If you read my blog last post you learned about a free SMS gateway service called textmarks.com. Textmarks.com provides free mobile keywords that can be access by messaging 41411 with the registered keyword. From this keyword, a broadcast alert service could be utilized by students to subscribe to text messages related to one of my online classes. Whenever I had something to share with the class (class or assignment changes, a hint or help with a course topic), I can still update the class web page but also broadcast a text message with textmarks.com to all the students who opted into subscribing to my textmarks.com keyword. The jury is still out as to whether this will become a hit with students but given the popularity of text messaging, I think it has a better chance than some of the alternatives (email. Message boards, phone calls, etc.).
But there are still more options….! It is pretty hard not to pick up any magazine or newspaper (online or the real thing..real paper) where they are not talking about Twitter. Twitter is a personal micro-blog service (used by individual or by organizations as a communication and customer service tool) to shared information and communicate with others who are following you. A tweet is a single micro blog message that is published to the Twitter service. These tweets can be accessed from the Twitter web site or from tools which have been written to access the Twitter network (i.e. twhirl). There is a lot more to say in regards to Twitter but that is for a different blog (and there are all sorts of publications writing about it). We are more interested in some of the SMS text messaging services built into twitter.
Built into Twitter is the ability for you to select which people you are following that you want messages sent. Messages are not only to your Twitter account but also to the SMS capable cell phone/Smartphone you have registered with Twitter. Remember, whenever you are sending and receiving SMS text messages, charges could apply.
For your students to use Twitter as a way of receiving updates, you (1) will have to get you own (free) Twitter account (2) they will have get their own Twitter accounts and (3) configure their account to follow you. They will also want to (4) configure their Twitter account to receive text messages. Finally, they will (5) go into their following list and turn device updates on for your account. They can opt in or out whenever they would like by turning device updates off or stop following you in Twitter.
So here we are… another way to keeping students engaged by utilizing a free SMS tool found on the Internet. This post only talks about twitter as a broadcast / alert tool. It can also have other class room uses. Stayed tuned.
Next Post another freebie worth noting…. http://www.polleverywhere.com. (you cell phone becomes the clicker for surveys)
After that… a multi-part introduction to my mobile webpage tool called MLEX.
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