Blogging/Tweeting
I am a tweeter....
... but I wouldn't say that I'm a swift bird with it! Here's a link to my Twitter account.
I have been on Twitter for quite a while but struggled to get to grips with how it works. I have to admit that about 2 months ago I finally got a mobile phone that you could get internet (I have been stuck in the dark ages!) and since having twitter on my mobile phone is has been used a lot more. So what I'm trying to say is that Twitter, I feel, is for the commuter and their mobile phone not somebody sat in front of a computer.
Recent article 'Using Twitter to gauge people's views' by the CEO (Annette Smith's blog) provides an insight into the use of Twitter in Education. On discussing the impact of the Education Select Committee requesting questions to put to the Secretary of State via Twitter the article says, " It occurred to me that this was an excellent and immediate way to find out what is troubling those concerned with education in England currently. Incidentally, the National Curriculum consultation attracted a similar number of responses, laboured over for many weeks"Within a matter of minutes there were questions flooding in. With most people connected to the internet via their mobile phones and their phone making an incessant *beep* every time there is a Tweet means that people are second by second updated about the issues surrounding them and encouraged to comment upon them.
Alan Cross recommended some people to follow on Twitter with regards to Education and I have been following their tweets for a few months now.
@DeputyMitchell is a really interesting person to follow as his aim is get get every child blogging to a global audience. What a mission statement!
I have been on Twitter for quite a while but struggled to get to grips with how it works. I have to admit that about 2 months ago I finally got a mobile phone that you could get internet (I have been stuck in the dark ages!) and since having twitter on my mobile phone is has been used a lot more. So what I'm trying to say is that Twitter, I feel, is for the commuter and their mobile phone not somebody sat in front of a computer.
Recent article 'Using Twitter to gauge people's views' by the CEO (Annette Smith's blog) provides an insight into the use of Twitter in Education. On discussing the impact of the Education Select Committee requesting questions to put to the Secretary of State via Twitter the article says, " It occurred to me that this was an excellent and immediate way to find out what is troubling those concerned with education in England currently. Incidentally, the National Curriculum consultation attracted a similar number of responses, laboured over for many weeks"Within a matter of minutes there were questions flooding in. With most people connected to the internet via their mobile phones and their phone making an incessant *beep* every time there is a Tweet means that people are second by second updated about the issues surrounding them and encouraged to comment upon them.
Alan Cross recommended some people to follow on Twitter with regards to Education and I have been following their tweets for a few months now.
@DeputyMitchell is a really interesting person to follow as his aim is get get every child blogging to a global audience. What a mission statement!
Pros:
- Easy
- Accessible
- Every person can express their view
Cons:
- Tweets disappear into the ether after a few weeks because there are constantly new ones to replace them. Searching through the archives is too laborious and so they get forgotten about.
Would I use within the classroom?
I really like the vision of giving everybody a voice and a chance to air their opinion. I'm not sure that I would encourage my class to all get a Twitter account due to safety etc but I would like to create a class Twitter wall in which they can share their opinions with the class. Maybe stick post it notes up or have a washing line of Tweets about a particular topic or theme that changes every couple of days/every week.