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Twitter - Good or bad?

Last post 03/02/10 at 10:02 by djphillips1408, 122 replies
Post started by darenp on 09/06/09 at 11:59

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  • darenp avatar
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    Posted by: darenp 09/06/2009 at 11:59
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    Hi everyone.

    A very simple question for you.  Is Twitter a good thing for use in schools or a bad thing?

    There seems to extremely differing opinion on this around the internet, but what do the TES community think?

    Some ICT teachers use it as part of lessons on modern computer social networking.  Some schools have banned it completely and have warned staff against using it.

     What do you think?  Does it have a use in lessons?

    Regards,

    Daren. 
  • Chr1sM avatar
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    Posted by: Chr1sM 09/06/2009 at 12:32
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    We use it at our school as a means of sharing relevant ICT related news with students, http://twitter.com/lagancollege.

    As to good or bad, the general pattern seems to be what we ban today we will be teaching with a few years down the line :-)

     Chris

    http://freeperiod.co.uk/

     
  • darenp avatar
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    Posted by: darenp 09/06/2009 at 12:49
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    Yes, many schools and colleges are doing something similar and have "Twitter Lessons".

    It also seems to be a good way that teachers all over the world can share teaching ides and see what the current trends are and what technologies people are using.

    But there are also other schools that have problems with the way that Twitter is used.

    "Teachers banned from Twitter after 'principal constantly criticises students' "

     http://www.telegraph.co.uk/a/5363485

     

    Regards,

    Daren

    http://twitter.com/LJCreate

     

     
  • HappyHippy avatar
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    Posted by: HappyHippy 09/06/2009 at 13:52
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    In my opinion, and after much discussion with a variety of teachers here, on Twitter and via EdTechRoundup, it is very dangerous for staff to enter into a dialogue with students via any service that the students use socially. If I use Twitter in my lessons and 'follow' a pupil who later tells their friends all about their drunken night out (or worse) then I have a responsibility to report it and potentially face a whole host of consequences should anything happen. If they post an image via twitpic or similar (or on Facebook in particular) which would be inappropriate to have stored on my computer (even in the Temp Internet Files folder) then I could get into all sorts of hot water.

    Edmodo is a much more appropriate medium for that type of work and is much safer for us as staff.

    As many here will know, I am a huge fan of Twitter as a learning and collaborative tool for teachers as professionals, but students do not have the same regard (or consequences) and it is very dangerous to mix the two. I actively block students from Facebook and Twitter - but more so I'm not associated with their content than the reverse.
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    Posted by: madcat 09/06/2009 at 16:38
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    This may of interest

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8089508.stm

     
  • goneunderground avatar
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    Posted by: goneunderground 09/06/2009 at 18:32
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     "twitter" What's that?
  • jpgreenwood avatar
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    Posted by: jpgreenwood 09/06/2009 at 18:48
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    I'm a big fan, but don't use it to communicate with students. A couple of mine have found me, I've blocked them and explained in school that if they want to get in touch they're more than welcome to use my school email account. I'm not one of those people who treats it as a podium to moan about their school, students or job - nor are any of the people I follow. As a place to share ideas, resources, best practice with other teachers, it's great. Not sure I'd want to use it more than that.
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    Posted by: johnbrown 09/06/2009 at 22:23
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    It's certainly not a good thing.

    I wouldn't call it a bad thing though; just silly and time wasting.

    I'm afraid that some of those who would claim that Twitter is a powerful tool for sharing ideas will have made silly, pointless and dull contributions of such pointlessness and banality as to quite take the breath away. Honestly, 'Big Brothe' is more mentally stimulating.

    Have you tried it youself yet, Daren?

    Makes me quite despair for the future of mankind.
  • johnbrown avatar
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    Posted by: johnbrown 09/06/2009 at 22:58
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    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8089508.stm
  • cantona avatar
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    Posted by: cantona 10/06/2009 at 05:46
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     Twitter is well-overrated. It is used by a very small minority of the public, and its prominence is inflated by the wallies who write for puerile rags like The Guardian and so on.

    I may stop going on it soon as currently it is mainly metrosexuals warbling on about their Apple iPhones - obsessed is not the word.

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