After reading "7 Things You Should Know About Twitter" and viewing "Twitter in Plain English" (found below) I feel much more informed about Twitter, as I do not have experience with Twitter. "Tweets" are limited to 140 characters, which means that others are more likely to read your thought, idea, "status", etc.
As I was reading/viewing information about Twitter, I was thinking about Twitter as a classroom tool, rather than for personal use. If using Twitter as a classroom tool, this would make homework assignments or reminders very accessible to many students, due to the fact that Twitter is a HUGE social media site and millions of people use Twitter on a daily, maybe even hourly basis.
Overall, I am not opposed to social media, as I have my own accounts on other sites, but I am not sure that Twitter is an appropriate tool for my classroom. Just as Facebook isn't necessarily appropriate for interactions. By putting any information on a social media site, you take several risks.
You risk student safety, your professionalism (if parents friend you and someone posts something inappropriate), and students straying from the information that they should access to other information that may not be appropriate for the student.
I may explore Twitter for my personal use, but I will still continue to use a school e-mail account and a password protected blog to communicate with parents and students!
Educase Learning Initiative. "7 Things You Should Know About Twitter". July 2007. Accessed 3 Jul 2014. https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7027.pdf
iJagriti JITS. "Twitter in Plain English" Uploaded on 28 Dec. 10. Accessed 3 Jul 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WQnD5kcBx8
I also agree that Twitter is just too risky to use as an educational tool. I don't feel like twitter is the tool for young adolescents to use. they don't understand the idea of privacy and public internet sites. It is important to educate the on what is appropriate to write and what isn't, but regardless of how you educate students there is a sense of "It won't happen to me" that most young adolescents don't get over until they are older.
ReplyDeleteJustin,
DeleteI couldn't agree more! Students, especially young adolescents, have that feeling that nothing bad will ever happen to them. Bad things only happen "far away" and to other people!
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine trying to monitor 25 to 30 Smartphones! It is hard enough to monitor 25 to 30 different desktops - even with software that will show you all 25 screens at a time!
I am really entertaining the thought of a password protected blog for my classroom next year! It is best to keep everyone safe!