Engaging Community with Cell Phones and Handheld Devices April 23, 2009

1. Engaging Community with Cell Phones and Handheld Devices April 23, 2009 Janet English Senior Director of Education and New Media KOCE JEnglish@KOCE.org 714-861-4307

2. The goals of this call are to: Learn how cell phones and portable learning devices are currently being used by the public at large, 2. Help you take stock of your own situation before you set your project goals, and, 3. See what other PBS stations are doing to engage their communities. Note: Credits for all content will be listed at the end of this presentation.

3. How are cell phones and handheld devices being used to engage the public at large?

26. Google Cellular Text message to: 46645 Message: Weather Boston Answer: Weather Boston, MA 61F, Light rain Wind W 3 mph Hum 93% Tues 47-56 F, Chance of Storm Wed 41-63F, Chance of Showers Thu 40-58F, Chance of Showers --- Also works for: Airline Schedules AA 152 Stocks AMZN Unit conversion liters to 4 gallons Currency 25 usd in euros

27. Google 411 1-800-Goog-411 When the call was answered, I said, “Thai Food Monterey CA” I was given 8 choices and I picked number 2, which was Amarin Thai Cuisine. I requested a text message for this restaurant and it sent the following: Amarin Thai Cuisine. 831-373-8811 807 Cannery Row Monterey, CA A link to a Google map

28. 1-800-2CHA-CHA (A free service from AT&T) Ask them a question and they’ll text you back! Question: Where is the PBS station KET? Answer: pbs. or or.g Question: What is the meaning of life? Answer: “That’s a deep question to try and answer in a text message. The best I can say is, ‘Follow your heart and keep doing the cha-cha!’” By the way, I started getting spam text messages after using this service. Use at your own risk! :)

29. Shhh… just for fun: PopularityDialer.com You can set up a calls to get you out of a meeting.

33. What should you consider before setting project goals? 1. Why do you want to engage the community? 2. What do you want as an end result of this activity? 3. What is your budget? (There are many things you can do for free, but it may look more spectacular if you have the funding. ) 4. What technology tools will you need ? 5. Who has done this type of project before? (Shorten the learning curve by asking questions and getting guidance. Save money by sharing the cost of project development.) 6. Resist doing a project because it looks glitzy - create something that has measurable value - beyond the glitz.

34. How are other PBS stations using handheld technology?

46. Basically, handheld devices allow us to: Request information Receive information Add to a growing body of existing information. Number three gives the power and the edge to new content creation!

47. Engagement means a two-way interaction between our station’s personnel and the public. How can we work with the public and share their efforts so that they can make a contribution? (We have to give something if we want to receive something.) The basics: Texting – information to and from the sender and receiver Video – sending videos back and forth Pictures – sending pictures back and forth Maps – reading maps, add info, video and pictures to those maps, and gaining from the work of others.

48. PBS stations: • Provide content • Connect viewers with content via blog, events with hosts, • highlight local place of interest, highlight local event • User-generated content: • People need a reason to be creative. If you were part of the • community, what would make you put in • the effort? Would it be money? An award? Fame? • A sense of purpose? • Note: Lessons learned from Film on the Fly!

49. Utah Educational Network and Laura Hunter Tips and tricks for engaging people at conventions.

50. The Beginning