So lately I have noticed that there are a lot of web2.0 sites that offer free text messaging to any cell phone from the web. One example is http://textforfree.net/. I find these sites intriguing especially since I know how much students (especially high school students) love to text message each other. I know it costs money each time they text, so being able to create text messages from the web may be a nice option for the wallet as well as for learning. I am just starting to think of ideas for using these free text tools.
One idea is for homework/organizational reminders, where teachers and/or students could send a text from school (where cell phones are banned) to the cell phones to remind them of important assignments, group work...etc. Another idea is to use the text messaging tool to develop an assignment around it, such as "poetry text" where students in English class could create text messaging poetry that they would send to each other (in a sense publishing their poetry). They could also create "text reviews" for test reviewing, where students could send each other review questions or reminders. In a business class, students could create a "text advertising" campaign to target teenagers with a new product. In a social studies class they could create a "text election slogan" to get others interested in their candidate or choice, or they could do "text current events" where different students are in charge of texting current national or world events as they occur in real time (for example a student could be in charge of the War in Iraq and texting when new developments occur).
These are just a few ideas I've come up with as I have been playing with these new tools, I'm very interested in any other ideas out there...until next time, I will be texting---for free!
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Cell Phones in Learning by Liz Kolb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at cellphoneseinlearning.com.
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2 comments:
i have done text-poetry with some of my far-away writing colleagues (there was one poem that was published online somewhere, i'll try and find it for you), but i really like the idea of being able to text assignments to students as a reminder that they actually *will* read. i've been thinking a lot about language lately, and the need to speak in the language that they understand as the beginning of getting them to connect. it begins with small efforts on the part of teachers to communicate with them in modes and venues that they use frequently anyway, thanks for this site!
we all have you in our thoughts for a quick labor and healthy delivery, and soon! please keep us updated through jeff, or email, and post photos of your new one as soon as you're feeling up to it!
xo,
lauren
Ive noticed it too. Especially having these websites offer social communities is like opening up a new world for these kids. I know in the U.S things like twitter and peekamo are getting as big as myspace.
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