What is blocking the use of circles for your organization?

Any discussions around the Gospel Living App on various mobile devices.
camcart
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Re: What is blocking the use of circles for your organization?

#21

Post by camcart »

We have tried to use it but would find it much better if it had an SMS or email notification like the Remind app uses.
Grady8080
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Re: What is blocking the use of circles for your organization?

#22

Post by Grady8080 »

Admin rights are too limited. The YM only has Bishopric as admins. This is something that should be shared is a specialist or clerk to make sure the Bishopric is focused on the youth and not app permissions.

I'd like notifications as a parent as to what my kids have going on so I can support them and get them where they need to be. My kids aren't glued to their phones, so they often miss last-minute changes.

Goals and sharing are good, but it would be nice if it was tied to the notes I take in the Gospel Library.

Have a desktop application. Many of our children do not have phones. But it would be nice if my 9-year-old had a way to share and update her goals. Additionally, this is needed for managing permissions. Doing things on a phone is fine for simple tasks, but not for more complicated matters like permissions and viewing who has access.

More circles. I have an additional calling teaching primary. I'd like to communicate with their parents with lesson follow-ups or preparations.
jdlessley
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Re: What is blocking the use of circles for your organization?

#23

Post by jdlessley »

Grady8080 wrote: Mon Jan 03, 2022 1:24 pm Admin rights are too limited. The YM only has Bishopric as admins. This is something that should be shared is a specialist or clerk to make sure the Bishopric is focused on the youth and not app permissions.
I just checked and in our ward the bishopric, ward clerk, and quorum advisors are admins.
JD Lessley
Have you tried finding your answer on the ChurchofJesusChrist.org Help Center or Tech Wiki?
artieman1
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Re: What is blocking the use of circles for your organization?

#24

Post by artieman1 »

From how I read this, there are several concerns of members that are not included if you were to leverage the Living App. IMO we will never be able to have 100% participation in any solution. SMS is only inclusive of those that provide contact info and when you remember to add them to the chain. Email through the church website assumes that members have updated their contact info. The Gospel Living app assumes that EVERYONE has logged into the app. Maybe we should care for the 99% on a common tool and the 1% should have the special focus from the leadership to bring them back to the fold and ensure their inclusivity. Unique to my unit, maybe; there are NO youth that have only SMS ability.

My adoption is poor as well. I have tried pushing its use in Ward Council, Bishopric, and the youth programs (I am a bishopric member) and cannot get them to commit. I think it is going to take a mandate from the Bishop that this is our primary communication channel and provide alternative methods for the exceptions. However no one in leadership can argue that the transparency is not superior to this app vs SMS and eMail.

Personally, my children don't "like it" because they cannot respond from the locked screen (iPhone) like they can with SMS and the leaders think it is "broke" because they don't get consistent notifications. I am not convinced this is accurate but perception is theirs to be had...

I believe adoption is important because
1. It provides 2-deep visibility and parental oversight
2. It provides an easy to use mechanism for communication and events notifications
3. There are automatic updates for callings including addition and removal of participants from proper circles.

What I see is missing:
1. The ability to add non-members.
2. Create custom circles (Think leadership for classes, seminary, etc)
3. Cannot reply in the lock screen as you can with SMS or iMessage
4. Circles "red dot" notification (iPhone) is relating to messages, reminders, events, and so the user does not know what the notification is for.
Finding the correct circle that has the notification alert active is a challenge. You may need to look though many circles to see which one is causing the notification.
esmeet
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Re: What is blocking the use of circles for your organization?

#25

Post by esmeet »

The biggest issue is the lack of web browser access to the Gospel Living app. If any member of your quorum or class don't have access to the app, then it's not a tool you can use to communicate. Because many children and youth do not have mobile phones or other devices that are compatible with the app, they can't access it. If the app were available as a web page on any Internet browser, then more people could access and participate in the app (e.g., through any Internet-capable device). -- In the end, this is the only reason we can't push for full adoption and use of the app - too many youth simply don't have the hardware to access and use it. -- I have suggested repeatedly that a webpage / web app be added to allow all people to be able to access it for full adoption.
thedavecole
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Re: What is blocking the use of circles for your organization?

#26

Post by thedavecole »

First off, I am so appreciative of the efforts put into the app and for the sacrifice of those that put their time into it.
There are a few reasons I am having a hard time "selling" the app to organizations.
1) No out of unit communication
I am a high councilor and recommended we use this app for communication. In doing that, I am now not able to be in the communication loop since I am out of unit.
2) App Only implementation really limits the use
It would greatly increase the function to be able to get online to check messages.
In addition, it is a fairly large app. Could it be included with the Tools App?
3) Only Members have access
For the youth to involve those who are not members is not an option with circles. This leaves the nonmembers they are welcoming out of the circle.
4) Unresolved Questions or Extra long wait for updates
As these type of questions and issues go longer, the love for the app and hope of using is a lot harder to "sell"
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andlewis
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Re: What is blocking the use of circles for your organization?

#27

Post by andlewis »

We're currently using a combination of WhatsApp (for parents) and Google Chat (for youth). We would use Circles if there was a web version of the functionality. Most youth (11-14) don't have devices, but they're comfortable using email and web-based chat apps (Google Chat/Hangouts).

I'd be happy if the Gospel Living app was just an app that shows a web view with all the functionality visible in the app or in a web browser. My ward would love to move to move to Gospel Living/Circles instead of using 3rd party apps, it's close, but not quite there yet.
davesudweeks
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Re: What is blocking the use of circles for your organization?

#28

Post by davesudweeks »

In our area, most children (even in elementary school) have school issued chromebooks that they can use at home for homework, distance learning, etc. Last year we had an indexing goal for our Ward Temple and Family History Plan and the youth were the largest contributor. Primarily by indexing in FamilySearch on a chromebook. Having a browser version of Gospel Living would be a big plus, but I'm not a programmer and have no clue how easy or difficult that would be.
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sbradshaw
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Re: What is blocking the use of circles for your organization?

#29

Post by sbradshaw »

davesudweeks wrote: Wed Feb 02, 2022 11:56 am In our area, most children (even in elementary school) have school issued chromebooks that they can use at home for homework, distance learning, etc. Last year we had an indexing goal for our Ward Temple and Family History Plan and the youth were the largest contributor. Primarily by indexing in FamilySearch on a chromebook. Having a browser version of Gospel Living would be a big plus, but I'm not a programmer and have no clue how easy or difficult that would be.
Most new Chromebooks have the Google Play Store, which allows you to install Android apps. Have you tried installing the Android version of Gospel Living? See this article:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7021273?hl=en
Samuel Bradshaw • If you desire to serve God, you are called to the work.
davesudweeks
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Re: What is blocking the use of circles for your organization?

#30

Post by davesudweeks »

sbradshaw wrote: Wed Feb 02, 2022 12:19 pm Most new Chromebooks have the Google Play Store, which allows you to install Android apps. Have you tried installing the Android version of Gospel Living? See this article:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7021273?hl=en
That's a good suggestion for those who want to help youth get access! I don't know if school-issued chromebooks are locked down for app installs - something for parents to look into, though.
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