Twitter

Tweet Your Heart Out!

• What is the tool?

Lately, the four words “Follow me on Twitter” have become very popular. Twitter is a social network that allows people to find out what’s going on around you. This tool allows you to use 140 characters or less to write updates called “tweets” so you can let everyone know what you’ve been doing. Twitter can be considered as a micro blog. It allows you to view live feeds, giving you information instantly, as soon as it’s sent.

• How can it be used?

Twitter can be used in many different ways. Users can use it socially, staying connected with friends and family. Many businesses and organizations also use Twitter to stay in touch with customers. Today, educators are proving that this tool can also be used in the classroom.

- On the college level, some professors use twitter during discussions. During lectures students can tweet comments and questions and the professor responds to real time feed in the front of the classroom.

- For younger students, Twitter can be used for assignments as simple as “write 3 tweets of what you learned today”.

- A teacher can tweet a word and the student has to find antonyms, synonyms, or tell if it’s a verb, noun, etc.

- Students can summarize, since you can only type up to 140 characters.

- Since Twitter allows you to add locations to your tweets, students can find different locations and maybe estimate the distance.

- Tweet current events.

• What are the advantages of this tool?

- One of the advantages of Twitter is that it’s free! And anyone can join as long as you have an email address.

- Also in the classroom it boosts engagement.

- Helps overcome the shyness barrier. During a discussion someone may be hesitant to raise their hand and answer a question, but with Twitter you can express your opinion without speaking out loud.

- You can use it from your computer, phone, gaming consoles, etc.

• Disadvantages?

- Sometimes you may have technical difficulties! Twitter may be over capacity.

- Twitter can be a distraction. If it is used for an assignment in the classroom, students who get off task may use Twitter socially and talk to friends instead of paying attention.

• Who is the audience for this tool?
Anyone can use Twitter! (If used in a classroom with younger students, it would be a practical idea to have parents create the username and password).

• What is your opinion on the usefulness of this tool?
I think that Twitter can be very useful in the classroom. Also, it can make learning fun. There’s so many different ways it can be incorporated into the classroom whether you have younger or older students. With so many different forms of Twitter apps, the possibilities are endless.

• To learn more about this tool, click on the links below:
Twitter
Twitter in Plain English