I use Twitter everyday - as a classroom teacher, as a webmaster for my school site, as a parent liaison, and as someone who just wants to connect with my educational community. I am also the person hounding others to join in on the fun. A couple of years ago, I got an iPhone. This was the first thing that changed how I do classroom instruction. The second thing that changed instruction was Twitter. It follows you everywhere - constantly reminding you of assignments due, linking you to ideas, videos, concepts, visual aids, online connections, and personal factions that help you feel connected to your community. In my case, I believe that it connects my students to my classroom and to me. Even more so than in the couple hours they attend class and the hour or more they complete their homework
Why does this platform work for my students?
Ease of Use: I have embedded my Twitter feed onto my classroom website, so students and parents do not even need a Twitter account to access my tweets. They can view tweets on ANY computer or mobile device connected to the Internet.
It's Fun: Twitter speaks their language. Most students spend HOURS a day online or talking about what is happening online. This is what connects their social world. If I can get them talking about academic topics in some of their conversations, I have achieved something.
Connectedness: Twitter connects its subjects to everything. What 2 online buttons do you see at the end of every online article, blog, shopping site, or share symbol: Facebook and Twitter. Facebook requires friending, blocking, allowing, etc. Twitter is free, world-wide, available.
Why does this platform work for me, the teacher?
With my phone, I can tweet from anywhere. I can take a picture; take a screen shot; search a video; record text, audio, or video...and send. It is within a click away. My only 3 requirements: Does it promote academia or personal connectedness; is it appropriate?; will my students want to view it?
Okay, enough about how cool it is. Does it build a community with students? Twitter is not something that they belong to. But they belong to Facebook, Instagram, bit.ly, and YouTube. They want to share. They want to have content to share so they can converse. Middle school kids love to gossip and laugh and they LOVE to complain. If I give them a reason to do one of those things, they will forward, share, and discuss.
Students are also at risk, however, of being distracted from good learning or learning altogether. With freedom comes responsibility. So, students must have guidance on how to search safely, choose friends wisely, report any inappropriate behavior or messages, and stick to safe content they are comfortable with. It is really easy to get roped in to nasty gossip or peer pressure online. Students just need to know that, just as in face-to-face contact with others, there are sketchy and manipulative people and behavior online. Create boundaries for yourself.
The Internet is a vast universe of knowledge, complexity, diverging viewpoints, and creation. Think about it: The Internet can lead you to engage in the highest levels of learning. If you are in education, using this explosive tool is not just optional, it is imperative. If you can get kids excited about going on the Internet everyday to discover, share, and create, you've opened up endless possibilities for them.
For more amazing Tweets from Mrs. Banks, search for @teachlikemom on Twitter. :p
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