No matter the skill of the professor, it is inevitable that one or more students will start to disengage with a particular subject. There are plenty of ways to increase engagement with students to help them to remain alert. This in turn also improves their level of learning and their grades. Group texting is one tool that secondary school and college-level educators are using to increase engagement. It may seem counterintuitive to allow your students to text while in class, but done the right way, it facilitates the learning process and keeps students interested in the subject matter.
Question and Answers
Allow students to ask questions through text for more engagement.
Group texting offers a way for students to ask questions or answer questions posed by the teacher during class discussions. Some students may feel too shy to speak up during class but be more willing to communicate through text message. Opening up your discussions, especially in a very large class, to text messages offers another way for students to engage and participate in lectures.
Another way that professors can engage students in their lectures and classwork is through group texting polls. During discussion, a professor can ask students to vote on something, such as the outcome of a particular event or experiment or their favorite part of a story. The professor simply has to set up several keywords that students can text. Students pick their favorite one and vote, and the keyword that has the most texts wins. You can also use polls as mini-quizzes throughout the lecture to ensure students listen and absorb the information. This exercise is something that almost anyone can be involved in and it will keep students engaged.
Texting does not just have to be used during the lecture to keep your students engaged; it can also be used to help students remain on top of their school work. Teachers can use their group texting list to send out reminders about assignments, especially large projects and exams, to ensure students stay on top of their work. Although it is important to teach students self-reliance, reminders about the most important projects are helpful. You can also send a text to remind students if there is a change of location for a test or other class.
Allow students to text you if they are running late or have homework questions.
Group texting between students and professors can also work well in other situations. Students who miss class or know they are going to be late can text their professors and give them a heads up. This communication can also reduce some of the anxiety students may have about being late or missing out, and some high schools are benefiting from this service. Some educators also find it beneficial to receive other types of texts from their students, including questions that may arise outside of class when students are completing their homework.
Using cell phones during class can be distracting, but with the right guidelines in place, bringing group texting into the classroom can greatly benefit students and teachers. Students will be more engaged, leading to higher grades and better work. Teachers have an opportunity to connect with all their students, even the shyest, in a way they may not have been able to beforehand.
Try GroupTexting for free today to see how it can help your students.text message
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