Using text messaging to support administrative communication in higher education

Abstract

To be effective in higher education, text messaging must be effectively integrated into both the student and staff experience. These user groups provided input into the design of StudyLink, an email to text message service. A small-scale trial was conducted over a period of two academic terms to investigate the feasibility of using this system in a real educational setting. Students reported high satisfaction with the quantity and content of the text messages and tutors reported changes in behaviour that were directly attributable to the use of text messaging. Administrative staff members were able to integrate this service into their current means of communicating with students, though there were some difficulties in composing appropriate text messages. Students were able to effectively receive and act on text messages, but ambiguities introduced with sending text messages were not resolved.