Using Google SMS in my Jr. High Classes

Today was Costume Day at Falls North Junior High so the energy level was exceptionally high with our 8th and 9th graders. I thought that demonstrating how to use Google SMS on my cell phone would be just the thing to engage my Financial Life Skills students. Sure enough! It worked. My students were fascinated by the quick text message responses to our inquiries regarding Target, Cheesecake Factory, and Kohl's. The students also enjoyed the fact that I was using my cellphone, causing our class to be "renegade" since cell phones are not to be used in the building. I, of course, justified my usage because it was for a "legitimate educational purpose." I did warn my students that they should only do Google SMS with their parents' permission, due to the many text message billing programs out there. When my students went to the computer lab to buy and sell stocks in the online Stock Market Simulation, they were still talking about how "cool" Google SMS was. I will ask my students tomorrow if they tried SMS.

Reflection on first 2 class sections in cedu523

What I have taken from this class is a much greater appreciation of all the Internet tools we have learned that can be taken back to our classrooms. I am already thinking of ways to use PBWiki in my Business Venture and Financial Life Skills classes. Certainly a Webquest would be a hands-on method for my students to learn about new business topics, just as we did with our History of the Internet Webquest.
In addition, I just marvel at the on-line tools that Google has. Now I can better explain to my FLS students in the midst of the Stock Market Simulation why Google stock continues to rise. According to my newly learned SMS, Google (must use ticker symbol GOOG) finished the day trading at $675.77, up 3.84%. Wonder if they will split their stock any time soon?