W2: Twitter Blog Post (ETEC 527)

    This week I had the pleasure of creating a Twitter account for my ETEC 527 course. I was to create an account and hashtag #etec527. Even though I have a private Twitter, I rarely post anything. I will go on to see what daily trends are occurring.

    In the last week, I have learned much about how to use Twitter and the applications contained within.

I learned how to bookmark pages and hashtag's purpose; I also made a Twitter circle and created a Librarian list. The only thing I have inserted in my list thus far is the scholastic page, but I am sure I will make more in the future. 

    One thing that I know for sure about Twitter is that it is a powerful social platform. I have seen political posts, posts from other countries, advertising posts, and activist posts. All of which have had an impact on the global community. The uses of Twitter are limitless and not just for social use. 

    Twitter can be used in the classroom to extend learning beyond the classroom. The article below mentions ten ways Twitter can support classroom learning and communication. There are several great ideas contained in the article. Feel free to click on the link and browse. My takeaway from the article is that Twitter is an excellent addition to classroom resources and keeps students up with current events and trends.

Twitter is a social hub that reaches millions of people daily and using it for educational purposes has its positives. As I explored Twitter, I realized Twitter would be a beneficial tool for classroom engagement, parent communication, student feedback, and peer collaboration. Students can use their devices to share articles and videos supporting their learning.

I found a how-to teach and learn with a Twitter guide. The resource below was produced by Twitter in collaboration with UNESCO. It walks you through the setup and explains all the aspects of Twitter and topics like controlling digital footprints, demonstrating digital etiquette, and dealing with cyberbullying. 

    As someone who has only used Twitter to keep up with trending information, this week was filled with eye-opening experiences. I am now more familiar with a tool that I was reluctant to use due to a lack of user experience on my behalf. I can use Twitter with my students for classroom discussions and feedback, conduct classroom surveys, and have students share what they are researching individually and in groups. I can inform parents and send reminders in a large private group or separately. I feel more comfortable using Twitter, and with the additional resources I have found online, I feel more confident in my skills.