This semester is my first attempt to get students to Twitter. Some students exceeded my expectations and some, well, I haven’t yet to see a tweet. So, how can you get students motivated to use this tool that helps student/professor extend conversations beyond the classroom?
Some students share links with me, which I encourage. Some students complain that I made them make an account that they will never use again. I will definitely try to convince them that Twitter can be used for good. The one thing Twitter does do, it creates a great news source. I remind students about assignments and upcoming readings. I also have one professor friend who uses Twitter to announce extra credit.
Students need to learn the value of the applications they are using. Some think Twitter is useless, and I understand–to a point. Instead of students thinking it’s stupid, students need to welcome the idea that new applications can help them succeed and network professionally. The Internet is not all about fun and games. The Internet can be used professionally and academically. What I hope I instill in my students is the will to expand knowledge and create ideas to share. Collective intelligence is powerful. And, if Twitter and other such applications are used wisely in the classroom, these non-traditional tools could enhance the knowledge base for both student and professor.
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