Effective Use of Twitter as a Learning Tool


More and more teachers are now seeing the need to use social media in their classrooms. Twitter has particularly been identified as a great social networking tool that can be used for learning. This is a great way to impart knowledge and get students excited about learning. It is also a great way to 'meet students halfway' and show them that learning can be fun. There are some ideas that teachers can use to incorporate Twitter in their classrooms.

Frontloading


Frontloading is a great way for teachers to interact with their students and share valuable information. This simply involves posting learning material before the actual class. This is great since everything is done in real-time. Most students are on Twitter all day anyway, and this is a great way to reach them even when they are away from the classroom.

Frontloading also allows students to ask questions or seek clarification before class. This means that students and the teacher will be on the same page when it is time for a class. Teachers can also be able to respond to students' queries in real time, and get them the clarification that they need to better understand the material. Videos also add a nice and interesting touch to the learning experience. It makes learning more fun and engaging.

Micro-blogging


Micro-blogging is another great way for students and teachers to interact in the course of learning. Each person has his input, and can share ideas and materials in 140 characters or less. This is also a great way to facilitate open discussions in an informal setting, which can be very productive.

Twitter in the classroom allows students to share ideas and information in a way that they can relate to, and in an environment that they feel comfortable in. A teacher might start a discussion on their page, and ask every student for their input. The teacher can then be able to answer questions and raise additional points in real time. This is a fun and interactive way of imparting learning that the students are really going to enjoy.

Role Playing


Role-playing has been seen as a very effective way for teaching students. Most teenagers are not interested in school in the first place, and therefore need a little more motivation to get them excited about learning.

A good idea of using Twitter for learning is through role playing. Each student can be assigned a role or character from a short story or novel. They might then be required to interact on Twitter as their designated character. This is a fun way to get them to discuss their readings, as well as an opportunity for the teacher to see how students understand and personalize the characters.

These are just some of the things that a teacher can do to incorporate Twitter in to the curriculum. Students are able to perform better when they feel like being in the familiar environment. Most of these students are constantly on social media, so this can be a great way to impart learning on their terms and in a way they can relate with.

Author bio: Kate B. is a professional writer blogging for various educational websites, including SolidEssay.com, which is a college paper writing service , regarded by many as the cheapest essay writing service.


Image credit: Rosaura Ochoa on Flickr

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