Twitter is a social network that allows you to receive updates on what someone is doing throughout their day from all over the world in a 140 characters or less. When I first heard that you could "follow" someone on twitter, I just thought it meant to watch for their postings. I now know that you can sign up to "follow" someone which simply means that you will receive any update or link that they post throughout the day. With twitter, breaking news and updates can be spread across the nation almost instantly, reaching millions of tweeters. Just think of when the news of Michael Jackson's death occurred. Millions of tweets went out about peoples feelings and thoughts on the matter. In addition, facts and breaking news were also added. Like a wildfire, twitter allows news and information to spread rapidly over a large area within minutes.
Twitter is especially popular when dealing with fans of celebrities. People can sign up to follow their favorite celebrity and know almost instantly where they are or what they are doing at that very exact moment. Wow, this brings stalking to a whole new level! :)
So, twitter is obviously popular among celebrity groupies, but what about education? Is twitter useful for educational purposes? Absolutely! Twitter can be used to help students keep in touch with their instructors on a daily basis, and it can also help students and educators alike share and receive valuable information to make the learning process a more successful one! The following is a link to a website that contains a list of some top 10 uses for Twitter in the classroom put together by Steve Wheeler:
http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com/2009/01/teaching-with-twitter.html
Steve Wheeler is a part of the Faculty of Education at the University of Plymouth. He is responsible for, in his own words, "conveying the University's e-learning research network and co-ordinating technology mediated learning for the Faculty of Education." One of his ideas for using Twitter in the classroom is to have students read their assigned articles and then attempt to post of summary about the article on Twitter in a 140 characters or less. This is good because it really makes them concentrate on what is the most valid information needed in their summary, and it forces them to delete unnecessary information. This is just one of the many educational uses for twitter. Another great use for Twitter in education would be to post updates of the class, and to allow students to collaborate on h.w. and group projects. Steve Wheeler even suggests having a class meeting on the site!
So, whether you are interested in using twitter for educational purposes, keeping in contact with friends, or you just feel like stalking a celebrity, sign up today, and tell us (in a 140 words or less), what you are doing right now!
Twitter used as a teaching tool at the college level:
http://www.citytowninfo.com/career-and-education-news/articles/twitter-used-as-a-teaching-tool-at-colleges-09060302
Twitter Transforms Teaching
http://brainbasedbiz.blogspot.com/2009/07/twitter-tips-for-teaching-and-learning.html
Teaching With Twitter
http://chronicle.com/media/video/v54/i25/twitter/
7 Things You Should Know About Teaching
http://www.educause.edu/ELI/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAboutTwitt/161801
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