Integrating txttools for better communication in education

Steve Sidaway

Cy-nap Ltd

ssidaway@txttools.co.uk

www.txttools.co.uk

How are txttools being used?

• Provide course information

• Mentoring

• Alert to check email or website

• Provide content services

• Deliver RSS feeds by text

• Report bullying or offences

• Assistance for staff and students with disabilities

• Inbound questions for tutors

• Feedback on lectures, ideas or projects

• Use inbox as a message board

• Contact students in workplace

• Interactive use in lectures/voting

• Part of Disaster Recovery plans

• Integration with all other media

Set up auto-responders in inbox rules:

Use SMS as a gateway to link to other media including:Use SMS as a gateway to link to other media including:

The Money Doctors Project.The Money Doctors Project.

You TubeAnimated FormsBlogsPodcasts

Download Brian Hipkin’s presentation from the Leeds edutxt conference

How are txttools being used?

• Learner Involvement Strategy

• Contact late/missing students

• Exam reminders

• Cancelled classes

• Motivational messages

• Overdue library books

• Start dates and times

• Appointments with tutors

• Assignment deadline reminders

• Events information

• Enrichment reminders

• EMA attendance reminders

• Students registering by text

• Text in for help and advice

Interactive messaging - using keywords

Bus CampaignBus

Marketingmark

Englisheng

Sciencesci

Train CampaignTrain

Student Servicesss

Administrationadmin

Mathsmaths

Dedicated number0793 908 1424

88020

TEXTING TO A SHORTCODE

Text the keyword STEVE followed by your first name or a question to

88020

Using SMS for social inclusion and delivery of of advice

Text: Admissions

To

07624803356

(texts cost your normal text rate)

Creating your own inbox rules with keywords

inbox options: filter, forward, add to group and auto response

Message archive - full audit trail

Phase two - delivering links to podcast content via RSS2SMS

txteditor - deliver text courses, capture RSS feeds and deliver as text + text questions to web 2.0 services

Try it out - Send the following text message: YCCPodcastto 88020

1. Click on the link2. Download podcast3. Save on phone4. Open and play podcast

Poster from Chichester College

Best practice

Which staff use texting

•Retention officer

•Tutors

•Learning Support

•Admissions

•Exams

•Faculty administrators

•Anyone who wants it!

Projects

• Student Union Elections– Three voting methods

• Text• Ballot• Moodle (choice)

• Student Services Appointments– Students make an appointment at Student Services

reception desk – perhaps for Counselling, Connexions, Welfare and Accommodation….

– All appointments booked on TxtTools with “send on date” facility.

How Salisbury College do it…

• Text numbers captured at enrolment • Exclusive use of key words• Message forwarded to appropriate staff• Available to any staff who require it• Staff become familiar with technology• Costs are negligible – even with auto response• Link with MIS• Electronic registers arriving in September with “auto

text”

Catching key word errors

• Auto respond all texts that have incorrect – or no Key Word

• All Key Words available on Student Intranet

• Typical errors, no space, dot or dash after key word

What are the cost benefits

• Retention of 14-19 year olds– Lost 137 full time FE this year

• Recruited 100 more than last year

– Last year lost 180 students

• Most significant contributory factor is the Attendance and Retention Officer

Using Keywords with a Shortcode

“Our open day exceeded all expectations – text messaging was the only new feature to our campaign and it made all the difference” – Lesley Whiting, Lincoln College

Farnborough College, School visit promotion. Students sign up for text alerts by subject – college texts info. about courses, open days and registration deadlines

Use text messaging throughout the School Liaison Process:Encourage Year 11’s to sign up for text updates on their chosen subjects

Sign up in school

Join our FREE text messaging service designed with you in mind!First name………………………………………………………Family name…………………………………………………….Mobile No………………………………………………………Current school.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Course/s applied for…………………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

By supplying your data, and signing this form, you are consenting to the

college holding and using this information about you. Further information from College Data

Protection Officer 01252 407062.’

Stoke on Trent College – Don’t Stop Now – DSN Campaign

Suite of Branded DSN information for studentsincluding:

•Application Guide•Magazine•Help card

DSN magazine feature

DSN magazine includes many feature articles including:

•Meet the teachers

•Day in the life of …

•Top Tips

•£8 million investment in new buildings and equipment

•Guide to qualifications

•Apprenticeships ..helping you earn while you learn

•Text response mechanism integrated throughout

UWIC shortcode adverts - Millenniumn Stadium (Six Nations Rugby campaign)

London Metro newspaper advert

Part time Open Evening

• free moodletxt plug-in •single user Authentication

• uses moodle address book

• full functionalityvia moodle

What’s New: www.moodletxt.co.uk

moodletxt within Moodle

Connectors for your own applications

• Email2txt

• XML API

• SOAP Connection

Not just in education: http://www.fife.gov.uk/doitonline/

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are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

•Non emergency messaging facility for the Deaf Communityhttps://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact/plod/register/index.aspx

••Personal safety messaging / competition entry for the Glastonbury Festivalhttp://www.glastonburypolice.org

•Emergency incident messaging for partner agencies

•Marketing campaigns using keywords www.dantheburglar.org

Avon and Somerset Police

The Benefits of Using text messaging

• Student centred communication• Dramatically improves communication• Quick, discreet, to the point and inexpensive• Improves student motivation and retention• Saves time and money – compare with post or telephone• Social inclusion, students will feel more included in

College events• Contact any group or individual immediately• Students can text in for help and advice• Can be accessed anywhere – much like internet banking

Link to: Using sms to support teaching and learning in HE from University of Bath

Reference resources

Hear user case studiesand Best Practice examples at the next txttools conference in Glasgow

Presentations for E-learningStudent SupportMarketing

23 September 2008