Education: Something New to Tweet About!

Googling blogs and tweeting hashtags on Twitter

Last evening, a friend and I were chatting in what seems to be now the old fashioned way, through the telephone.  She asked me the typical what are doing question. My somewhat alien response was, “Googling blogs and tweeting hashtags on Twitter”.   She thought I was quoting lines from Lewis Carroll’s “JabberWocky”.  Twitter, like many of the other new technologies, has seeped into the psyche of the 21^st century.  And as this whirlwind of technology continues to swell, so will the ways in which people use this new technology.

A few months ago I thought of Twitter only as a means for people to exchange seemingly random tidbits of information to strangers.   But after closer inspection, I understand Twitter as a multi-purpose tool for communication.  Used by industries such as news and entertainment, Twitter is a new frontier being explored by educators. The sites below show how educators use Twitter to communicate and promote collaborative communication amongst its users.

 Engaging Discussion Tool

The Twitter Experiment:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WPVWDkF7

With class sizes rising, holding meaningful class discussions with 100 percent participation is nearly impossible.  In The Twitter Experiment video, Dr. Rankin, professor of History at the University of Texas at Dallas, explores involving all students in real-time participation.   Through Twitter’s ability to provide real-time discussion blogs students felt more comfortable participating in the class discussion.  Teachers are able to later comment and provide feedback on individual responses from home and not have to worry about carrying around mounds of paper.  Dr. Rankin use of twitter as a discussion tool is engaging.  Click on the link above to view the video.

 Connecting With Students Through Twitter

http://chronicle.com/media/video/v54/i25/twitter/

Education does not stop once the class ends.  David Parry, a professor at the University of Texas, uses Twitter to keep up with his students and provide useful information if they need it.  Because Twitter can be assessed with cell phones and so many students are quite familiar with cell phones, Twitter becomes another tool to reach students with vital information.  No longer will students have to wait until the next class meeting to get help with information that they may need.  Click the link above to view the video interview with professor David Parry.

 Best Practices for Twitter in the Classroom

 

http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/2009/05/best-practices-in-twitter-enhanced-high.html

TeachPaperless Blog presents a blog post about Twitter in the classroom.  The  author ,Shelly Blake-Plock, uses Twitter in three practical ways. To educators new to twitter Blake-Plock provides useful tips about security and tools needed to make your twittering experience more enjoyable.  

Twitter4teachers

http://twitter4teachers.pbworks.com/

Twitter4teachers provides support and links to educators who use Twitter. Educators are able to connect with other educators who share similar subject areas.  For educators who are new to Twitter, this site provides a Twitter mentor to guide them through their journey.

 

50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Education

http://cooper-taylor.com/blog/2008/08/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-for-education/

 At Blog By Carol author Carol Cooper-Taylor shares ideas of creating a Twitter friendly environment for educators.  She begins her blog with providing information about getting started using Twitter.  She includes ideas of what to tweet and how to organize tweets.  She ends her blog with both the positive and negative aspects of twittering.