Module X. SMS and Broadcasting SMS Training

Welcome to ELMO Training for SMS and Broadcasting Contents Overview Setting up the SMS environment Submitting data through SMS Broadcasting

Real-Time Communication through SMS SMS enables real-time communication between headquarter and polling centers, as a medium of data collection and broadcasting Data collection: Web, Tablet, SMS SMS communication is one of the important feature. When internet is not available, headquarter and polling station can communicate through this way, also most of local people can use SMS Broadcasting: E-mail, SMS

Why SMS? SMS is an easy and cheap way to reach out to lots of people around the world. http://www.pewglobal.org/2011/12/20/global-digital-communication-texting-social-networking-popular-worldwide/

Why SMS? What if observers cannot find a Wi-Fi/data connection but want to send some info a.s.a.p.? What if people don’t have access to or don’t know how to use smartphone or tablet?

Why SMS? For locations where a data connection is not feasible,* completed checklists can still be quickly delivered using ELMO SMS. Each checklist in ELMO comes with an SMS Guide that provides observers with instructions on how to send responses via SMS *It is possible to save a lot of forms on tablets and store them until you get to a data connection. And then upload all at once. Think about the situations where you might want to do this instead of SMS collection.

Activity for SMS and Broadcasting Module During the election observation mission in country X, the team has decided to add 10,000 volunteer observers from all around the country within two weeks. In this scenario, make the election observation form into an SMSable form and send broadcast messages to observers to let them know what to do.

Activity for SMS and Broadcasting Module This module consists three activities. Please follow the instructions for the following: Activity 1. Setting up the SMS environment Activity 2. Submitting data via SMS Activity 3. Sending broadcast messages

Module 3. SMS and Broadcasting Setting up SMS environment SMS settings Make a form “SMSable”

SMS settings Within the Settings menu, enter the incoming phone number(s) to be used by the mission. (This is the number that observers can text to.) Then, select the provider for outgoing SMS broadcasts. (ELMO needs a way to send messages.)

SMS settings Enter the settings for the provider you chose above When finished, select Save to finalize You will probably need to refer to the online ELMO Documentation for more information on what this all means. 

Making a form “SMSable” Go to the Edit Form page Choose SMSable to allow observers to submit responses vis SMS Select Save and Publish

Questions? Before we continue, Pause here to ask if anyone has any questions

Activity for SMS and Broadcasting Module Activity 1. Setting up SMS environment -Enter incoming number 000-000-0000 and select Twilio in the Setting page -Change form “name” into SMSable form Activity 2. Submitting data through SMS Activity 3. Sending broadcast messages

Module 3. SMS and Broadcasting Submitting data via SMS SMS Authentication Code SMS Guide SMS Text Console SMSes

SMS Auth Code Go to the Users page Each user gets unique SMS Auth[entication] Code This unique code can be used for extra security. It should be remembered by the users and typed at the beginning of the SMS form if prompted.

SMS Guide Go to the Form page Once the form is published, a bubble icon will appear. This is for the SMS guide The SMS guide provides specific instructions on this form submission

SMS Guide Submitting a response to this form would mean typing 1) the form code after 2) SMS Auth code 3) followed by the responses (the question number, [SPACE], and corresponding letters): 1 a Note that a question can be left blank by not typing a number for it (in this example, #4) bo Brochures 1030 8pb9 mzw 1.1 2.a 3.bo 4.Brochures 5.1030

SMS Guide Eight types of questions can be submitted via SMS: Text Integer Decimal Select One Select Multiple Date + Time Date Time 1 a bo Brochures 1030 8pb9 mzw 1.1 2.a 3.bo 4.Brochures 5.1030

SMS Guide Send your response to the phone number listed at the top of the SMS Guide +12223334444

Tips for Submitting data via SMS Write your answers to each question on the printed SMS Guide Enter the SMS auth code in the head of your SMS form Enter the form code into your SMS form Enter each answer with the corresponding question number into your SMS message: Be sure to include a period between the question number and the answer: Be sure to include a space between each entry: 1.a 2.b 3.c 1.a 2.b 3.c 1.a_2.b_3.c

SMS Text Console The SMS text console is used to test SMSs directly with the ELMO server. To use the SMS text console, go to Forms page and click SMS Test Console

SMS Text Console In the From textbox, enter the telephone number of a user currently in the system (has to be a valid user!) For Body, write your entire message as you would for a phone, following the SMS guide Click Submit

SMS Text Console Once it is submitted, ELMO’s response will appear under the Submit button. This is the same message a sender would receive on her phone. When the submission is successful, it will look like: When there are issues, a response will appear like (ELMO tries to be smart):

SMSes All the data submitted via SMS and the SMS Test Console is recorded in the SMS Log. To see the SMS log, select the SMSes on the top menu bar.

SMSes The SMS Log includes the type of response, time submitted, receiver, sender, contents of the message and adapter used.

Questions? Before we continue, Pause here to ask if anyone has any questions

Activity for SMS and Broadcasting Module Activity 1. Setting up SMS environment Activity 2. Submitting data through SMS -Download SMS guide for the form “name” -Submit the form via SMS and review it in the Response page and SMS Log Activity 3. Sending broadcast messages

Module 3. SMS and Broadcasting Broadcast Messages Send a broadcast message Review a broadcast message

Broadcast Messages Coordinators may be asked to broadcast messages to observer teams in the field when there is a change of polling location, schedule, or some other event Broadcasts can be sent via email, SMS, or both

Send a Broadcast Message Select the Users menu Then identify the user(s) to receive the broadcast message by checking the boxes next to their names NOTE: ELMO does not support replies to broadcast messages. This is a one-way communication tool.

Send a Broadcast Message Click Send Broadcast

Send a Broadcast Message Select the desired medium from the dropdown list: SMS preferred: will try to send an SMS and then an email if unsuccessful Email preferred: will try to send an email and then an SMS if unsuccessful SMS only: will send only SMS Email only: will send only email Both SMS and Email: will send both SMS and email

Send a Broadcast Message Enter a message subject into the Subject line (only works for email) Type your broadcast message in the Message box Select Send

Review Broadcast Messages Broadcast messages that have already been sent can be reviewed by clicking on Broadcasts in the main navigation bar

Questions? Before we continue, Pause here to ask if anyone has any questions

Activity for SMS and Broadcasting Module Activity 1. Setting up SMS environment Activity 2. Submitting data through SMS Activity 3. Sending broadcast messages -Send a broadcast message to your own email and phone number -Check for it in the SMS Log

Questions? Module 3. SMS Real-time Communication is concluded! Please direct any questions to the trainer for this program.