I tried to leave a comment on David Warlick’s redesigned blog, but alas it wasn’t accepted or worthy or something, so I’ll post here instead. David wondered whether he should put a “Twitter-like” app on Class Blogmiester – and I say do it (of course I’m not the one doing the programming).
I do several activities that require students to write short “notes” to each other (I blogged about it here). Its fun, it promotes writing as a fun activity, it fosters editing skills, each “note” is short but when you add up all the writing students do in 5 to 30 minutes it is pages. Anything that promotes writing is aces with me. My kids beg me, offer me money bribes … er… um … seem so excited by these activities that they MIGHT offer me bribes ; ), to play what they consider games. I’m sure that smarter teachers than I will come up with even better activities and uses for Twitter.
Twitter can be messy learning!
Blogged with Flock
Almost three years ago, when I first started my research on using blogs in teaching, I was very surprised to find that while writing on their blogs in class, the students often chatted quietly about their work. They were short exchanges, mostly about spelling, organization, and sometimes the actual content of their individual blogs. As I walked around the classroom and discussed their efforts with individual students, I noticed that these chats with their closest “neighbour” were very productive. Gordon Wells calls these interactions “talk about text” and I believe that they are very effective because they promote engagement with ideas and, in short, the development of literacy skills.
Can twitter contribute to that kind of exchange? I believe it can. Not in every class, perhaps, not every day, but it can give our students yet another chance to record their cognitive trails and then use them to reflect on their work.
I’m also thinking about having my students twitter their thoughts on readings or class discussions (even during these discussions). Imagine what a cognitive trail that would create! Imagine doing a mashup of that and an mp3 recording of the discussion – such richness!
Just thinking out loud here. Thanks for contributing to the twitter discussion.
I really think the movement is to much and hope this will be optional….we are not at that point yet. One has to lead from where the learner stands, not where they should stand.
I agree that twitter in the classroom is a great learning tool. As a teacher I would add the main topics and ideas the kids express in the blog and promote a group exchange grouping the class as a whole. This not only review the concepts taught, but promote the child’s expressive language, and respect to others opinion face to face. So the child really can build and mature their learning but could enhance their personal integrity.