![mattermost mattermost](https://static.techspot.com/images2/downloads/topdownload/2021/03/2021-03-16-ts3_thumbs-4fd.png)
Penn Manor High School's student technology help desk is organized into teams. But even better, it serves as the communication hub for our Student Technology Help Desk, and helps our students collaborate during times when they are not together in the same physical space during a given class block.
#Mattermost update#
It costs nothing more than a little server space and occasional software update attention. I was incredibly fond of our internal IRC system, but I really love the Mattermost platform. When everyone connects in a transparent conversation stream, collaboration naturally happens in the open. Unlike email, Mattermost is a convenient virtual meeting room and a central dashboard for our district technology operations. And the design provokes a conceptual shift in classroom communications. The Mattermost project was named because the developers wanted to emphasize the importance of communication. It's reassuring to know that our conversations are safely housed on our network. Plus, Mattermost runs on premise at Penn Manor School District, and is configured for private district staff and student use only.
![mattermost mattermost](https://images.idgesg.net/images/article/2019/07/mattermost-press-devops-100806712-orig.jpg)
Using Mattermost's highly extensible web hooks, our system engineer wrote a notifier to pipe new teacher support ticket events notifications into our #HelpDesk channel. We created channels to compartmentalize our IT discussions: #Helpdesk, #Puppet, #BugHunt, and a few others.
#Mattermost code#
For example, the Penn Manor IT Mattermost team is separate from the team space for district administrators, who are never subjected to our riveting discussions about code or software installs.Įvery Mattermost team starts with a general discussion channel called #Town Square, and teams can add as many channels as needed.
![mattermost mattermost](https://cdn.zapier.com/storage/photos/f51dc512e4f7d00ebe10ad825ae81713.png)
Like Slack, Mattermost is organized around self-contained teams. Features like direct messaging, emoji characters, drag-and-drop pictures, and shared files make it easy for educators and students to start using Mattermost without first passing a calculus exam. Conversation history persists inside the discussion channel, which meant when one returns from a trip to the principals office, a quick scroll back through the conversation stream uncovers missed conversations. The web interface UX is familiar-instant messaging, group chat, and notifications are all centralized in one searchable system. If you know Slack, Mattermost will feel like you scored the assigned seat beside your best friend.