Wiffiti (text messaging)
28I don’t know who was more excited today in class, the students or their teacher! I have been hearing a lot about this “wiffiti” idea to text in class so I finally decided to give it a try! Whoa! It has so much potential for the language classroom.
Here’s the website… http://wiffiti.com/?l
(*The website says they are changing things soon, so the new version will probably be even better!)
Basically, you create a “screen” and wiffiti posts the number to message and a code for students to include in their text message. When a text is sent with that code attached it gives the sender a funny screen name and posts the text for all to see on the screen. The messages float around the screen and it randomly zooms in on a text so it is easier to see and read.
I got permission from my principal and just crossed my fingers that there would be no tech difficulties, that students would be appropriate, and that it would engage students while helping them learn. It went great! My students loved it! They were in groups and I gave each group a set of seven open ended questions that have to do with our family/where I live unit. I told them to answer 5, and kids actually asked me… “Can we do MORE than five…please?!?” Ha! I had to pinch myself.
As we moved on to other activities in class, I left the screen up and told them they could send more messages as long as they were still using the language. They were looking words up and having so much fun. In fact, I think my next phrase of the week will be “Mira” because kids were saying it all day (in English) today!
In fact, today had me thinking. Maybe we could create a screen with a really unique tag in the language and connect all of our Spanish classes one day and let them see and hear from other students around the country. Even just watching the screen would be a good reading activity for students. What do you think? Would anyone else want to join our classes and comment on a certain idea/topic?
Megan
rachel573
Kara
I love the idea of posting with students from other parts of the country!! Sign me up!
Awesome! Where are you from?
Point pleasant, nj… I’m going to talk to my supervisor after spring break to get permission
Amazing! Sign me up…my school is in western Pennsylvania.
Amazing! Sign me up…my school is in western Pennsylvania.
I can’t wait to use this…I’ve been playing around with it. I hope you don’t mind if I ask a few questions…do you make a new screen for each period? For each topic? Thanks.
Just wondering if you’ve used the new locamoda version of wiffiti? I must be doing something wrong…I can’t get more than one message to show. I’ll keep playing with it, but I was wondering if maybe you’ve tried it.
I’m having the same problem, Susan. Only the first comment shows up on my board. Did you figure it out?
quick question…can you tell which text comes from which number? I can just imagine a student of mine (or three) texting something inappropriate?
and thanks again for such amazing ideas and sharing them!! you have me excited for next school year already:)
no but one quick way to find out would be to have their first post be … “HOLA, Me llamo ____________.” Wiffiti gives them a funky code name- then each person will always have that same name. Also, you can go in and delete individual posts if one is a little sketchy! I told my students, if ONE inappropriate text comes up we will never do anything fun again! Ha! They were fine!
Sign me up, too! I’d love to collaborate! I teach in Clarksville,TN!
I’d love to do wiffiti with you. I am in Houston Texas. I have classes in the morning and afternoon that could do it! What a cool idea.
Great!
Small world! I live in GR. I am teaching at Holland Christian
I would love to participate! I have students in holland, michigan and I teach spanish 1 in the mornings.
Great! Me too! I’ll try and set something up in the next few weeks. What school are you at? (I moved here from caledonia – s.w. of Grand Rapids)
I am living in Grand Rapids! But I am teaching at Holland Christian
Hi ladies I teach Spanish I-IV in Maine. I desperately need ways to get my kids to see the value in the language and make it real to them. Messaging seems interesting and they may like it, at least its worth a try. How does it work?
Sounds awesome! I’m definitely interested. I teach 7th-12th grade Spanish in SC.
I have a question. I’m wondering if this is compatible with Mac? I tried to set it up. I confirmed my account, but then when I tried to get a board started it said I couldn’t load the board….Any ideas? HELP!! I think this looks like such a fun idea to incorporate in my classroom. Julie
Have y’all done this yet? I was just wondering how it works and would be interested in the possibility for a future activity.
I am trying this in my Spanish class tonight! Hope it works as well as I think it will!
Let us know how it went! I used it again in a new class last week and there were definitely some kinks to work out with the tech but after about 10 mins we figured it out!
It worked great….after I recreated my board. I had created one at home, but then the text number didn’t work at school. So, I recreated it and it worked just fine. My students enjoyed it! I gave them a list of questions and they had to answer them to the board. Then, in partners, I had them read others’ answers. I felt like I should have done something else at that point, but was stumped for an idea. Thoughts?
I’d totally be interested in joining in a group wikifiti!! What a great idea. I’m in Kansas.
AWESOME!!! I am very interested in this group activity! I’am in killeen, TEXAS!!!
I would love to join in. I teach Spanish 1 and 3 in Suwanee, Ga.
I have 2 Spanish 3 students from 7:45 – 8:45 that would love to chat with any upper level students. Do you have Skype?