Using SMS (Text messaging)

texting on a mobile phone Short Messaging Service (SMS) or text messaging has been available for a number of years and it has now become one of the most popular ways of text communication.

SMS or Text Messaging functionality can be found on many mobile devices. This can be used for learning in a number of ways including:

encourages text communication between peers for opinion sharing, feedback or to request support.
reflections and thoughts can be captured on a weblog using text and/or images
interactive quizzes can offer SMS feedback
a ‘treasure hunt’ activity can capture photos and text whilst ‘out and about’ using a web-based storage area or moblog.
Sharing images of a personal project or artefact with peers increases self-esteem and confidence
capturing images and video clips enable learner to record their progress, reflect and then share the files with peers and tutors.

There are many other creative ways of using SMS. One way is to encourage learners to ‘voice’ their opinions by sending a text to each other or to the tutor.

Text messages can be added to a mobile blog by individuals or as a group activity. Quizzes can be devised to be read on a mobile phone/PDA phone and answers sent by text to the tutor for a text reply as feedback.

Tutors can also use SMS as a support mechanism. Group or Bulk SMS ( the same message to an indicated group of users) can keep a learning group supported and informed about homework, revision or useful ideas and reminders throughout holiday breaks. This type of regular contact helps learners with organisation and memory difficulties and can help motivate and retain the more anxious learners.

In Practice

Text and picture messaging can make fieldwork more accessible for wheelchair users. Different groups of learners work in different parts of the study area and keep in touch via SMS and picture messaging. A wheelchair user – working in the most accessible area - is as integrated into the group experience as the individual beaming pictures from the top of the waterfall. If the pictures and text are being sent to a Mediaboard or a mobile blog the group experience is captured for later discussion and reflection. Alistair McNaught, Senior Adviser, Techdis

Bob Harrison e-learning consultant DfES Standards Unit: “txttools is an excellent, practical example of the use of text messaging in education”

In Practice

The University of Wolverhampton's MELaS project refines a sustainable institutional SMS strategy to improve retention and progression by extending and enriching the contact and support of students on- and off-campus. The strategy also provides content that complements other media and enables students to exploit ‘dead’ time and short periods off-campus, for example commuting or rest breaks at work. Read the JISC Report on the MELaS project which will end in 2008.

Txttools.co.uk provides an ‘education messaging community’ where you can manage, send and receive secure SMS text messages using a desktop computer.

Their ‘Keep Warm’ campaign suggest that learners can be supported from application to enrolment using regular text messages over a summer period for example, keeping the learner advised of start dates, tutor information and equipment required. Throughout the first term the messages can offer support and guidance, advice if tutor sickness or bad weather prevents a class from starting or if the venue has changed. Learner’s questions can be captured and answered via the web-based service and replied via text message

TextMagic, a Windows based application that will turn your computer into a mobile phone so you can send and receive text messages.

Texting requires a new language and shorthand (emoticons) to show expressions and movements.

Create and send a text message using the emoticons in the aclearn.net's Texting Dictionary

'Mobile Messaging Technologies and Services: SMS, EMS and MMS' by Gwenael Le Bodic -ISBN: 0470011432

Cellphedia is a Mobile Social Software (MoSoSo) that promotes the sharing of knowledge. It’s the Wikipedia for mobile phones. It allows users to send and receive encyclopedia-type inquiries between specific, pre-defined groups of users, through Text messaging.

RSI danger from excessive texting

Take care! The BBC report shows how excessive texting can result in Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Mobile Technology - the handheld choice

Using SMS (Text messaging)

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