For this first emergent technology review I stumbled upon an amazing resource for teachers called Remind101. This is a service that allows teachers to send out reminder texts or emails without giving out their personal information. This seems like a great tool for any teacher or organizer to use. When I was reviewing this tool I looked at several reviews from teachers who are currently using this tools, and reviews from parents and students who have teachers that use it. I don’t currently have a classroom, so I can’t provide a review from a personal standpoint but I am still excited to share this tool with you and will defiantly be using this when I do get a classroom!
Before I get into more details let me share that this exciting tool is FREE! Free to everyone anytime, with no limitation! I am so excited! I love free tools that actually work! FREE
Remind101 acts like any of the major texting service you might have for text alerts, like codes for movie rentals, or coupons for stores. When teachers sign up they get a code and they give out to parents or students. Parents simply text the code to the provided phone number and they are set up to receive reminders from you. One of the downfalls of the program is that parents cannot respond to the text message they receive, but you could include a statement to e-mail or call with questions.
As a teacher the set up is very easy. You set up an account get a code and hand it out to parents. There are no confusing buttons, or hidden pathways. It is really easy to navigate! Then as parents respond you can set up groups and classes, so your messages can go out to all the parents, or just certain groups of them. Another feature that Remind101 provides is the ability to set up reminders to go out in the future, and if something changes you can easily delete the message before it is sent out.
The reliability of the site seems to be outstanding. Out of the reviews I read, nobody complained of the site ever being down, or sending message at the wrong time, or with errors.
I love the privacy of this feature. Since your phone number is not connected with the site there is no way students or parents could get your information. In addition you are cannot see students personal numbers, which in some schools is a big no-no.
Going through the process of finding a emergent technology that I will actually use, and learning how to use it now is such a blessing! Now when I get my classroom I am going to be armed and ready to go!
This tech is very useful. I plan on using this tool also. Thanks for the information.
And please follow me @ http://rydingwithrewa.wordpress.com/
Hello Ms. Cayla! Thank you for reviewing such a useful tool, at least for me and my action research goals! This free product could really be useful in maintaining communication albeit one way with myself and my online students. The ability to set up different classes is vital as I teach multiple sections of students, and there are group activities within those rosters.
Because of the limitation you mentioned of subscribers not able to reply to the mass group texts, I’m curious to know if there is there an upgrade to this online software that does allow for this? Even if we could use an alternate phone number (like Google Voice) that would forward the texts to our personal numbers, that would be terrific!
If I might politely offer a suggestion, your review could delve into the possibilities of how a subscriber could be removed from the group mass list, or state if this is not possible. I could see situations arriving where students drop out, or change phones and get new numbers that would no longer wish to receive messages. If they can’t respond back with a “remove from list”, how would they do that?
Thanks again, I’m looking forward to signing up for my own account and trying it out on my family members! “Dinner time everyone!”
Pingback: BP3 (Remind me to be xtranormal) | Dance To The Music... Uh huh uh huh!
Hey Cayla ~
I love that you posted about Remind101. I actually found out about it a week ago through a different newsletter I receive. I signed up for it and tried it out with my own number and email. It worked like a charm. Of course I have not done anything else since then, but I do plan on using it in the future. I, too, love that you are able to get all this technology lined up before getting into the classroom. I hope you will find ease and efficiency with all that encounter.
Do you think you will use this for your AR project? You could use it for reminders of your social meetings, and if you have to make any quick last minute changes to your meeting times. It might even be possible to use it for family gatherings or quick information to special interest groups. What about you, Marc and me? We might could use it when we reconvene as a team on our next project.
This tool sounds like a real winner to me. I am thinking of all kinds of ways to use it.
Thanks for sharing – Sheila
Pingback: BP3 Teacher Friends – Life Just Got Easier! | Peaches'n'Blog!
Cayla,
How did you know that I need to get in touch with 15 teenagers at school this week? I am the Student Government Advisor and they all need reminders for a big event! This tool is going to be absolutely perfect. Obviously, I did not want to provide them with my personal cell phone number. I can think of so many uses for Remind 101.
As soon as you get your own classroom (and I know you will) I would reccomend introducing this tool at an in-person parent meeting, like back to school night. I would use a laptop and projector to walk the parents through the registration, step by step, and then send an example text. I am sure they will be amazed.
Did you come up with ways to use this tool for your social network? My initial thoughts would be birthday reminders and suggestions for a night out. I can’t wait to hear about how you use it.
Thanks for posting about this tool, and most importantly, thanks for making me look like a hero when I share it this week at Professional Development!
Nicole
Hi Cayla,
I can absolutely understand why you chose Remind101 for your emergent technology tool. Students are a bit forgetful these days and having a tool like Remind101 doesn’t allow students or parents to have any excuses about assignments in the classroom. You mentioned you do not have a classroom at this present time, but like I always say “Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance” and being prepared will lead to success in any field.
You stated earlier that this tools permits teachers to send out reminders via text or emails without providing any personal information, but parents cannot respond to the text. Do you have a plan in place just in case a parent needs more clarification on a particular assignment? If so, what does it consist of? Sometimes parents are just as lost as the student when it comes to particular assignments and I am just trying to figure out how this tool can help with that particular scenario.
The downfall of remind101 is somewhat of a catch 22 because if you cannot provide personal information (i.e. phone number), but you will need personal information if a parent wants further explanation for a particular assignment. Do you think the creators of remind101 will add a feature that will allow people to text back? If so, how long you think it will take for them to provide that feature?
Do you think remind101 has a feature for parents who’s learning English as a second language? Is there a translation tool on the site? I am interested to see how this program will work when you get your classroom.