Discord chat app helps connect nurse practitioner students at UT Tyler

Before I started grad school online I knew it would be advantageous to get to know other students in the program so we could share resources, answer each others questions, and shoulder school stress together. Initially, I considered building my own tool using the no code editor Bubble. After realizing the vast amount of work it would take, a quick search unveiled a free, comprehensive platform already built. I had landed on Discord. The web and phone app allows users to post in different channels. I created a new channel for each class I was in and invited the students from each class via Canvas. Many classmates who joined were grateful. I merely setup the environment with a few clicks and pointed people to it. The makers of Discord were the real heroes.

Things I appreciated about our group:

• One student could ask a professor a question then share the answer with everyone (efficiency)
• Collaborating on study guides and projects (teamwork)
• Emotional support from others in the same boat (stress relief)
• Friendship when online school might otherwise be isolating (connection)
• Reminders about assignments or helpful hints (knowledge)

I encouraged people to gather, but everyone played a part to make it a community that made grad school so much more enjoyable.