At our fingertips, we can send emails, surf the web, and talk to friends and family from all over the world. You can now add taking a professional learning course to that list. Through daily text messages, you can take a 15-minute micro-PD, and even earn SCECHs!

Not only did the pandemic create risks for health and well-being, but it’s forced educators to take on new roles, try new instructional methods, and implement new class structures to meet the needs of their learners. For our educational technology team, that meant that we needed to seek new ways to provide meaningful, relevant, and flexible professional learning opportunities to help educators acquire new digital skills.

How can SMS Text be used for professional learning?

To make learning more manageable and accessible for our educators, we, the EdTech team, decided to launch a new professional learning delivery style called micro-pd. This approach to learning provides participants with small chunks of information over time to foster professional growth.

After success with The LLCN Brief Podcast and 12 Days of EdTech Cheer, a micro-pd created by Sarah Wood focusing on daily tech challenges for teachers, we decided to explore an even more “micro” micro-pd. After testing out a number of different tools, we came across Arist, a course-building platform that delivers content through text messages. We used Arist to create micro versions of a few of our most popular topics from last summer’s Remote Learning Bootcamp.

These SMS text courses sent participants daily text messages with the most critical ideas and information on these topics. Participants could read, dive deeper into linked resources, and reflect upon the content of each message in under 15 minutes. Plus, participants that responded to reflection questions earned SCECH credit. 

What are teachers saying about SMS Text Courses?

In the first offering of these courses, we had 60 participants complete the courses and their experiences have been resoundingly positive. Here’s just a few snippets from their reflections.

“I really liked this format. It was quick yet informative. I would definitely sign up for another course like this.” -School Psychologist at Ionia ISD

“I really enjoyed this course! I appreciated the flexibility in reading and responding to the daily lessons when convenient for me, and feel as if lots of helpful suggestions and resources were provided. The course was not pressuring or overwhelming with all of the materials and options out there; but rather, provided gentle food for thought and reassurance. I also like how I will be able to have future access to all of these resources and tips going forward- as everything is just a few touches away on my phone.“ -Teacher at Portland Public Schools

“I enjoyed the way this course was laid out. It was nice to get small bits of info each day to really take in rather than a bunch of information at once. I also like that we were able to select the time for our own conveniences” -Teacher at Wyoming Public Schools

We’re definitely still learning about how learning via text message works, but the positive responses we’ve received so far have encouraged us to continue to refine text message professional learning and explore new ways to use it as a delivery tool. 

How can I try SMS Text PD?

Are you interested in trying out professional learning through text message? We’re reopening registration for our Micro-Bootcamp Courses. Try it for FREE, click the link below to register for the next session!

• Remote Learning Micro-Bootcamp: Asynchronous Instruction
• Remote Learning Micro-Bootcamp: Remote Assessment – Part 1
• Remote Learning Micro-Bootcamp: Remote Assessment – Part 2

Hope to see you there!

#SMStextPD #MicroPD #WeLeadLearning #KentISD #Technology

This blog post was written by Keith Tramper, Education Technology Consultant at Kent ISD and edited by Sara Sefcik, PD Hub Intern and Amanda Walma, Professional Learning Coordinator at Kent ISD