Teachers Who Tweet

Research on Twitter

Being able to provide evidence of good teaching, particularly in higher education teaching is imperative.

Here is a list of current scholarly articles twitter (or more specifically micro-blogging).

It is a multi-disciplinary list & is created & maintained by Danah Boyd.

Can't wait to read more scholarly works by teachers using Twitter & other social network tools in the classroom.

Are you students studying Australian Politics? Part 2

I blogged a couple of weeks ago about @tweetMP - a site designed to engage Australia's Federal pollies to the twittersphere - to encourage & foster more honest, accountable & transparent government.

Since then of course, Mr Joe Hockey has been a very keen tweep - whose tweeting got him more than a few mentions on the floor as well!

I've also discovered another interesting user who's tweets you could incorporate into the classroom.

Annabelle Crabb respected journalist, regular on ABC's The Insiders and author, is also @annabelcrabb on Twitter. But not only tha,t she is also @crabbtwitsard (think Hansard in Twitter).

If you're tweeting during or about Question time then usethe #qt hashtag (think Question Time) and follow the tweetup using www.tweetchat.com

So while most of use can't be there watching the Question Time comings & goings, you could follow @crabbtwitsard & #qt, and if you have access to the cable TV, watch Question Time on A-PAC (Australia's Public Affairs Channel).

This is why teachers should tweet!

I logged onto Twitter the other night. I read this tweet by @lasic. I followed the link in the tweet, and after watching it I thought "yep, this is why we should tweet"....

 

Click here to see what I'm talking about.

Click here to sign up for Twitter, and while you're there, click here to follow Tomaz Lasic.

Tweeting is Sharing

Sue Waters, Edublogger extraordinaire mentioned in a Live Elluminate session on RSS Feeds, about the importance of tweeting your blog posts.

While there was some sidebar discussion about the value of blogging for its reflection-in-action value(ie. not really about bucket-loads of readers), by sharing your blog posts (using Twitter), it gives your followers an opportunity to access and then share your work.

Blogging is increasingly becoming part of every educators tool kit. Twitter is also in your tool kit. 

While I'm not a 'increase-your-following' type of Tweeter, the Ink Foundary does offer some suggestions if that is your goal, even if they're aimed at social media/marketing types. Perhaps increasing-your-following is not such a bad idea if you've got some great teaching tools & strategies.

Update your Twitter Bio

Yes, you may be "just" a teacher & you're in the same job. But if you've just started on Twitter & you've been tweeting for a few months, there's a good chance you've found your tweet-feet. So update you bio. As Twittercism says, we all change - so should your bio.

Are your students studying Australian politics? You need @tweetMP

A new website, TweetMP has started.

What is TweetMP?

A website commited to increase transparency & democracy in Australian Politics.

How do we increase transparency & democracy?

We PARTICIPATE! 

How can you use @tweetMP in your class?

• Talk - As a class why not tweet your MPs, ask them questions, tell them your concerns, show them what you've learned, participate in your political system.
• Follow - watch the Twitter stream of MPs all over the country. Do their tweets match what's being said in mainstream media? If not, why not? Do you think Twitter (and other social media platforms) changes mainstream media reporting of politics? How?
• Monitor - Does/Can tweeting an MP influence decisions being made in real life? Why? Why not?
• Speculate - Tweeting by MPs is a very new thing. How are MPs using it now? How do you think it will change over time when more and more MPs start doing it? What will it be like for twittering people who then become MPs in the future? How will the nature of their tweets change?
• Imagine - a parliamentary debate held over Twitter! Would it be less or more effective?
• Explore - Have a look at existing social media platforms and emerging ones. How do you think MPs & MP monitors/watchers will use them in the future?
• Critique - Do you think Twitter (and other social media platforms) are good for politics? Does/will it make it better? or worse?

These are just some suggestions, please share your ideas of how to use @tweetMP in your class.