Why Use Twitter in the Classroom?
Why use Twitter? Here are a few ways teachers can explore this microblogging platform.
•Course or class updates •Learning & sharing of knowledge •Connect with experts and other classrooms •Q&A forum •Professional networking & development •Peer instruction •Community instruction •Concise writing •Feedback channel •Curation of information via the hashtag •Digital Archive Considerations and Digital CitizenshipBefore you even consider using Twitter in the Classroom, be sure to thoroughly examine the Terms of Use for Twitter. Therefore for classrooms it is recommended that teachers use their classroom account for any Twitter activities. Only students in high school may use Twitter, however in either case, be sure to explore the Saskatchewan Digital Citizenship Guide and Continuum to assist students in staying safe online. More information and resources may be explored at iamstronger.ca
It is also recommended that teacher never add students full names or pictures of students with this information when using Twitter. Teachers need to take the same considerations when engaging in online activities as they would when taking students on a fieldtrip. It is for this reason, RCSD consent forms must be provided. In addition to this, teachers should always check with administrators regarding using these tools and provide information to parents regarding the focus of the project and how Twitter will be used. Please refer to the forms on the Teaching With Technology Hub Blogging page. |
What are the Benefits?
Watch the video below, Changing the Culture of a School with Twitter. Principal Steve Williams explores the benefits of Twitter in connecting with students how to "meet the students where they are already excited to be".
Explore Ways to Integrate Twitter |
What's a Twitter Chat? |
The following are resources to help you get started with a few ideas in how to integrate Twitter into the classroom.
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If you have heard about a Twitter chat and wish to learn more about it, here are the basics:
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Curricular Ideas for Integrating Twitter into the Classroom
- English Language Arts
#1book140 – a virtual book club hosted by The Atlantic.
- Math
TweetStats – Examine tweet timelines, reply statistics, tweets per month, and tweets per hour for any username.
- Science
#SciStuChat – a monthly Twitter chat between scientists and students.
- Social Studies
@RealTimeWWII – Live tweets from the 2nd World War, as it happens on this date & time in 1942, & for 4 years to come. - Chat Discussions for Classrooms - #Myclasschat - Sask Kids Chat Space to extend and explore learning with other classrooms.
Be sure to check out Nick's Picks for Educational Technology. Many of the resources on this page were initially obtained from this site, then further extend to meet the needs of RCSD teachers.
More Research to Support Using Twitter in the Classroom
A great plethora of resources to check out on why we need to explore Twitter and other Microblogging Tools can be found on Douglas Strahler and Jessica Barron's site, Extending the Classroom and Learning Through Twitter, 2014