How are teachers using Twitter?
In the continuous rise of social media across the world, educators are relishing the opportunities presented by networking platforms. By utilizing Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social media platforms, teachers can connect with students and other teachers to provide new dimensions of engagement within a classroom.
Twitter in particular has been lauded for its accessibility and its collaborative nature. It can be used to share and absorb different resources in teaching techniques between educators, as well as expand the thought processes for students beyond the classroom.
It generally piques the interest of younger teachers more versed in this technology. They can use it to update students on lessons and create discourse on various topics. They can also discover leaders of the industry, with more experience, which in turn allows for personal growth in the teachers’ careers.
The NEA, (National Education Association) encourages educators to take advantage of what Twitter has to offer: “By following other educators’ tweets, teachers can keep up with the latest trends, news, and happenings in education, as well as communicate with fellow educators.”
In terms of helping students perform better in the classroom, connecting with them through Twitter is an invaluable resource, since the younger generations receive many bits of information from these kinds of sites. It can be used to review lessons and open up discussions with greater ease by allowing the students to interact at a level that is at their usual comfort zone for social interaction. Media posts, hashtags, and direct messaging can facilitate a student’s participation in the classroom.
Speaking of #Hashtags, they are the staple of Twitter as a social platform. They can be utilized to engage in discourse over a particular topic and for teachers to easily find other professionals and form networks that are equally beneficial for both parties. Teachthought.com, a site dedicated to aid the development of teachers, cites some of the most popular hashtags in education. Among them are: #elearning, #highered and #edtech. They can also be used to raise awareness of sociological issues occurring in contemporary schools, such as cyberbullying and civil rights.
Twitter has become a priceless tool for budding teachers in the 21st century. As it continues to grow in popularity, as well as other social media sites, more and more educators are seeing what the platform can offer. If it is used properly, it can revolutionize the way we think about education and open up a plethora of possibilities in schools and other learning institutions.
