Twitter is one technology tool I am undecided about. For me personally I can see this as a great way to share events with friends and family who are out of town and out of state. The snapshot of daily life is an intriguing concept. I would like to see that my tweets would only go to the people I choose rather than visible to just anyone. Otherwise I think it could be a good personal tool.
In terms of twitter as a teaching tool, I have several concerns. One of them is the conundrum of using twitter as a communicator on cell phone format when our building and district policies restrict presence of cell phones in the classroom. As a natural rule follower, I am an enforcer of this rule though I know it is harder and harder every year to detach the cell phones from our students. I also worry about the public and private communications as a matter of safety since I teach middle schoolers who lack the maturity and skills to determine cyberdangers effectively. I would prefer private twitter systems if I were to use this in class and with studentsI think it would be a great tool to tweet a class over the weekend and remind them of a project due Monday or adjust directions on an assignment due to student concerns. I think it would be a great way to share current events news or practice chatting in Spanish. I think using it over the internet would be a better comfort level for me because of the cell phone restrictions... but I teach not for me but for the students. If I am meeting their needs I can't decide what I do only about what I enjoy and what makes me comfortable.
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You can refuse followers to Twitter if you want.
ReplyDeleteHow much longer do you think schools will be able to actually keep cellphones out of schools? I've seen recent surveys that show a high percentage of students have phones with them and many admit to texting during class even though it is forbidden. We're going to have to think this through in schools over the next few years. There's no easy answer.