An innovative new service aimed at helping second-level students bump up their grades was launched to great fanfare this week. Developed by Irish music director Frank McNamara, SMS Tutor reaches out to pupils in a way they can all understand, via their beloved smartphones, and claims to improve exam results by up to 40%.
The service sends regular, bite-sized morsels of curriculum content during the run up to Junior or Leaving Certificate papers. Students can learn a few knew things each day without getting overwhelmed by reams of content. Pertinent bits of information relating to their studies are issued via SMS as a way of complementing formal education.
McNamara’s brainchild has had dramatic results under test conditions. SMS Tutor hired educational psychologist Deirdre Griffin to establish the effectiveness of the service on two counts: learning and recall.
The results showed that participants who received the text messages achieved significantly higher results on 14 facts. Comparing results for text recipients versus non-recipients, the difference in scores equates to a C3 to B1 grade improvement at Leaving Certificate level. SMS recipients averaged a score of 40% higher than non-recipients, and on the more detailed bonus questions, the results were up to four times better.
McNamara says the idea came to him when he noticed mobile phone usage was beginning to encroach on his kids’ study time. Rather than kick against it, he decided to try combining the need for exam revision with his kids’ habitual use of mobile devices. Says McNamara:
“I said to a friend one day if only we could get students heads out of their phones and into their study books, we’d be onto a winner. And that’s when the light bulb went off and I had a ‘eureka’ moment, why not bring the study to the mobile phone. Our motto is you learn something new every day.”
Students – and no doubt their parents – interested in trying the service can sign up for one text per day for the entire school year for €40 per subject for the academic year. The service provides every subject from the school year at a cost of €5 per month per subject.
As of the launch date, SMS Tutor caters to students on Ireland’s school curriculum. Whether the service is rolled out internationally, or further across Europe, will depend on its success at home. Watch this space – TellMyCell will keep you posted on how well this innovative idea is doing in the Irish market, and it’s chances for going global.
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