After switching from SchoolTown to Google Drive, teachers are finding new ways to remind students of due assignments, test, and quizzes. SchoolTown offered an option to have reminders texted to your cell phone—Google Drive, however, does not. Some teachers have created Twitter accounts, while others simply leave the responsibility of remembering to the students. Then there a few taking advantage of the app Remind.

“It is an excellent tool,” AP Literature teacher Mike Motsney said. “The remind app is an application that helps teachers remind students of tests, assignments, due dates, etc.”

The app is free in Apple’s App Store, although the student does not have to download the app to receive reminders. Simply texting a code to the phone number provided by the teacher will assign you to the teachers list.

“I would recommend that most teachers use it,” senior Hannah Ayers said. “I use it in my Forensic Science class and AP Lit, and it helps me remember when tests and quizzes are.  Whenever there is a coming up test, quiz, or due assignment I receive a text that is a reminder that says ‘Remember you have blank quiz on blank day.’”

The app is not only used for academic classes, but coaches are utilizing the app too.

“I started using it for wrestling first,” science teacher and wrestling coach Mike Eaton said. “To kind of inform all my wrestling parents of different changes or to get any kind of quick messages to my wrestlers and their parents, and I also use it for my Forensic Science and Chemistry classes. It’s helpful. It’s an easier way to reach students and parents in different medium, because you’re trying to email or you can’t always call—so it’s a good way to reach people.”

Although Twitter may be more popular on campus, Eaton favors Remind for its different features.

“One benefit of using this app instead of Twitter is the control of it—you’re just sending out information, you’re not worried about any kind of retweets or favorites,” Eaton said. “The benefit is I’m getting information out to a bunch of people without having to worry about receiving any kind of confirmation back. It’s limiting, I understand that, a Twitter account is good too, but you would be “following” the teacher, and they could possibly follow you back, and some students would not want teachers to be on their Twitter.”

With virtually every student on campus having a cell phone, the app is another way for teachers to get information to students.

“I think it’s a good way,” Eaton said. “Just about every kid has a phone, so getting a reminder as a text message makes it much easier and nicer.”