SMS Text to Web Chat

While searching the Internet for articles related to educational technology I came across an article by a student through Web2.0 Classroom's Twitter post.  The student is arguing about trusting students to use the technology in the classroom.  There was also mention of cell phone use by students.

Cell phones are a problem for many schools and districts across the country.  Many schools are embracing the technology in their classrooms, others are completely banning cellphones in the classrooms.  Some schools are also semi embracing them (use in the hallways, but not in the classrooms, etc.

There are tons of arcticles about the impact of texting in education, a few are below:
Text Messaging is Transforming Education
Txting away ur education
OMG! Teachers say texting can be good for teens
Could Texting be Good for Students?

So in trying to embrace Texting in schools I searched the Internet, but with little success for a web 2.0 software that students could send an SMS text too and it would appear in a chat box, kind of like TodaysMeet does.  Could we create an SMS texting software on the Internet that students could send a text too in class as part of a discussion?  It would be a great way for students who normally are quiet to get involved in the conversation.  Not every classroom has access to laptops or computers, but many students have access to cell phones....so I guess the question than becomes....

If you can't beat 'em, Join 'em?

What are your thoughts?  Please share below.

12 Essentials for Technology Integration

Recently the Edublog Awards opened the door to several blogs that will help many of you in your classroom.  One of the award winners is a Mr. Richard Byrne who is responsible for the blog Free Technology 4 Teachers.  I knew about his site prior to learning about the Edublog awards just by searching Google, and his site was part of my motivation for creating this blog as well.

One of the parts of his blog is a digital magazine that he created using Yudu titled The 12 Essentials for Techology Integration.  It is a great publication that offers free resources that you can use in your classroom.  His blog posts are also very original and offer a wide variety of resources across the spectrum of the subject matter that as teachers we cover in our classroom. 

I highly recommend this site not just to visit once, but to subscribe to as well.  He is not just on top of Web 2.0 technology but also news stories and websites helpful to technology integration.

5 Minute Videos

5 Minute Videos is a website dedicated to videos that are less than 5 minutes that can help you with everyday problems.  I personally checked out the Technology section and there were quite a few useful researchers that educators could use to help themselves as well as their students.  Many of the tech videos are organized by subject matter, ie.; IPhone Apps, Software, Tech support, Product Reviews, etc.  Surf through and see what you might find that is of use to you...I am sure there are questions that you need answered and these can help you.

Other categories include Health, Fashion, Games, Gardening, Music, Travel, etc.

Merry Christmas

Here at The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, and for those of you who do not celebrate Christmas....Happy Holidays.  


Feel free to track Santa

Virsona - Create a Virtual You

On this Christmas Eve Eve if you have not found a gift for someone, why not give a gift that keeps on giving.  Virsona is a website that allows you to create a Virtual You.  What does that mean?  Imagine your great great grandchildren being able to interview you... not read about you, but interview you.  Through the website you can create an account and answer questions, or tell the website about yourself and then provide questions that relate to that information.  You can keep a daily journal entry so there is a timeline of events.  You can also provide your philosophical ideas, political beliefs, religious beliefs, etc.

From a classroom stand point, imagine interviewing Abraham Lincoln and asking him about Slavery or the Gettysburg Address.  Or interviewing any other President.  The website has an educational feature that allows your school or district to pay for an account to create student accounts and then your students could use the site to create virsonas of a historical person as part of a project.

Visit the website, play around for a little bit.  Or go directly and talk to President Lincoln.

Imagine the possibilities if we could get every President, leader, actor, actress, politician, etc. to use this site, then they would never really die and we would also be  able to know where they stand and what they did.