Certain math teachers at Paly, including math teachers Suzanne Antink and Judy Choy, have begun using Remind101, a texting service, as a way to notify students of homework changes and Infinite Campus updates.

Remind101 allows teachers and students to communicate via texting without knowing each other’s phone numbers. When texts are sent, this service protects each party’s phone number, allowing teachers notify students. The service was more generally implemented in order to guarantee that students see math class updates.

“Students [weren’t] getting emails, so when we [would] email them from Schoology, students weren’t [seeing the emails],” Antink said.

Students have responded positively to Remind101 because it notifies them of Infinite Campus updates, saving them time and worry.

“I think [Remind101] is good when they text you when test [or] quiz grades have been uploaded,” senior Brian Chen said, “It saves you a lot of time and panic.”

Before Remind101 was put in place, some students did not know when Infinite Campus would be uploaded.  However, Remind101 eliminates this issue completely.

“One time, Mrs. Choy posted tests late on Sunday night. No one checked, and [when] she handed them out in class we had to sit through the anxiety of not knowing what we got,” Chen said, “Now there’s no suspense. I can find out how badly I failed instantly.”

Other Paly students find Remind101’s allowing teachers to notify students of homework changes the service’s most appealing feature.

“[Remind101] is good thing because it makes students more up to date on [homework assignments],” junior Raphael Bargues said.

However, because the system has not become and part of the teachers’ everyday schedules yet, teachers are not continuously updating students.

“Mrs. Choy has only recently started using it,”  Chen said.  “She has sent us a total of three text messages.”

Some Paly math students do not find the new texting system is used to its full potential.

“I think it’s a great idea, but it should be used more often,” Paly junior Neal Biswas said.  “However, the idea is a great way to connect teachers and students.”
Antink concludes that, although she does not use Remind101 frequently, it is a beneficial service.

“It is a great way for us [teachers] to get ahold of [our students],” Antink said.