We’re excited to invite educators to join the Outschool Educator Slack community, a space designed to help educators connect, collaborate, and access resources in a more organized and searchable way.
The Slack community includes:
- Educator discussion spaces
- Subject-specific channels
- Pathway channels
- Platform support discussions
- Announcements and educator resources
Participation is completely optional.
How to Join
Slack access is currently available to eligible active Outschool educators.
To request access, please contact Outschool Support:
Once your educator status has been verified, you’ll receive the Slack participation agreement and next steps for joining the workspace.
What to Expect
Once you join Slack, you’ll automatically be added to:
- #start-here — onboarding information and tips for navigating Slack
- #announcements — important updates from the Outschool team
- #teacher-lounge — general educator discussion and community conversation
Additional channels, including pathway and organization admin channels (if applicable), will be added shortly after you join.
Getting Started Tips
- Update your Slack display name to include your first and last name
- Start in #start-here for onboarding information
- Adjust your notification settings based on your preferences
- Introduce yourself in #teacher-lounge
Community Expectations
The Outschool Educator Slack community is intended to be a productive, professional, and supportive environment for educators.
All educators joining Slack must review and agree to the Slack participation agreement before receiving access to the workspace.
Frequently Asked Questions
💬 Do I have to join Slack?
No. Slack is an optional educator community space designed to support discussions and programming. It does not affect your ability to teach classes on Outschool.
💬 Why do I need to contact Support to join?
Slack access is limited to eligible active educators, so educator status must be verified before onboarding information can be shared.
💬 What can I use Slack for?
Slack is intended to help educators:
- Connect with one another
- Ask questions and share ideas
- Participate in educator discussions
- Access updates and resources
💬 Is Slack monitored by the Outschool team?
Internal team members may occasionally participate in discussions, but Slack is primarily designed as an educator community space.
Slack should not be used for urgent account-specific support requests.
💬 What devices can I use Slack on?
Slack can be accessed through:
- Web browser
- Desktop app
- Mobile app
- Tablet
💬Why are we evolving beyond Facebook?
While our Facebook group has fostered strong community, we’ve heard consistent feedback that:
- Important updates can get lost in noise
- Discussions are hard to search and organize
- Off-topic chatter can dilute key information
- It’s difficult to segment support by educator needs
Slack allows us to create a more structured, professional, and searchable educator space. We are gradually transitioning educator community conversations into Slack to create a more organized and searchable experience for educators.
💬 What will Slack offer?
Slack provides:
- Pathway-based channels
- Read-only announcements
- Topic-specific discussion spaces
- Moderation and clear community norms
- Better discoverability
💬 Is Slack replacing Support?
No. Slack is not a replacement for customer support.
For personal account questions, technical issues, or urgent learner concerns, please continue to contact:
Slack is designed for group-based learning and clarity.
💬 Will Slack include 1:1 business advising?
No.
Outschool is a marketplace. We provide tools, data, and education – not individualized business management or directives.
Slack will focus on scalable, group-based guidance.
💬 What are the expectations for participation?
Participants must:
- Communicate respectfully and professionally
- Stay on topic
- Avoid promotions or solicitation
- Follow community standard
Access may be removed for violations.
💬Will there be a tutorial on how to use Slack?
Yes. All educators invited to the Slack community will automatically be added to a #start-here channel that includes:
- A quick Slack navigation guide
- Tips for finding conversations and channels
- Community guidelines and expectations
- Additional resources to help you get started
This channel will help educators become familiar with the platform before participating in discussions.
💬How will community guidelines be managed in Slack?
Before joining the Slack community, educators will be asked to review and agree to a community participation agreement.
This agreement outlines expectations for professionalism and respectful communication.
Conduct within Slack will be moderated, and any violations of community standards may be reported to Outschool’s Trust & Safety team for review.
*This article may be updated periodically as we refine and improve these programs.