Communication and E-mail and Messaging

The rush to use text messaging as an emergency notification system fails to consider the weaknesses and potential hazards of this solution.

This July 2008 survey is a critical component of the EDUCAUSE Center on Applied Research (ECAR) study of messaging and communication in higher education. It seeks to understand the provision, policies, use, and emerging trends related to telephony, mobile communications, e-mail and calendaring, and emergency notification systems in colleges and universities.

Citation for this work: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research. "Messaging and Communication Survey" (Survey Instrument). Boulder, CO: ECAR, 2008, available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.

The following exploratory study investigated email communication between faculty and undergraduate students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Factors related to email behavior, expectations, and influence on instructional outcomes were explored through an electronic survey of undergraduate students and faculty.  Results in this first study indicate that although faculty and students share similar ideas about the use of email in academia and recognize the potential of email communication as a means for enhancing instructional outcomes, it is not typically used for such purposes.  Although additional research at other universities is necessary, preliminary data analysis and discussion follow including initial suggestions on improving faculty and student email communication as well as enhancing scholarly discourse and instructional outcomes via electronic mail.

"After the April 16 massacre at Virginia Tech, the lesson many came away with was that e-mail alone won’t suffice to keep students informed about emergencies on campus. One solution widely regarded as both timely and technologically in sync with undergraduate habits was to use text messages to alert them to potential dangers. "

These are the results of testing done at the University of Central Florida by Dr. Lei Wei on four emergency notification technologies: Madahcomm, Athoc, ConnectED, and ViaRadio.

A pilot study of text messaging explored its usefulness in enhancing social presence and communication in online courses.

"The two hours it took for Virginia Tech officials to eMail students a warning about a gunman on campus last month have raised the question of how schools can get critical news out faster in a crisis--and how technology can help."

"Since 9/11, some security experts have pushed the idea that peer-to-peer alert systems that rely on openness and the crowd can save lives, particularly when centralized communications and decision-making break down. That argument is back in force following Monday's mass slayings of 32 people at Virginia Tech."

In the wake of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, colleges and universities across the country are reviewing their emergency preparedness plans and evaluating their ability to quickly notify constituents in crisis situations. Networked technologies (posting notices on Web sites, e-mailing information, and sending text messages to cell phones) are among the most promising solutions. As campuses explore options for their emergency communication plan, they must also consider infrastructure and policy and procedural components. This session will provide an overview of the strategies for emergency notifications of students, employees, and visitors, as well as a context and resources for campus emergency preparedness planning.