There's another technology tool surging into prominence. You might call in a mini-message social network, or you could call it the 140-character news network. Whatever it is, Twitter is fast becoming part of people's lives, which means that we'd better think about whether it has any promise for our classrooms. Some are sure that it does; some are not so sure. The best thing to do is to see for yourself what Twitter can do, and then decide upon its possibilities for teaching and learning.

What Is Twitter?

It's a tech tool/social network that lets you send and receive short messages, no longer than 140 characters, and that's almost exactly what I have here in this sentence. Actually, I'm two characters over the limit.

These messages can be sent and received using a computer, cell phone or Instant Messaging. You can decide to post a message that will be available to anyone who wants to read it, or you can send only to a certain group of people. The people who choose to receive your messages are your Followers. Maybe they've decided they want to keep up with your writing snippets because they know you, because you are an authority on a particular topic, or because they've read your Twitter profile and think they'd enjoy "hearing" what you have to say. If you want, you can choose to block someone from following you.

So Why Would Anyone Want to Twitter?

It's a quick and easy way to keep up with friends and relatives. It can be like a friends' message system or a family news update. Some say it's a great way to follow trends. You might follow the trendsetters in educational technology, for example, and learn where they think all this is leading. One thing for sure, Twitter provides excellent practice in the art of being concise.

How Would Twitter Work for Students and Teachers?

Although schools won't want their students sending and receiving tweets (that's a Twitter message or post) when they are supposed to be engaged in other school activities, the system, if used safely and effectively, provides some excellent possibilities for education. I've listed a few below, but creative minds will think of lots more:

• Set the students in your class up as a private Twitter group. Or you could create different Twitter groups within your class. These groups, using what's called GroupTweet, would be able to share ideas for a project you've assigned. The Tweets would only be within your class groups and could be sent and received at home or school.
  
  
• Put all those cell phones kids have to use, and get the kids Tweeting about group projects. No telephone numbers are needed—just membership in your Twitter Group. Kids love to use their cell phones, and they'll love to Tweet their way through their assignments.
  
  
• Engage in Tweeting with schools in other states and countries.
  
  
• Send your students Tweet reminders about due dates for projects.
  
  
• Encourage parents of your students to join in a Twitter group so that they can follow your Tweets about class activities, field trips, projects, testing, etc. (You can put urls and contact info in your Tweets.)
  
  
• Use Twitter to share information among faculty members in your school or district.
  
  
• Use Twitter to enhance professional development. Check out Tech & Learning's Laura Walker's article on this topic, Nine Reasons to Twitter in Schools.
  
  
• Use Twitter for doing quick, one-question surveys.
  
  
• Use Twitter for your own learning by following those you consider master teachers or authorities in your subject area.
  
  

Beyond Twitter

If you are interested in what Twitter can do, you might also want to experiment with Edmodo, a system that's been referred to as "Twitter for Educators".  It's not exactly Twitter, for messages can be longer and it includes features designed specifically for educators. Edmodo is well worth exploring. Like Twitter, it's free and easy to use; it includes ways for teachers and students to work together safely online, and has options such as the ability to post due dates for assignments in a class calendar, add attachments, view graded assignments, and more. To participate in Edmodo class groups, students must enter a code that's been given them by their teacher. There is an option for public posting of content if a teacher wishes to share information beyond class groups.

Safety First

Like all Web resources and tools, if you use Twitter and Edmodo with your students, you'll need to think about safety online. When using tools such as these that students enjoy, it's a good time to review guidelines about the permanence of postings online, thinking before submitting, never replying with anger or sarcasm, etc. Although as a teacher, you'd probably only be using Twitter or Edmodo with private groups of students that you set up, you should talk with your students about how they use social networks when not under your supervision. Remind your students who use Twitter on their own that they should take care in deciding whom to follow and whom they allow to follow them. Make sure they know that sometimes it's best to press "block".

Additional Resources for You

Edmodo
http://www.edmodo.com/

Twitter for Educators
http://itcboisestate.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/twitter-for-educators/

Twitter & Educational Applications
http://teacherswallet.com/web-20/twitter-and-educational-applications/

Advice for Teachers New to Twitter
http://edtechpower.blogspot.com/2009/02/advice-for-teachers-new-to-twitter.html

GroupTweet
http://www.grouptweet.com

Web Posting Warnings
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/social_web_unforeseen_consequences.php