Connected.info includes a feature we call 2-way text messaging which was designed by the students at the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART) high school in Clovis, California.  This feature allows a user with a cell phone to interact with the Connected.info service to view their homework assignments and grades, read and respond to messages, and view the events on their calendar.

The feature also allows parents with little or no Internet access to stay informed on their child’s learning activities through the use of simple text messages.

Setting up the feature involves navigating to the Messages tab and selecting Notifications from the left hand menu.  You should then see a screen similar to the one below:

Selecting the link “Update Cell Phone Information” will take you to the screen below:

Simply enter in your cell phone number and pick your cell phone provider, e.g. AT&T / Cingular.  Then, click the button Register & Send Verification Code.  Once you receive your verification code on your cell phone, type in the verification code to the field provided.  You should then see a screen similar to the one below:

Depending on your cell phone provider, sending a text message to connected could be as simple as sending a text message to anyone’s email address, in our case m@connected.info.  The list of available commands are: HW, TODAY, DAY, MSG, GRD, and WEATHER.

1. HW: Texting m@connected.info HW will result in a message being returned similar to this: “Reply with: HW1) Lan- Sep-18- Personality Poem”
   1. Responding again with HW1 will result in – Class: Lang Arts 8 T1 Assignment: Personality Poem (Homework) Due: Sep-18 http://bit.ly/4gAGf6
2. TODAY: texting m@connected.info TODAY will result in a message being returned similar to this: “Reply with: EVT1) 3:00pm-5:00pm – Varsity Soccer Game”
   1. Responding again with EVT1 will result in – Event: Varsity Soccer Game http://bit.ly/4fncCF 9/16 3:00pm – 9/16 5:00pm Location: Home Game
3. DAY: Text a date (e.g. 12/31 or 10/30/2009) to get that day’s events. You will receive a list, and you can then respond to get more details.
   1. For example texting 09/18 results in: Reply with: EVT1) 7:30pm-9:30pm – Varsity Football Game
4. MSG: texting m@connected.info MSG will result in a message being returned similar to this: “Reply with: MSG1) 9/16 6:41p M Williams”
   1. Responding again with MSG1 will result in – From: Mary Williams Sent: 9/16 6:41pm Subject: Please see me after class today http://bit.ly/4CazNL I would like Reply EXTRA for more
   2. Then, txt’ing EXTRA returns: to discuss your recent HW assignment.
5. GRD: texting m@connected.info GRD will result in a message being returned similar to this:
   1. Reply with:
      GRD1) Alg- Spot C- 10/12
      GRD2) Alg- HW Pac- 16/20
      GRD3) Alg- Challe- 6/10
      GRD4) Lan- Person- 10/10
      NEXT) For more grades
   2. Responding with NEXT returns: Reply with:
      GRD1) Sci- What i- 4/4
      GRD2) Med- Techno- 15/20
      GRD3) Ame- Worlds- 10/10
      GRD4) Med- Televi- 17/18
      NEXT) For more grades
   3. And so, on.. Texting GRD1) or GRD2) would provide more detail as follows: Class: Media Workshop Media Pros and Cons Due Date: 2009-08-28 9/9 http://bit.ly/32ddZ
6. Finally, there is WEATHER:  Added by request of the students at CART, txting m@connected.info WEATHER will return something like this:
   1. Currently for Coralville, IA:
      Fair, 76F
      Forecast:
      Wed- Partly Cloudy; H- 77F L- 50F
      Thu- Sunny; H- 75F L- 48F
      http://bit.ly/4e9c1A

The interface to these commands is as simple as possible given the limits of text messaging at this time.  We are very interested in improving the feature set and in adding commands that provide more information of use to our users.  As always, please provide us with your comments and suggestions.