It may be safe to say that for generations (at least in movies, if Harry Potter has taught me anything) people have been using animals to transport messages from one person to another. Now with Twitter we can save ourselves the cost of birdseed, by using a virtual bird to carry our messages to potentially thousands of people. Twitter (originating back in 2006, see Wikipedia for the specifics) is like a mini blog post or if you’re a Facebook user, a status update. If you’re a blogger or Facebook user you may now be wondering why you should bother with Twitter, if it is similar to something that you are already doing. Well, although it has some similarities, what Twitter really does, is combine social networking, live searching and link-sharing into one website. The blue bird may be small, but the Twitterverse is vast and probably growing exponentially. If you haven’t already – you should join its flock now, so that you too will know what everyone is ‘tweeting’ about! Come and fly with me as I explore how Twitter works and how this web 2.0 technology has impacted me personally and professionally.
Reflections on learning to use Twitter
As Stephen Johnson writes in a Time article: “The basic mechanics of Twitter are remarkably simple. Users publish tweets — those 140-character messages — from a computer or mobile device. (The character limit allows tweets to be created and circulated via the SMS platform used by most mobile phones.) As a social network, Twitter revolves around the principle of followers. When you choose to follow another Twitter user, than that user's tweets appear in reverse chronological order on your main Twitter page. If you follow 20 people, you'll see a mix of tweets scrolling down the page: breakfast-cereal updates, interesting new links, music recommendations, even musings on the future of education. Some celebrity Twitterers — most famously Ashton Kutcher — have crossed the million-follower mark, effectively giving them a broadcast-size audience. The average Twitter profile seems to be somewhere in the dozens: a collage of friends, colleagues and a handful of celebrities. The mix creates a media experience quite unlike anything that has come before it, strangely intimate and at the same time celebrity-obsessed. You glance at your Twitter feed over that first cup of coffee, and in a few seconds you find out that your nephew got into med school and Shaquille O'Neal just finished a cardio workout in Phoenix.”
I like the simplicity in how Johnson explains how Twitter works, because it is really that easy. Just go to the website Twitter.com to register (you must have an e-mail account and you will need to create a user name). From here you can set up your profile with your location and biography. The next step is to find some people to follow, which can be done by searching for specific people, using your e-mail, inviting others via e-mail, or by adding the ‘suggested users’ that Twitter selects for you. The last step is to begin tweeting (Twitter’s cute term for your message), by responding to the question ‘What’s happening?’ with information and/or sharing a link or photo with others. You are only given 140 characters per tweet, so if you want to share a link you should shorten it by using Tinyurl.com (or something similar) to save character space for your comments. Visit Twitpic.com to upload photos that you may want to share (Twitter users have access to this site via their Twitter accounts). For tips on how to effectively tweet, check out the following sites:
- Twitter Tips: How to Write Better Tweets
- Top 10 Twitter Tips for Beginners
- Twitter for Beginners
Twitter – For my own Personal Learning
Twitter is a web 2.0 technology that I can see a future for. When I was living in New Zealand it was by far more cost efficient to use your mobile (cell phone) to text than it was to ring (call) someone. To me tweeting is like texting, due to the 140 character limit, and is an effective way to share information, ask questions and connect with others. Furthermore, it is fun, easy to tweet and potentially addictive. I appreciate that Twitter enables me to remain informed about what’s happening on global, local and personal levels with those who I personally know and those who I choose to follow. Although I sometimes receive tweets about mundane information, more often than not my followers tweet about things that are meaningful to me, either personally or professionally. In the last few month of being a Twitter user I have enjoyed following many tweets, even though I haven’t personally tweeted very often (my policy is to only respond when I have something constructive to say). I see Twitter as a tool that would be more useful to someone who has an iPhone (or an equivalent), as they would be able to follow the tweets frequently and be more in the ‘know’ (I love the anywhere, anytime factor). So… once again – Santa, if you’re listening, I’d like an iPod touch for Christmas!
Having said this I do have a couple of beefs about Twitter. First, and yes I’m admitting this, I can’t seem to figure out how to reduce the size of a photo in order for it to fit Twitter’s specifications for my photo. This may seem ridiculous, but I honestly find this annoying and I’ve only ever ran into this problem once before with a web 2.0 tool. Oh, and just to be clear, I’m trying to upload an average sized photo - nothing fancy. Maybe I should tweet about this for help! The second difficulty that I had with Twitter is locating people. Now I realize that like my photo problem that this is not a fault of Twitter, but when people don’t use their real name it is difficult to locate them and subsequently follow them. Of course, I too am guilty of this, but hey let me use this blog as a public advertisement… I’m Canadanz on Twitter. Please follow me!
Twitter – for my Professional Learning
As the subheading suggests, Twitter is an excellent tool for professionals to use to remain up to date in their area(s) of expertise. When following like-minded individuals, it is easy to be in the know, ask questions, share information and make connections via Twitter. Thus, Twitter is an excellent tool for educators to extend their professional development opportunities beyond the four walls of their classroom. In fact, I’m one of the few web 2.0 users at our school, and without the support from other users, my opportunities to grow professionally are limited.
Fortunately, Twitter is not blocked where I teach, meaning that students can also make use of this tool. Although I can identify some potential issues that Twitter’s use in the classroom presents, with some inappropriate tweets that can be difficult to control, there are also numerous educational benefits. For example, students could use TweetDeck (or equivalent browser) while working on assignments, to share protected (or unprotected) tweets within a specific learning group. Twitter is an excellent tool for students to use when they need help with a problem or are looking for information, as connecting with others is what web 2.0 is all about. English Language Learners (ELLs) may also benefit from using Twitter as the 140 character limit is not as daunting as writing an e-mail or blog post, yet requires the user to think about the message that they are trying to convey. By potentially receiving a prompt response, they may feel encouraged to continue practicing their English skills. Additionally, Twitter may also help to persuade more reserved students to share their thoughts and participate in a class discussions. Check out the following links that further identify how Twitter can be used in educational settings:
6 Examples of Using Twitter in the Classroom – great examples for older students.
How to Use Twitter in the Classroom – creative ideas for all levels of students.
Twitter in the Classroom – some excellent thoughts on how to use Twitter to create a more cohesive classroom community.
Twitter in the Classroom: What Does that Really Look Like? – using Twitter for school news and the day’s highlights, amongst other exciting ideas.
Twitter for Academia – a wide variety of wonderful suggestions, including following a professional and practicing the use of punctuation and/or grammar.
Here are some of the pros and cons regarding the use of Twitter in the classroom:
Pros
Easy to use
Encourages collaboration/networking
Supports professional development
Other applications are compatible with Twitter
Can stimulate higher order thinking skills
Connect/share with others locally or from around the world
Real audience
Allows for differentiated instruction
Creates excitement (engaged students)
Deepens understanding of a topic
Supports inclusive education
Educators can collaborate with colleagues
Able to adjust the privacy setting
Cons
Students may use it to just socialize
Privacy could be an issue
Negative outcomes (e.g., embarrassment)
May not feel confident or comfortable to use/share
Inaccurate information is possible
Content may not be considered professional or appropriate
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