Technology in the Classroom: Facebook and Twitter for Learning

July 23rd, 2010 by Ken 3 Comments »

Continuing with the “Revolution of Technology” theme I just read a great article from The Chronicle of Higher Education covering the “Emerging Technologies for Online Learning” conference. Facebook and Twitter are tremendously popular for social networking, but what about their performance in the classroom? Traditionally teachers have bemoaned their students habit of paying more attention to their online profile than their class room studies. Now schools are finding ways to use them as a conduit for education. Here’s an example:

“Ask students to do role-playing exercises on Facebook or Twitter. For instance, students in an American-history course could each be required to set up a Facebook page for a historical figure and periodically post “status updates” of things the famous people did. Similarly, Utah State University organized a Civil War re-enactment on Twitter.”

This has potential hilarity written all over it. How about updating Ben Franklin’s relationship status with his dalliances in Paris. Or General Ulysses Grant reporting in a wicked hangover. Andrew Jackson can twitter about his own assassination attempt.

Some of the attendees were critical of technology, pointing out that it does not equate to learning. Some teachers are wary that tech is more about acquiring a coolness factor than about developing knowledge. I would disagree, because using technology effectively in the classroom is a learning experience in itself. Teachers need to combine their materials with updated technology to create a complete learning experience for students in the 21st century.

Tags: american history course, andrew jackson, assassination attempt, ben franklin, century technology, chronicle of higher education, coolness factor, dalliances, developing knowledge, facebook, general ulysses grant, hilarity, relationship status, social networking, status updates, technology in the classroom, technology theme, twitter, ulysses grant, utah state university

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