Ok, I've assigned a twitter assignment to my kids. We don't really have computers in my classroom. So yesterday in the computer lab, we logged into twitter and made accounts that I then asked that they attach to their mobile number. At the end of each class, they are required to tweet a question or a statement about one thing they learned in class that day.

On day 2, it's kinda fun.

I'm trying to think of ways to STOP fighting them and their cell phones. Or to harness it for my class.

That sounds like a fun assignment, Kat. All of your students have cell phones?

All but one. Even the kids who don't have internet at home or no access? They have cell phones.

What's cool about them twittering is that I have a much better read on who doesn't get what and who doesn't know what to write or how to write it or whatever. I wonder if this will improve the turn in rate on my other assignments.

Kat, check out polleverywhere.com - they have a fairly good system for using texting to get quick poll responses (if you're familiar with classroom use of clickers/personal response systems for lecture feedback, checking on students' understanding, etc, it's the same idea but you have the choice of using students' own devices or web-based responses or both). You're limited to a certain number of responses per poll in a free account, but I know of people using it in quite large classes by having students collaborate on answers and have one group member text in the reponse (plus, the group thing keeps a bit of a lid on the "everyone's staring at their own phone screen" problem).

I mostly know about higher ed uses, but I can nag my polleverywhere fan colleague for more info if you want; there are definitely people using it in K12 as well, and she'd probably have some good resources if you're hunting for ideas.

amych, do you know about edmodo? That's the other thing I'm researching.

Poll everywhere... something I'll have to look at.

I'd never heard of edmodo, but I just watched the intro vid, and I'm intrigued -- I seriously like the idea of an LMS-like thingy that's built entirely around messaging. It seems like it would be a good shift from the usual "my so-called 'course' consists of this locked-up folder of giant pdf's and crappy interaction" that happens so often.

HA! But isn't that what online learning is? Another teacher explained "It's like facebook. But for education. And with polls!"

Who doesn't love a ticky box?

Some CRAZY WRONG PERSON may not like a ticky box. But as I'm the one babbling about instant polling technlogy, I am clearly not that person.

Ugh Kat! I am sorry but that is in NO WAY your fuck up. That preschool is acting like something out of a Sandra Tsing Loh sketch.

I am frustrated and angry on your behalf.

Also on yours, meara. What an asswad.