the advantages for using Celly in schools
 * Click here for a letter to parents from a Celly cofounder
 * Click here to learn more about using Celly in BYOD/BYOT setting.

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