MuVChat: Collaboration during Class Videos

I recently came across a new resource called MuVChat. MuVChat allows movie theater viewers to send text messages directly to the movie screen while watching a feature film. While this resource has obviously been created for social entertainment, I can see wonderful possibilities for chatting during class movies. For example, if students are watching the 1989 hit "Glory" in their history class, they can text message questions they have about the historical events or facts that are being represented in the movie. By being able to send text messages, students responses and questions are "in the moment" rather than after the movie is over (when they often forget). In addition, since texting is quiet, it allows for a collaborative chat to ensue between students to other students, as well as students to the teacher. Finally, texting content-related material during the movie may help to keep students on-task and focused on the information in the film (as opposed to sleeping on their desks or sending text messages socially).

While we do not have access to the MuVChat software, schools can use some free resources such as Wiffiti or Polleverywhere's free text poll. The free text option could be projected on the LCD screen while students are watching the movie OR they could be sent to the group through resources such as Textmarks or TxtBlaster.