Blogging is one tool that can be effectively used in
education. A blog, or web log, is a collection of posts or news stories. One of
the advantages of a blog is its interactive nature, in that individuals can
comment on blog posts. Bloggers can create a network of blogs by commenting on
other blogs and linking back to them, building social relationships with
others. Since bloggers tend to write about certain themes or topics, and post
on a regular basis, this lends itself to a continual stream of comments and
feedback. Educational blogs can be used
to reinforce lessons taught in class. Teachers can create assignments for
students to create their own blogs or interact on an established classroom blog
to discuss classroom lessons, collaborate on projects with classmates, and
reflect on lessons learned outside of the classroom.
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging
site. Individuals communicate on Twitter using 140 character tweets to post
comments that are read, shared, and commented on by their followers. The power
of Twitter is in the strength of one’s social network of followers. Twitter
users typically frequently monitor their Twitter streams, and it is easy to
read and follow posts on a smart phone or other mobile device.
Educators can use Twitter as a tool for classroom
discussion. The conversational nature of Twitter and the tendency for immediate
or real time responses lends itself to this type of use, and may even help some
more shy classmates actively participate in discussions. Twitter can be used as
a collaborative tool, since it is easy to generate discussion and to contribute
to a discussion thread. One notable classroom project is the “Many Voices” assignment, where students
contributed, with Twitter posts, so an on-line story. The thread is available
on Twitter, was published as a book for purchase and available for
download. This is a great, creative
example of what can be accomplished on Twitter for education.
I must admit that I was skeptical of how Twitter could be
used in education until I read this week’s module for class. The Twitter
account that I set up specifically for my current course follows the Toledo
Zoo and the Mud Hens, some local news sources, and media types, because their
posts are of interest to me. My original
Twitter account, one that I have had for years, is much different. I do not post
to it as much as I used to, but this week’s lesson has given me a renewed
interest in posting to that account. That account has over 6000 tweets and 672
followers, many organized into specific areas of interest. Twitter is an
excellent vehicle for following breaking news stories and local news, building
your own social network, and sharing tidbits with your followers.
Very well thought out...
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to think of the things that Internet and/or social media tools allow us to do these days. I think a majority of people are so used to these things being the norm that we often don't realize just how far technology has progressed not just in everyday use, but in the educational realm as well. To think that an entire book was created through collaboration using something like Twitter is quite remarkable.
I can see your hesitancy to utilizing these tools, mainly with privacy issues always being at the forefront of concerns for any networked product. Also, I think many of us tend to see only the "social" aspect of social networking and that makes it difficult for us to see it being used in any other fashion. However, as you stated, there are many benefits to using blogs and other social media tools in the educational arena, as long as the are used appropriately.