Description
Twitter is an online social media tool that has, perhaps incidentally, positively impacted the way many students are learning and interacting with the world. Twitter can be accessed on your computer via the webpage or through smartphones and tablets by downloading the app. Having an account on Twitter lets you share ideas, thoughts, links, pictures and videos, in a 140-character limit per tweet. Not only can you share your tweets, but you can also search for tweets about a specific topic through Twitter's most notable hashtag (#) feature. Additionally, Twitter also allows you to keep lists of expert individuals so that you stay update to date with the best information no matter what your field may be.
Twitter is an online social media tool that has, perhaps incidentally, positively impacted the way many students are learning and interacting with the world. Twitter can be accessed on your computer via the webpage or through smartphones and tablets by downloading the app. Having an account on Twitter lets you share ideas, thoughts, links, pictures and videos, in a 140-character limit per tweet. Not only can you share your tweets, but you can also search for tweets about a specific topic through Twitter's most notable hashtag (#) feature. Additionally, Twitter also allows you to keep lists of expert individuals so that you stay update to date with the best information no matter what your field may be.
Justification for Using this Tool
Justification 1- Twitter Reflects 21st Century Learning
Justification 1- Twitter Reflects 21st Century Learning
- The design and implementation of Twitter for educational purposes corresponds most appropriately with the principles that are found in the Connectivism learning theory. Social media tools like Twitter are a product of 21st century technology, and Connectivism assists us to understand their connection to learning by making up for the limitations that are presented by some traditional and aging learning theories. Things are different than they were fifty years ago and educational tools and as well as the theories that support them should be reflective of current social environments.
- Learning is about making connections on every level. In today's world information development is growing exponentially and it has become impossible for individuals alone to keep up. However, through the paradigm of Connectivism, knowledge becomes less about what a person currently knows as an individual and more about the potential to gain knowledge from a networked community as a whole. In this sense, the limited cognitive ability of the individual is now expanded exponentially as social and technology systems become extensions of an individual’s own limited capacity for knowledge.
Strategies for Use
Strategy 1 - Creating Authentic Experiences
Twitter is an opportunity for educators to create meaningful and authentic experiences for their students. Twitter makes it possible to connect with people from all over the world and get instant updates on live events through different perspectives.
Strategy 1 - Creating Authentic Experiences
Twitter is an opportunity for educators to create meaningful and authentic experiences for their students. Twitter makes it possible to connect with people from all over the world and get instant updates on live events through different perspectives.
Strategy 2 - Subscribing to Purposeful Hashtags
Look up and habitually subscribe to hashtags that are related to your learning objectives or create your own. This will help create a community that will guide instructors and students in the right direction.
Look up and habitually subscribe to hashtags that are related to your learning objectives or create your own. This will help create a community that will guide instructors and students in the right direction.
Strategy 3- Connecting With Experts
Follow and connect with experts in your field as their perspectives are an invaluable resource for learners and educators on twitter. They are likely to share valuable and insightful resources that can benefit your learners.
Follow and connect with experts in your field as their perspectives are an invaluable resource for learners and educators on twitter. They are likely to share valuable and insightful resources that can benefit your learners.
Strategy 4- Sharing Online Resources
Twitter is a great tool to foster collaboration. Use Twitter’s unique features that help share information with specific groups of people. Make a classroom hashtag and have your students subscribe to it.
Twitter is a great tool to foster collaboration. Use Twitter’s unique features that help share information with specific groups of people. Make a classroom hashtag and have your students subscribe to it.
Helpful Resources
Resource 1 - Twitter Tips for Teachers
Resource 1 - Twitter Tips for Teachers
- A webpage that offers some insightful tips for effectively using twitter as an educator. It also provides guidelines for creating education-oriented twitter hashtags.
- A webpage that provides a detailed example and explains how to use twitter to create authentic learning experiences for students.
- A valuable resource that can help you understand the relationship between social media tools like Twitter and Connectivism.
References
- Alan November, B. M. (2012, October 18). How twitter can be used as a powerful educational tool. Retrieved from November Learning: http://novemberlearning.com/educational-resources-for-educators/teaching-and-learning-articles/how-twitter-can-be-used-as-a-powerful-educational-tool/
- Connectivism (Siemens, Downes). (n.d.). Retrieved from Learning-Theories.com: http://www.learning-theories.com/connectivism-siemens-downes.html
- DeLoatch, P. (n.d.). How to use twitter for teaching and learning. Retrieved from Edudemic: http://www.edudemic.com/how-to-use-twitter-for-teaching-and-learning/
- Siemens, G. (2005, December 12). Connectivism: a learning theory for the digital age. Retrieved from elearnspace: http://202.116.45.236/mediawiki/resources/2/2005_siemens_Connectivism_A_LearningTheoryForTheDigitalAge.pdf