Texting from Email

Instructors are able to send text (SMS) messages without using their mobile phones or revealing their personal phone numbers.  Sending text messages to students is a great way to provide another form of communication about class updates, due dates, and other important class announcements.  The following directions will help you set up text addresses to use with your college provided email account.

Step 1

You first need to collect mobile numbers and mobile network providers from students who wish to receive text messages.  Students can email you directly, submit in a Open LMS assignment, submit using a google form, etc.  There is a variety of ways to collect this information, however, it is recommended that you create a private option for students to send their mobile numbers.  Please do not ask students to submit their information in a Open LMS forum that is visible to the entire class. 

Step 2

Create each students’ text address by combining their number with the corresponding network carrier address.

Example: A student’s mobile number is 9106389898 with the Verizon mobile network would use the following address: 9106389898@vtext.com

Step 3

Send a student an email using the address from Step 2.  If a student replies to the text message, the message content will be delivered to your email inbox.  If you would like to see it in action, try sending yourself a text message from your email account.

TIP: You can also create a class text email contact group to easily send text messages to multiple students.  Messages are delivered individually (not in a group text format).