Wiffiti

Looking for a way for everyone in the class to give ideas or opinions on a certain topic? Looking for a way to do this that's a little more fun than just an in-class discussion? Also looking for some technology to spice up the "cool" factor? Look no further. Wiffiti might be the answer for you.

Wiffiti users can project a "message screen" onto the wall via projectors, and students can use their cell phones to text information to the message screen. All answers are displayed on the screen so everyone has a chance to contribute. Kids who normally are too shy to allow their voice to be heard can contribute ideas without speaking up and/or being overpowered by the louder students. All it takes is a cell phone with text-messaging capabilities. (Standard text messaging rates do apply, but since most students have unlimited text messaging packages, this shouldn't present too big of a problem.)


A teacher can register and make his/her own "message screens." You can customize the backgrounds and make one for each section of your classes if you like. Once your message screen is posted, the you'll receive a text code (a 6 digit code that works like a phone number) connected to that screen.

Once in class, the teacher can pull up the Wiffiti "message screen" and pose an open-ended question. This may be as simple as "what would be a good discussion question over ___ material?" or something more specific to your subject/topic. Students will use the text code and the text messaging feature in their cell phones to send their answers to the message screen!

After texting to the message screen once, students are assigned a random screen name (usually an animal/color/number combo). Users have the option to change his/her username (so you, the teacher, can identify them), or they can give the teacher the random screen name that was selected by Wiffiti (for grading/accountability purposes).

Let's rewind for a second. As soon as the teacher poses the question, all the students will text an answer to the text code connected to the message screen. As soon as the text is received by Wiffiti, the message appears on the message screen being projected on the wall. These messages appear to "float" around on the screen, and are continually replaced by newer messages. The messages that appear on the screen are limited to the people who have access to your text code. The username is also connected to the "floating message," so there is some level of accountability in what students text to the Wiffiti screen. This accountability could be great (peer pressure could work to encourage a non-participating student to participate, or for the class clown to write something serious and of value). On the flip side, this could also be negative (the class clown could benefit by texting his clever jokes to the message screen because he knows that everyone in the room will see it).

Of course, there is a risk of students texting for the wrong reasons or misusing the screen and making vulgar language appear in huge letters... *sigh* But again, we're back to the paper-and-pen example I gave a few posts ago: students can do "bad deeds" with pens and paper, but teachers don't take those away! We simply teach the students the proper etiquette for using it, and then move on. Technology may be the same way at first. (Of course, if students start using technology in the classroom at a young age, then less "netiquette" needs to be taught in the higher grades, which saves time...)

Anywho, I'm very intrigued by Wiffiti. It has been used at concerts, bars, and conferences in the past. Only recently has Wiffiti been an option for the classroom, but I'm liking what I see so far.

Perhaps if we allow students to use their cell phones for a set amount of time in class (for educational purposes only, of course) for certain activities, maybe the students wouldn't be so anxious to access their phones for non-educational things during class. I mean, as a teenager, if someone told you not to do something, what did you automatically want to do? Right. And if your teacher or parent suddenly encouraged you to do something, that thing magically lost almost all it's "cool appeal." Maybe if we band together and encourage texting in the classroom for educational purposes, maybe the appeal of social texting during class wouldn't be as high...

Hmm. Just food for thought. Tell me what you think!