is twitter educational?

Got a comment question I wanted to respond to here:

Just curious, what are your thoughts about incorporating Twitter into the curriculum.

Don’t use a piece of technology just because you can. Edward Tufte spoke about this very eloquently. Just because we have (insert new technology here) doesn’t mean we should try to cram it into our curriculum.  This is why we need to be very careful about powerpoint - think about what you need to teach, and THEN think about the best way to teach your material.

However, part of my passion in life is looking at new technologies, and wondering about them . Ever since I figured out what twitter was, I’ve been rolling this question around in my mind.  I don’t have an answer, but I have some initial ideas.

How would you approach that?

I’ve been reading about the backchannel lately, and I really like the idea - for kids over 18.  I think twitter (and google chat) are like passing notes in class - that kids (under age 18) can’t really focus on a teacher AND a side conversation. I think if I asked a group of 16 year old kids to create a back channel, they wouldn’t be able to stay focused. I think if we twittered during class, we would need to review the twits before class ended.

How would you use it to help kids learn? Especially elementary school kids.

Well, I would think of twitter as a reflective device.  So as I’m teaching (or reading) something, I would ask them to take notes via twitter. With about 15 minutes left of class, I would review the twits, and have a discussion. Or, I might review the twits for the next class (what great feedback for a teacher).

I’m afraid that this Twitter thing is just going to take up a lot of the kids time and stuff instead of having some real evidence that it’ll help kids learn.

I share your fear.  The thing is, twitter doesn’t try to be anything BUT a 140 character update thingy. I see twitter mainly as a tool to reflect on a back channel conversation. But is back-channel reflective communication a useful thing for young kids? I’m not so sure.

I mean Twitter is a great idea, but I’m just not sure of it’s educational value.

I agree. I think the REAL value of twitter comes in from teachers learning / sharing with each other. I’ve already picked up some very useful information from twitter, and I’d like to add more people to follow (this is why I’m looking for a way to categorize / read) twits.

Great question

On 24 April 2009, Tom Hoffman inscribed the following thoughts about this post:

I think we’re near the inflection point where it becomes clear that while kids will need to be able to, say, multi-task and collaborate globally via the web, that those are things which will increasingly be easier for them than sustained focus and local face to face collaboration, which will continue to be essential.

That is, it will become clear that if schools don’t teach kids to focus, turn off, talk to the people around them, nobody will.

On 27 April 2009, Chris Chin inscribed the following thoughts about this post:

Hey Bill,

Thanks for replying to my previous comment about Twitter. I agree that using Twitter would be excellent for the kids to write down useful stuff and share it with their classmates. I’m also sure there are could be a lot of interesting ways to incorporate Twitter into lesson plans. 

As for reviewing the Tweets, I think that could work as a reflective device, sort of like monitoring what’s going on in their minds while the lesson is being taught. I can see Twitter, almost like instant blogging or something along those lines.

I was thinking of using Twitter as an organizing tool for students also. Perhaps have a cake sale or a recycling event and have them broadcast on twitter, something along those lines. Maybe have half of them Tweet their plans, while having the other half of the students put up flyers. Then have the students reflect on how communication has changed with the digital age. I’m not sure but that was an idea that I had been bouncing around. I’m curious as to what you think of this use of Twitter?

Good Stuff.  Looking forward to more.

Chris