extension in 160 characters, or less

Using text, and more, for outreach and education.

EXTENSION IN 160 CHARACTERS, MORE

OR LESS.

Cell phones are becoming ubiquitousRelative cost eff ectiveness (vs computer)Ease of use

WHY TALK ABOUT TEXTING?

Some 72% of adult cell phone users send and receive text messages now.

Pew Internet and American Life Project, Cell phones and American adults, September 2010

According to a recent J.O.E. article, the top four uses of technology by learners were Email, Text Messaging, Digital Photos, and YouTube.

Journal of Extension, Extension Learners’ Use of Electronic Technology. February 2011

STATISTICS (ALWAYS HELP).

Economics – smart phones = $$$Low cost cell phones can send and receive text(Relatively) inexpensive to send txt messagesEase of use – everyone (well, a lot of people) know

how to use a phone keypad

SMART PHONES, DUMB PHONES?

SMS is a message protocol for phone (and other) communication systems.

160 character message limitOne to one, one to many

SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE (SMS)

Twitter expands the sms universe. Big network and multiplatform applications 140 character limit on messages

20 characters reserved for username Connectivity with other web based resources

TWITTER – SMS BACKBONE, PLUS

Examples of learning with txt:

SMS FOR LEARNING?

Access to health info via cell phones is an active, and well studied field of work.

A Google scholar search for: “health information text message” returns over 100 pages of results.

Teens are actively using text messaging Start where people are?

TEXTING FOR HEALTH

Development of ag applications and use of text is very active in the global south. Pervasiveness of cell phones vs access to computer and

broadband Lower learning curve to use effectively Expanding beyond just text to include audio, images and

video

AGRICULTURE AND SMS

Awaaz De Voice based q and a Radio platform Announcments

VOICE (IT’S A PHONE, AFTER ALL).

University of Illinois producing and deploying educational videos for cell phones http://

news.illinois.edu/news/11/0228phone_ed_Bello-Bravo_Pittendrigh.html

ANIMATION AND MORE

Some cell companies are very active in developing or supporting educational use of the technology. Nokia – Life Tools Vodaphone Foundation

MobileActive.org Global network highlighting mobile use

And much more… Citizen polling and engagement Literacy education etc

MANY EXAMPLES

Paul Treadwell pt36@cornell.edu Twitter: ptreadwell Posterous: http://pt36.posterous.com/

CONTACT