#09: Twitter experience & lesson plans

[Steve Gibbs]

Describe your experiences learning and using Twitter. Do you have any problems, questions, or suggestions for others? Do you think Twitter will have value for you as an educator? How so?

Part #2: Create two lesson plan ideas that could use micro-blogging in the classroom.

Internet Security Alert:
What precautions would we take before allowing students to share their words and ideas online?

[amyy]

I'm on Twitter and I found it easy to join but I haven't incorporated spending much time on Twitter into my daily routine. I am following a former student of mine who just graduated from college and is walking across the United States - so that's been a great way to keep up with his adventure. I'd love to hear other people's suggestions about how to use Twitter

In regard to part 2 of the prompt - I think micro-blogging could be incorporated into the classroom in a variety of ways such as using it as a way for students to help each other find useful information on a topic or using it to create webquests. Students could also be broken up into groups and compete against each other to find the answers to questions and the group to post their answers first could get bonus points.

[jhartman]

What I think is interesting about Twitter is the opinion people have about it. I have heard responses like:

"I do not have enough time stare at a computer screen!"

"If you want to know when Demi Moore goes to the grocery store than Twitter is great."

Neither of these responses shows much suppport. I think it is special that we have the technology. The technology is evolving and Twitter will most likely be a necessary addition to our world.

Like with any computer technology most schools are behind the times. Parents will have a hard time approving the use of Twitter in the classroom. Some technologies I use without making a big "Ta Do" about it. For example, I have student text answers to questions using www.wiffity.com and www.polleverywhere.com. Parents would probably have mixed feelings about that. Because Twitter is "famous" I would have to get full permission before proceeding.

I would have my students follow some earthquake sites and keep track of all significant earthquakes. They blogg about facts that force them learn about earthquake concepts. Where was the epicenter? Where was the focus? What fault did it happen on? Did you know anyone that experienced it. What earthquakes cause media attention and why?

There is a global warming debate going on right now. I would have students follow at a link that discussed global warming. They must read a minimum of 4 recent articles. They must site them and blogg about there opinion of the subject. Is global warming happening? What evidence do you have? Are politicians the right people to listen to about global warming? Are scientists reporting accurate data?

[Megan GErdts]

I, too, signed up and have used Twitter, but have not figured out how I would use it in my classroom. It would most likely be a whole-class activity, unless I went through the necessary hoops to get parents on board for a home component. However, I would run into the lack of technology issue doing it as a home assignment.

I like that it is something that can be used for quick information and I, too, would love to do something where the class follows a specific event, such as the weather in a certain place (it's a fifth grade science standard!) and then does some sort of project with the information.

If students could follow it on their own, I would have them follow a specific person and do a timeline of the events in the person's life and then write some sort of editorial on the person.

[erlyn]

I am still a bit perplexed by Twitter. It sort of does the same thing as Facebook (updates your profile as to what you are doing), minus the areas for your photos, games, etc... so I am not sure how I would incorporate it into a lesson. I am also not sure how much of a buy-in I would have from parents when I ask them to allow their child to have a Twitter account.

At the high school level, I think that I can use Twitter to take opinion polls. If it were to gather data for some sort of research project, I could pose a question, and see what my followers think. I could gather this info and write a paper with my results, with a copy of their answers attached.

I think I could also post on my status any changes to upcoming assignments, or even offer extra credit for those who respond with an answer to a question I pose. I don't know how legitimate or fair that would be to students but I thought I would put it out there.

I would, again, have students and parents sign a contract stating how they are to conduct themselves on Twitter. If the child fails to comply, they are dropped from the assignment. I am not sure what else I can do, so any suggestions would be great!

I like Megan's idea of doing a timeline on people they follow. That would be interesting.

[lauren]

I have all the same concerns as others have mentioned about the use of twitter in the classroom. Management of our student's time on their cell phones and computers is such a major issue that to ask them to spend even more time may seem unwise. We need to introduce them to the other aspects of the site.

I would like to see students use the news feed sites available on twitter to find current science news and pose a question to the class based on the article. Students would then dialogue on the issue. I do have a concern on how to manage the on- going dialogue between the students. How do you keep them responding appropriately during the dialogue?

[brandys]

It sounds like most of our concerns as educators are the same across grade levels. The most useful way I can see using Twitter in the classroom is to follow the news feeds and education specific sites. Then looking at how fast some news updates and what other people are saying about it. I guess it's a take off of the timeline idea. Using Twitter to teach young students (like third graders) would probably remain a whole-class affair.
I have been following Barack Obama and it's interesting to see what the president is tweeting about throughout the day. Learning more about what the President of the United States does each day would make an intersting Social Studies unit.
Some of my biggest concerns would be parents coming to me concerened their children are using Twitter or involved in it at such a young age. I would need to send home an introduction note and a permission slip making sure everyone is on board ahead of time.