Google Voice: A New Approach to the Suggestion Box

Many student councils utilize suggestion boxes to collect feedback and ideas from the student body. The effectiveness of physical suggestion boxes, often located in libraries or other common areas, can vary greatly. One way to potentially increase the amount and timeliness of feedback collected by a “suggestion box” is to replace the physical box with Google Voice.

Google Voice is a powerful tool that blends phone and texting capabilities with voice transcription and message archiving.  Your student council could set up a Google Account and then set up Google Voice that will give your council its own telephone number. You have a lot of choice with this number so that you could potentially create a number that spells out some word or phrase that is easy to market and remember. Once the student body has the number, they can leave suggestions by calling or texting the number. Google Voice will transcribe the phone calls so that you can scan them quickly and keep a text archive along with text messages. You can collect student’s cell phone numbers via Google Voice and even attempt to provide direct responses to their suggestions while maintaining a level of anonymity.

You will want to check with your school’s administration to make sure they are agreeable with the idea of using Google Voice. Also, you will want to make sure that the Google Account that you use to set up Google Voice is a common account for student council rather than someone’s personal Google account.  For more information on Google Voice check out www.google.com/voice. 

Efficiency Tip - "When is Good"

Need to know the best time for a meeting so you get the highest attendance possible? Then check out “When is Good” at http://whenisgood.net.

Whenisgood.net is a powerful yet simple to use online tool to send out a calendar of dates to your group, have them indicate on a website when is good for them to meet, and then you can quickly analyze the results to pick the best date. There really isn’t a more efficient way to schedule a meeting and maximize attendance. Plus, it’s free!
The best way to get started is to watch the short video on their website http://whenisgood.net/Videos

There are two free ways to use the website. The first is to just simply create an event, color in the days or times that work for you, send out a link via email and copy down a secret code so you can access your event later. People respond, you type in your code and there you are – a visual calendar of “when is good”. The second way is to create an account where you can store multiple events and access them all at one time (rather than needing a separate code for each like the first method). This is the best option if you plan on using the service frequently. The power is in the analysis: click on a respondent’s name to see which days are good just for him or her, click on a day and see the names of the respondents who can make it, or you can simply choose the day with the most respondents.

However you use WhenisGood.net, you’ll be more efficient at scheduling meetings and events.

Google Apps & Online Voting

Use Google Apps for Education to conduct online voting for school groups and events.

Our school has Google Apps for Education. With that, each student has an email account that they can use along with Google Docs, Calendar, and Sites. Most of this works the same as a regular private Google Account - except for something I came across today.

We want to run elections "online" for Student Council & Class Officer, Homecoming Queen & Prom Court, etc. Google Forms has the potential to make this happen for free, especially the Google Forms within Google Apps for Education.

When you create a form in Google Docs using your Google Apps account, there is an options to require respondents to sign in with their personalize Google Apps account login:


By having each student log in, you can be sure that only HS students are completing the form and that each student only votes one time. And as with regular Google Forms, you can turn forms on and off at specific times, require specific questions to be completed, and view all of the results in a nice spreadsheet.

I haven't used this approach with Google Apps yet (I did with my personal Google Account). Once I get it up and running, I'll share more insight.

This is for real...

We're preparing for our last PASC board meeting prior to hosting our conference... and none of us can really believe we're here. Our vision for this conference began so long ago when measured by a calendar, but it feels like last week when we were preparing for the bid. This is a true collaborative vision that has been refined over the many months of planning. During that time, I have witnessed such strength in the character of our students and advisors involved with the conference. I get the greatest satisfaction out of a relationship when I can trust someone completely... I have placed my complete trust in these three in the picture. You'd be amazed at how strong they are and how much they have each grown in their own way. Lastly, this conference is about change. We want to change what the experience is about... we want delegates to learn to lead with both heart and head, with both intellect and passion, with both conscience and inspiration. We've added content, switched schedules, raised expectations, shifted responsibilities, and so much more... to produce the change we hope will make a real difference. Tradition and building upon the past are important, but I'm always asking WHY? --- seriously, always asking why? And when the answer doesn't make sense, change is essential. Vision, Character, and Change is a powerful sequence that has gotten us to this point and will serve as the Origin of a journey for 1000 others.

PASC Executive Director

During the 2008 PASC trip to the NASC national conference in Texas, we enjoyed some authentic Tex-Mex food. While there, our Executive Director had his "birthday" recognized. This is actually symbolic of another year of PASC (76 years young).

Advisor University - PASC

30 advisors, mostly student government, converged at Penn State Ramada Inn for 24 hours of professional development. Sponsored by PASC, the training program occurs every other year. Advisors from around the state (PA) are hoping to return to their schools with knowledge and skills to improve student leadership programs.

Sent from my iPhone

"Life is a series of choices and consequences." -- KLK