Are you using Twitter to teach?

[Mary Hricko]

I am looking for educators who are teaching with Twitter because I would like to know what type of assignments they are doing and how they have their students use the twitter accounts. OR are you using edmodo instead?

[N Whitley]

hmm... I am definitely interested in hearing responses to this. I can't see how Twitter would be used in the classroom.

[Jonathan S. List]

I've been using twitter for several months now. Mostly, it's a tutoring / reminder tool for the students. Students are required to check twitter regularly, having twitterfox installed in their browsers, and utilize it to check up on assignments and verify homework. It's really quite useful.

Article coming out soon about my school and technology, will post a link to it then.

[Jennifer Wing]

Hi Jonathan,

I am a reporter in Seattle. I am looking to talk with teachers who are using Twitter. Could I talk to you about this? My email is [e-mail]

Thanks,

Jennifer Wing

[Lucas Gillispie]

We have two teachers in our district using Twitter.

One is using it with a class of students to have them respond to reflection questions she poses at the end of the day (a mini-reflection of sorts). Students also follow each other and reply to others' responses.

Another teacher is using it to post homework assignments that students can have sent to their cellphones.

Pretty neat stuff.

-Lucas

[Steven Greene]

Twitter can be used as part of a citizen building experiment. My board has the site closed, but if I could use it, it would be used to spread information.
Re-create a revolution - give out roles, plant information and have that information spread throughout the classroom.
Encourage students to "cheat" on a math or physics exam by sharing information about how to answer a question.
Require students to gather information from other students using twitter - ex) each have three comprehension questions from a chapter in a novel that they have to ask other students in twitter.
Conduct a survey - demographic analysis of their different followers.
Sociological study of pop culture as seen in twitter - what are people doing in their town? the country? what are news organizations/political groups reporting in twitter?
Of course group work - collaborative projects in school or between schools..
One of the things we have to remember is that a lot of kids won't have twitter accounts, don't make the mistake of assuming that by virtue of their age they are familiar with the tool.
You will probably have to give a session for them to get familiar and play around with the tool. Gather contacts, follow each other, follow groups that you choose - ex) CBC news, Stephen Harper, Anderson Cooper, whatever.
Tell me what you think or how things go. I'm going to RSS this conversation, and it would be great if anyone wants to comment on my ideas - There are so many communities like this, and I am looking for one that maintains conversation.

[Mary Hricko]

see, I teach online in ning actually and I really want my students to make use of several technologies. I was figuring that I would have students "follow" experts in the field of IT and then write about the links and resources they gain from informal learning.

Do you think the k-12 community would allow twitter since they block out everything else? I know the tool can be restricted, but....

I like your idea about using it for studying and comprehension--I think it can be a great tool for the online field trip--

social psych experiments - note taking -twitter teams

[Steven Greene]

You're correct in your comment about the k-12 community and barriers. It is understandable, but counter-productive. Cave allegory anyone...
Some boards, like the PLRD #25 in Alberta are a little more progressive than others, but even here the fear of student vulnerability, especially regarding participation in social networks, is well-established and difficult to combat.
My district allowed partial access to Ning, by request. I doubt this board would open up twitter - some day, but not today. This act really limits my effectiveness, the problem of student access to negative (let's call it evil) information is left to be solved outside of the school community, even though I am guiding students through the web in some positive skill building ways.
Personally if I may, Evil information needs to be discussed in schools, the same methodology of indoctrinating childen against smoking really could be utilized in a school campaign that would equip students/youth/adolescents with the proper defences to combat the promulgation of, and addiction to, evil information on the web.

[Mary Hricko]

I agree. We cannot help our students learn how to respond to the evils of technology if we are not given the opportunities to show them the ethical use of such tools.

Part of our role as instructors is to educate future citizens--

We need opportunities to model appropriate use of participant technologies-- allowing our students to learn in a controlled and safe environment where they can make mistakes--helps them see firsthand the consequences of their actions in a "protected" environment.

[Steven Greene]

The controlled and safe environment that you mention is of course essential. The dilemma is how can we show them around an environment that isn't always safe, and rarely controlled. Some grade ten students at my school are advocating to have the network open completely, especially for their time outside of the classroom, during lunch and breaks, afterschool.

After reading your last statement again, I'm starting to understand your point, but it still leaves more questions.

I know that my own digital safety lessons are lacking, and the idea of digital citizenship is pretty new to me. This makes it tough to prepare students. Deciding on relevant and meaningful consequences for student behviour is also a question mark for me. The natural consequence is to limit or cut-off computer use at school, but I fear students react by continuing negative behaviour at home (maybe less safe and controlled), and at the same time their punishment stops them from using the web positively in the school.

If this is a global idea that is being created, then I say an appropriate consequence would be some form of public-shaming or temporary ostracism. It may sound cruel or crazy, but it's the only idea I've got. Fortunately professional codes of conduct, and a functional administration prevent me from acting on all of my ideas $-)

[Mary Hricko]

Now that's cool--reflective learning? I know some people are using edmodo instead of twitter for assignments. I think edmodo is more robust because you can upload files--I'm still learning many of the twitter apps yet.

[Mary Hinkle Shore]

I'm trying to use Twitter as a sort of news feed in my online Greek class. See @NTprof. It's getting off to a slow start. Only about a third of my students in the class signed up, and only one of them actually tweets. It was optional in the syllabus. It's only the second week of class. I'm not sure yet where there is going, but my dream is to communicate this way rather than with so much email back and forth.

[George H.]

Steven,
re: "I know that my own digital safety lessons are lacking, and the idea of digital citizenship is pretty new to me. This makes it tough to prepare students."

I am in the same boat. I always talk about net safety and netiquette with students before and during each project, but I have not started the year with a comprehensive plan tackling the issue. I have come to the conclusion that I should really start each year, with each grade I teach, doing this to lay the foundation and make my current strategy a way to remind them of the big lesson from the beginning of the year. I am always looking for resources that are grade specific and of high quality. I teach K-8 in the computer lab, so if you come across anything please share!

Thanks.