One of our use of SMS at Dundee operates from within Blackboard where
students start a self and peer-based assessment exercise which includes
the ability to send text messages of the mark awarded anonymously to the
peer being assessed. An email giving the detailed assessment is also sent.
It has the typical cost of about 10p a message, but is justified in the interest
and increased interaction it brings to the exercise. The students can choose
whether or not to receive the marks in this way. This was straightforward to
configure with one of the commercial services (textforce.com) and can be
driven from a configurable Perl script, so we can customise this to send text
messages as we wish. It is password protected so that only the instructors
can set it up.
Those interested in seeing or using the self & peer assessment tool
(entirely automatic and online) can see it at:
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/learning/leu/ilt/selfpeer.htm
Feedback from students about the text messaging has indicated they do
not mind using their phones to receive mark or other learning related
information, indeed, perhaps they expect it.
Richard Parsons
> This is interesting, John. A number of our staff are already included SMS
> messaging on their wish list. Is it possible to have the SMS service run
> through the Blackboard GUI?
>
> Spencer
> UWIC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Traxler [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 01 May 2003 08:55
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: SMS
>
>
> Hi,
>
> We're funded by ICS LTSN for the current semester to run a small pilot
> project. It's an LTSN Development Fund project.
>
> The students are a cohort of HND computing students and the course leader
> sends individual customised SMS messages based on assessment marks advising
> specific remedial work (plus group SMS about revision tips, room changes etc
> etc) from PC-based Redrock software (but it's not free). We're investigating
> linking the system directly to the University's student database (into which
> assessment grades are put)
>
> We're interested in whether the initiative will address retention and so
> possibly pay for itself
>
> The evaluation will take place in two to three weeks time.
>
> Feel free to contact me for further info.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Traxler,
>
> National ICT Research Centre
> University of Wolverhampton
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: MLE Blackboard/Courseinfo userslist
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Mark Gamble
> > Sent: 30 April 2003 16:23
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: SMS
> >
> >
> > Does anyone use SMS to contact sets of students - and
> > particularly, with an
> > SMS service that costs the university nothing....?
> > --
> >
> > Mark Gamble
> > Head, Learning Technology Support Service, Learning Resources
> > University of Luton, Park Square, Luton LU1 3JU
> > (+44)1582 489260 (x2260) Fax (+44)1582 489259 Mobile 077 200 686 05.
> >
Richard Parsons ph: (44) +1382 344265
Centre for Learning & Teaching fax: (44) +1382 221057
Room G41 Tower Email: [log in to unmask]
University of Dundee DD14HN
VLE info: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/learning/vle/
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