Text Messaging for Education: Findings & Market Trends

This article is relevant for education providers that want to increase student engagement and we’ll show you the latest ways you can use text messaging for education to help reinvent your communication strategy.

COVID-19’s Impact on Education

COVID-19 was a nightmare for the educational system. Teachers and students had to learn how to readapt to the new way of remote learning. While education providers were trying to maintain academic outcomes, the government was setting new restrictions which led to school shutdowns.

With all the challenges of keeping schools open and active, education providers were experiencing a new challenge – how to engage students.

In education, student engagement refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education, according to the Education Reform.

There are unanswered questions that both parents, students, and educators have such as:

• What will the future of learning look like?
• How will COVID-19 impact future generations?
• How will students and teachers adjust to the new remote learning methods?
• How long will restrictions last?

Transitions are hard, especially the ones caused by unpredictable events such as the pandemic. So we want to show you a few ways in which SMS can make the transitions easier and the communication with students more efficient.

1.    Reminders & Notifications

• Homework
• School Fees
• Application forms
• Upcoming Classes
• Enrolments
• Events
• Announcements

SMS and rich messaging can bridge any communication gap between parents, students, and educational institutions. In case of urgent notices that require last-minute preparation, the best way to communicate is by sending a text message.

This year there were fewer student enrolments because of COVID-19 restrictions and the impact it had on overall education. One in four students have cancelled or postponed studies thanks to Coronavirus. This is likely to affect future employment, self-isolation, and the economy.

That’s why SMS should be of interest to schools and higher education institutions seeking to retain enrolment. Encouraging students to carry on their education is extremely important. Institutions can do that by sending subtle text messaging reminding students that it’s essential to re-adapt to new ways of living, not simply giving up on education.

Rich media messaging is another form of text messaging that allows you to create mobile landing pages to increase student engagement and interest. Educational institutions can very easily create web pages that are fully customized with their logos, main courses, insightful articles, videos, social media, and more.

Campus announcements or events can be introduced using mass text messaging. It’s a quick and instant way to deliver a fun and exciting event to students. Use this opportunity to promote volunteer recruiting, student exchange programs, or bookstore promotions.

Rich media messaging payments are a great solution that can facilitate transactions for tuition fees between students and education providers. Simply schedule a reminder text to go out to parents or students for any upcoming payments. They can access the link and securely make the payment or set up a recurrent payment.

2.    Meetings

Parent-teacher meetings can be reminded via a simple text message. This type of meeting is essential for discussing a child’s progress in school, any behaviours that need attention, or any other concerns. Sending an SMS to remind or confirm the appointment helps both the teacher and the parent.

Education institutions can go the extra mile and recommend rich messages to be sent where the parent can choose an availability slot from the teacher’s calendar. This way they can save the date and not miss the appointment.

3.    Enhancing Remote Learning Experiences

Technology has revolutionized teaching and learning. With more access to online tools and applications, the lectures and classes are not confined to a classroom. Ranging from mobile devices to virtual learning systems and online courses, text messaging is just another channel to increase student engagement, enrolment, and attendance.

The US e-learning market could grow by $12,81 billion between 2020 and 2024 according to research done by Market Research. Also, statistics indicate that 63% of high school students in the US use digital learning tools daily.

Rich media messaging solutions are designed to make online learning more engaging. By sending personalized mobile landing pages to students, you can remind them of upcoming assignments and classes. They can easily access information like literature, reading lists, or even fill out forms.

Mobile learning remains one of the fastest-growing markets in the sector, with an average growth rate of over 20% in the past years, so make sure you invest in the channels of communications that will fulfil students’ needs and preferences.

Conclusion on Text Messaging for Education

Text messaging for education remains a great way to attract and retain students and parents. By providing clear, engaging, and fast direct messages, educational institutions are more likely to increase student engagement.

We encourage education providers to use simple, one-way SMS for quick announcements and reminders. And take advantage of rich media messaging solutions to create more engaging student journeys. If you want to benefit from efficient text messaging services, get in touch with VoiceSage and we will show you how powerful texts can be to connect educational institutions, parents, and students.