Digital Smarts - Texting as a Part of Teaching

Research on texting between teachers and students shows that it can drive student engagement and deliver positive results, according to Scott Hamm, director of online education at Hardin-Simmons University. While most of the research was done on college level students, Hamm suggests the merging of texting with other classroom communications is a no brainer for younger students as well, as texting is the primary communication medium of 14- to 18-year-olds.

It is an interesting idea, but privacy concerns and opportunities for the misuse of this kind of communication, including inappropriate contact, are monumental. The job of being a teacher under these kinds of circumstances would also be incredibly time consuming. For parents, it is certainly something to be aware of as technology continues to roll out.