While it has always been the case that students tend to busy, today’s students, perhaps more so than students in the past, have a lot to deal with. There are many students who are quite adept at time management and multitasking, but others could use some help with getting assignments done on time. A student’s ability to succeed in the classroom often depends on them completing schoolwork on time. For this reason, the use of text messaging is beginning to be adopted by schools as a way to help improve assignment completion rates and student productivity. While many services provide text messaging capabilities to schools, the TexTalk platform’s advanced SMS messaging capabilities stand out and make it an attractive choice for schools.
Studies have shown that when students receive regular text reminders about assignments, completion rates increase, sometimes by as much as 25 percent. Text reminders have also been shown to increase average student grades compared to students who do not receive texted reminders. As research has increasingly demonstrated the benefits of texting in education, more and more schools are beginning to use texting regularly. The TexTalk platform has many features that make it an attractive choice for educators. TexTalk allows users to type up messages through the TexTalk portal and send them immediately or schedule them for a later time. It is easy to create and send messages with TexTalk, as long as whatever has been entered into the textbox is below the maximum size, it can be texted without trouble. This simple process is easy to learn and can be adapted for use by teachers quickly, making TexTalk an attractive choice for schools.
Increasing the amount of homework that gets completed isn’t the only thing that text messaging can be used for by schools. The period between ending high school and starting college is often referred to as summer melt, when a proportion of high school students who have been accepted into college choose not to go. This phenomenon occurs more frequently with students from lower-income families or who are the first in their family to attend college. One of the leading causes of this is a lack of support during that period of transition between high school and college. During this time, students lack the support they need to finish completing forms and registration as they are often cut off from their high school counselors and have not yet gotten into contact with advisors from their college. Figuring out how to minimize the amount of summer melt that occurs is a crucial priority for many colleges.
Some colleges send letters to prospective students that provide information and reminders, while others appoint counselors to keep in touch with them and help them during their transition. Text messaging, especially when utilized through a capable platform like TexTalk, is an effective alternative to both of these methods. SMS tends to do better as reminders than letters, as they are delivered directly to students and arrive instantly. Young people also tend to check for texts more often than they check their mail. Text messaging is also much more cost-effective for colleges when compared to using a large number of counselors to keep in direct contact with students. With an effective messaging platform, a small group of counselors can give general guidance and offer specific advice to students in need.
While text messaging has existed for years, only now is it beginning to be used in education. Text messaging offers educators a wide range of functions that can assist them in ensuring the success of their students. Students prosper when they are in close contact with their schools and teachers. Using an effective platform like TexTalk allows educators to improve student performance and to build a deeper, more personal connection with their students.
