This past semester I collect the cell numbers, companies and which students had unlimited texting. From there I setup the ability to mass e-mail text messages to my students. I then would send messages (tried at least once a week) that related to class. From trivia games .. first to text me back kinda of stuff. To questions about the content. Around final time I send a question for them to consider each day for a week. I even held a review with the volleyball team as they came home from a match. Had 4 girls in my class and we were texting back and forth questions about class.

Ok .. now how have you guys incorporated the cell phone in your class?

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I have allowed my students to take pictures of the daily to do board as well, just to ensure they remember the homework assigned. It has been really helpful, especially for my students with IEPs and 504's. Just a thought!

Hi Alan,

 

There are some great ideas in this forum. I started an activity in class called "Tweet of the Week". I teach Computer Science once a week to our Senior Class at an all-girls private school in Guatemala, Central America. 99% of them own a Blackberry or iPhone with Internet access, and all of them have a Twitter account. I ask them at some points of each class to tweet about what they found most interesting, what they've learned and quesions they might have. We have our own class hashtag that I've configured to my TweetDeck and project it  during the class. The students really liked this method of communication. On the first day of class they were surprised that I allowed them to use their phones. The school doesn't allow students to bring their phones. Nevertheless, they all have them hidden inside their backpacks or sweaters. So I thought since my class is all about technology, why not use what is most popular out there. I had to talk to the principle after word got out that students were using phones in my class. Even the parents were concerned about this... For now, they only have permission to bring their phones the day they have my class. Of course they bring them everyday! I've learned recently that PollEverywhere can also be used with Twitter, I will try this feature out soon.

Angelica,

I am currently taking an educational technology class. This weeks topic is mobile learning. I love your idea of having a class hashtag. What a way to keep all students engaged and allow students to ask questions at their leisure. I recent attend a technology conference and I think I learned as much through the "back-channeling" tweets from the conference hashtag than I did from the sessions I attended. Best of luck getting admin to understand the power of mobile tech in the classroom.

I think this is a great idea, however, I am curious how you were able to get access to students cell phone numbers and what phone plans they had? How would I go about doing this? Do you think this could possibly be an issue for the students/parents/or district? I almost feel that I would have to actually obtain and get parent consent for this. Just a thought. I am really interested in the steps you took in order to make this possible.

 

 

 

Alan,

I really like this idea!  What a smart, easy way to remind students of assignments, and getting them to think about learning outside of the classroom walls. I would worry, however, that with this I might not ever be able to "separate work and personal time".  I could see my students (middle schoolers) texting me with random things that really could wait until the next class session.  Do you have any problems with this?

 

I would love to use this tool with my student council group.  I often have to track kids down to remind them to sell event tickets, remind them of meetings, etc.  If I had their numbers, I could almost guarantee that I would reach them!

Every time I thought of cell phones in education I thought of them as being used only in the classroom or if it's a smartphone, then being used as a computer outside of school. I love this idea where you are almost doing mini-quizzes to keep the students thinking about the content. I also like that you would do a mass email. This seems really easy to set up and do as a class and gives that extra element of students being able to respond by email if they don't have a cell phone. Great idea!

 

Did you have any problems with administration and worrying about students texting your personal cell phone? How did you approach that?

 

I would absolutely love to try this in my classroom, especially since I'm a Spanish teacher and the more often they see the Spanish the better they remember it. Thanks!

This seems like such a great idea!  I love that you found out which students would not be paying to receive text messages from you.  It's so important to be able to communicate with our students in the ways they are already communicating with each other.  Meeting them where they are, with the medium they frequently use increases the likelihood that they will respond.  And texting doesn't need to be a long, drawn out message, but is better if it's just a quick reminder or question posed to the students.  You could even make it a competition to see who can respond first with the correct answer and give a prize out the next day.  Their minds are engaged in school stuff outside of school only if they choose to be, but there is a reward for it.

Thanks for the great ideas everyone!  I hope to incorporate mobile technology and hopefully even cell phones into my classroom this year!

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