Although some argue that young people already spend too much time using social media, other educators say it’s time to embrace tools like Twitter and use them to expand communication with students and develop innovative lessons.
Once primarily an outlet for celebrities to broadcast their latest escapades, Twitter has gone mainstream. The service is employed in business, advertising, personal communications and even education. Teachers at all grade levels are “tweeting” about using Twitter for connecting with students and parents as well as for intruction.Twitter is more useful than e-mail, because, although only about 50 percent of high school students have Internet access at home, about 90 percent have cell phones and can receive tweets that way.
Twitter also allows teachers to network with colleagues around the country. Teachers say that they can follow different education sites on Twitter, and post a question on Twitter nationally and got some good feedback from other education professional.
The main way educators have been using Twitter with students is to tweet the homework every day. Statement of an educator, Provenzano: “Students can see the homework posted on my Twitter account, which I have linked to my school Web site. Students who link their cell phones to my tweets receive a text message with the homework. My goal for using Twitter is to open another line of communication with students. The more available I can make myself to my students, the better the class can be.
“Another way I use it is for quick communication with students who have questions or other school-related ideas to share,” Provenzano continued. “Some like to share ideas they have about essays or other projects.”
Provenzano also has awarded extra credit to students who have sent him tweets related to a class assignment. “I once had a student send me a picture of Edgar Allen Poe's grave in Baltimore,” he said. “The student thought it would be cool since we had just covered his works in class. It was cool because I didn't ask the student to do it; but the student was thinking of the lessons outside of school and thought I would like the picture.”
I am still exploring ways to increase the use of technology in classroom. I guess one way is to just begin using the options that are available. I have not established a Twitter account yet. I am not sure if I should become proficient with one account before I try another or if I should try them all at once. I do have a Facebook account although I don’t feel proficient in its use. What would you recommend? Trying all of the different accounts or one account at a time? I enjoyed reading your blog. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting blog. I have a very limited understanding of Twitter and its use, particularly in educational settings. This is valuable information.
ReplyDeleteI think if I was in a position to explore technology in a classroom setting, I migh try different means simultaneously. I would ask my students for feedback, and find other ways to assess the effectiveness of the options. Then I would incorporate what worked best.
Thanks again for sharing!
Kayla, I agree with you that more students have cell phone and less have computers. I believe that tweeting is an excellent way of teachers sharing ideas amongst themselves. I also agree that tweeting homework assignments to students may be a way of getting them to keep up with assignments, but I wonder about texting students. I work at a middle school and I have seen some stuff happen I couldn't believe. For example, there was this teacher who was having problems with this student. The teacher made parent contact with the parent using her cell phone, the student retrieved the number from the caller id and start making harassing phone calls to the teacher. The student ended up getting suspended from school for several days, but this should have never happened. I imagine that there may be ways around things like this. I think as an educator I would probably stick to the old way and put students assignments in their planners. You have some excellent ideas and I do realize that technology is becoming more innovative and ever changing.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I believe twitter should be restricted to the specific use of an older audience (18 and up). The content of twitter is not conducive nor is it appropriate for a younger audience. There is offensive language used and overall adult concepts. Think about it...would you let your 10 yr old watch an R- rated movie?
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