SMS txt via their VLE e.g. Moodle?

[debm]

Is anyone using text

[strawberry]

no, but i suspect you could sell me some!.

[KarlGoddard]

I can't actually see the overall value in using texts for communicating school > pupils.

Yes, there are people who would be devout users of it, but they are also the ones who try and shoehorn using Twitter into lesson plans.... using technology for just the 'use' of it. No tangible benefits IMHO. <cowers waiting for the 'phd bloggers' to swarm around me and Twitter me to death>

And from an inclusive technology point of view - what about the pupils (probably very very few) who don't have mob phones?

[srochford]

What about the "why haven't you handed in your coursework" type things? What about "have you looked at xxx - it's new and relevant to your class in yyy"?

Moving a bit away from Moodle, if you have electronic registration for each lesson then you can use text to help with internal truancy (child registers in the morning and goes to lesson 1 but doesn't make it to lessone 2)

None of this is essential but I'd guess you could argue that about most IT :-)

To answer the original question, we've looked at it but haven't got very far (but it is on my very long to-do list!)

[debm]

no, but i suspect you could sell me some!.

no but I know a man who could

[debm]

I can't actually see the overall value in using texts for communicating school > pupils.

Yes, there are people who would be devout users of it, but they are also the ones who try and shoehorn using Twitter into lesson plans.... using technology for just the 'use' of it. No tangible benefits IMHO. <cowers waiting for the 'phd bloggers' to swarm around me and Twitter me to death>

And from an inclusive technology point of view - what about the pupils (probably very very few) who don't have mob phones?

You do surprise me! The mobile phone is the only technology that just about everyone can use. Communication is the beginning of everything if teachers don't want to communicate with students ok, but why? The technology take a lot of the pain away. Send txt to get them to meet deadlines, show up on time etc. Could keep the kids on track, parents engaged, funding stream coming in and results up. win, win, win. Its all good

[Jona]

You do surprise me! The mobile phone is the only technology that just about everyone can use. Communication is the beginning of everything if teachers don't want to communicate with students ok, but why? The technology take a lot of the pain away. Send txt to get them to meet deadlines, show up on time etc. Could keep the kids on track, parents engaged, funding stream coming in and results up. win, win, win. Its all good

Do you not think you might be a little bias here?

[CyberNerd]

You do surprise me! The mobile phone is the only technology that just about everyone can use. Communication is the beginning of everything if teachers don't want to communicate with students ok, but why? The technology take a lot of the pain away. Send txt to get them to meet deadlines, show up on time etc. Could keep the kids on track, parents engaged, funding stream coming in and results up. win, win, win. Its all good

I agree. It makes sense to talk to students using methods that they understand, its more on their level and therefore more engaging for them. Also social networking is a great way for students to learn.
I can see that most teachers don't want to do though.

btw, can moodle send ICAL so that teachers set homework by ical to phones/email ?

[debm]

I agree. It makes sense to talk to students using methods that they understand, its more on their level and therefore more engaging for them. Also social networking is a great way for students to learn.
I can see that most teachers don't want to do though.

btw, can moodle send ICAL so that teachers set homework by ical to phones/email ?

Yes, Sending txt via moodle or a web application makes it so simple and provides and audit trail. moodletxt plugin - harness the power of edutxt seamlessly from within moodle. Yes I do have in depth knowledge of the technology/company but I could say the same for email, VLEs etc. As a consultant I am interested in tools that will make a difference and I want to know what users are thinking about it and using.