Keyword Texting! New Free Web Resources for Teachers

Over the last few years my two favorite mass keyword texting apps have either shutdown (TXTblaster) or are no longer free (Textmarks). As a result I have been looking for new FREE resources that would allow people to "opt in" and subscribe to my mass text alerts (without me having to type in everyone's phone number). I have finally found two that I really LOVE. The first is called Cel.ly. The second is called Pulse.to. I will describe both below.

Cel.ly

Cel.ly is a new mass text messaging

service that says they are interested in schools using their free service! You can get started by texting "start" to 23559. Cel.ly will then ask you for a login and password. You can then go to the website Cel.ly, login and set up text message channels. Each channel is set up with a keyword so that students, teachers, community members, and parents can join your mass text message with a keyword from their cell phone! There does not seem to be a limit on the number of people that can join your mass alert. Cel.ly also gives you three choices in how you want to set up the mass text alerts. You can have all members send messages back and forth to the whole group. You can have only the teacher (owner of the channel) send messages to the group. You can have the group members send messages back to the teacher only! In addition your texting channel can be public or private! All messages are archived in Cel.ly! You can send messages via the Cel.ly website or via phone. It works quickly and easily!

Pulse.to is similar to Cel.ly. You can login to the website, create a free account and then you start to set up pulses. You can have a public or private mass texting channel (called "pulses"). In addition, you can select if only the pulse owner can send messages or if everyone in the group can send messages. Pulse.to works in many different countries besides the US and Canada! In addition there is not a short code to join, rather students/teachers/parents can text in to a real phone number (so phones that don't work with short codes or keywords will still work with this service!). For example to join my Pulse you text JOIN KOLBY to 704-323-7775.

Mobile Devices in Education Survey

Teachers! If you have a few minutes please take the Mobile Devices in Education Survey (it is from Totem Brand Strategy). They are drawing 10 winners randomly and each will win $100 USD. They plan to close it in 10 days (April 18). See Contest Rules at beginning of survey.
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22C7N6RK2G8/

Create Text Reminders for Courses with Remind101

I ran across a new site the other day called Remind101. This free site is created for teachers and students to seamlessly create text and/or email reminders for assignments, projects, quizzes, tests, labs, class activities and homework. Teachers create accounts, upload syllabi, insert all class projects, activities, homework and assignments. Then students can log in to Remind101, search for their class, subscribe to the class, and automatically start receiving all reminders for the class activities. Students can add new reminders, or personalize the text alerts to be for only certain types of activities. One of the best aspects of this site is that it is quick and easy to use. Instructors can also use the same class site over and over again, just changing the due dates. The site works with any cell phone that has SMS text messaging!