Need a suggestion for work (school)

[CDNSushi]

Waaaaaaay off-topic here... I asked this same question on a teachers' forum where I'm also a member but it tends to get pretty low traffic these days so whether I get a response may be a few hours or it may be a few weeks. At least XMTS has a lot of people come through in a day.

Anyway, I just had a talk with the department head here at work about student absenteeism. It's a real problem because in spite of this being a college with ADULT students, the teachers are being held responsible because the administration feels that it is the teachers' duty to run after the students (by phoning them at home when they don't come to class or reminding them to come to school because they have an exam)...

Anyway, we can't change the policy, but what I told the DH we CAN do is automate the process (hopefully). I'm thinking: student database containing all their cellphone numbers that is somehow connected with an automated program that can send SMS or e-mail (or automated voicemail) reminders out either on-demand or according to a pre-set schedule.

Here's how I would envision this would be used.

1. During final exam week, the program sends out an e-mail to all the students in a given class at 7:30a.m. reminding them that they have an exam at 9:00am that day.

2. A student consistently sleeps in and comes late to his first period classes: have a daily reminder sent to his cellphone until such time as it's no longer necessary or the semester is done (whichever comes first).

3. Sending occasional reminders to all students regarding special events, school holidays, important deadlines.

Does anyone know if such a program exists? Something that's online or web-based would be absolutely fine. It doesn't have to be free (although that's always a plus due to ever-decreasing department budgets)...

Please & thank you!

[Southern Breeze]

I've heard of e mail and maybe texts being sent out by some of the local schools. This was done when there was a security violation though. I'll ask the teachers I know about it.

Shock collars for repeat offenders would work.

[Pleater]

I can't help with a program to send out the emails, but I can request such information from my offspring, as both do the computing thing.

However, knowing the sleep patterns of most young adults - a reminder of an exam might be more effective sent the day before as it would be far more likely to be read at seven thirty at night than seven thirty in the morning.

I don't think mine even now know that there IS a seven thirty in the morning.

Anne the Pleater

[george7]

Sending a message the morning of wouldn't help much if they haven't set an alarm clock.

[CDNSushi]

I know... All the rules of common sense and logic do not apply here. Yes, it would make more sense to notify students the day before... No, it probably wouldn't help to call them if they haven't set an alarm... But it's all about liability here. I hate to sound selfish, but this is for the good of the teachers more than the students.

See, if a student misses his final exam because he's lazy and irresponsible, his TEACHER will catch flak from the school because they feel that the teacher should've taken sufficient measures to ensure the student arrived at the test.

Here, it's not unusual for teachers to even visit students' homes if they miss class. No joke! So our (me & the department head) thinking is: if we can rig up a system that will notify students just before a test, we cover our butts so no one can point the finger and say that the teacher didn't do their job and take measures to help ensure the students arrived at school. Crazy, I know.

Would a regular e-mail proggy like Thunderbird or Outlook allow a person to send an e-mail at a specific time/date? Because if it did, it would just be a matter of adjusting the recipient list...

[Chrissss]

Yes, some email programs can send an email/ text message to a phone number.

You need to know the wireless suppliers name and the number.

Chris...

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

How about one text/email message to all the students telling them that if they miss three lectures or one exam they willFAIL the class?

I know this is awfully politically not correct, seeing as how 99 & 44/100 % of all students feel entitled to at least a "C" merely for enrolling in a class, but hey! I'm a big believer in the concept of dumping the deadwood at the first good opportunity.

[Chas]

Hello All,

I have this tiny litte bell ringing in the darkest reaches of my memory. I think that I have heard, that in some places in the world 'automatic phoning' or whatever it might be called is illegal. I probably have this all wrong - but if it isn't illegal, why aren't businesses doing it now to get our custom?

Regards

Chas

[LoftGuy]

How about one text/email message to all the students telling them that if they miss three lectures or one exam they willFAIL the class?

I know this is awfully politically not correct, seeing as how 99 & 44/100 % of all students feel entitled to at least a "C" merely for enrolling in a class, but hey! I'm a big believer in the concept of dumping the deadwood at the first good opportunity.

What he said.

[puffer]

How about one text/email message to all the students telling them that if they miss three lectures or one exam they willFAIL the class?

I know this is awfully politically not correct, seeing as how 99 & 44/100 % of all students feel entitled to at least a "C" merely for enrolling in a class, but hey! I'm a big believer in the concept of dumping the deadwood at the first good opportunity.

I AGREE. Sadly to say you are correct, in that it would NOT be PC. The idea is that if a student is FAILED then 2 things
1. The school & the teacher will face the WRATH of the parent.
2. The Student's "fragile self image" will be "shattered"

RESULT, when the student "enters" the REAL WORD, & he/she can not get a job, or keep one, REALITY SETS IN.

Puffer