This article explores the use of Twitter in a high school Civics class during the 2012 election. It discusses pros, like students receiving more balanced news coverage compared to TV, and Twitter being a tool for authentic instruction using current events. Cons included potential exposure to inappropriate comments and needing rules for Twitter use. The article recommends Twitter can be an effective teaching tool if used properly, but lacks student perspective data to strengthen its analysis.

1. Tweeting in the Classroom
ARTICLE REVIEW
BY JOHN CORK

2. Summary
What is this article
about?
The authors’ of “Tweeting in the Classroom” believe that
Twitter can “be a smart instructional tool” and the article
explores the pros and cons of using Twitter in the classroom.

3. Case Scenario
Where did the study
take place?
This article explores the use of Twitter in a high
school Civics class during the 2012 election in which
the teacher utilized Twitter as a way to monitor the
election campaign.

4. Pros
The authors’ support the use of Twitter:
Students received “more balanced coverage”
when compared to traditional Television news
media.
Twitter is a tool for “authentic instruction”
which is a way to incorporate current events
and real word perspectives into instruction.

5. Cons
Some of the limitations the authors’ explore:
• exposure to inappropriate comments.
• teachers must be careful when examining
“controversial” or taboo subjects”.
• They point out that teachers need to establish
rules for use of Twitter.
• the biggest obstacle to success of utilizing Twitter
in the classroom might be schools and districts
that have a negative view towards social media.

6. Publication
This article was published in the 2014 journal of the Phi Delta Kappan
which describes itself as, “Phi Delta Kappan is the professional magazine
for anyone who cares about K-12 education and features articles about
classroom practice, policy, research, professional issues, and innovations
in education.”
For more information please see: http://pdkintl.org/publications/kappan/

7. About the
Authors
Wayne Journell - an assistant professor and secondary
social studies program coordinator at the University of North
Carolina at Greensboro. He also is author of Online Learning:
Strategies for K-12 Teachers (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013).
Cheryl A. Ayers - is a doctoral student at the University of
North Carolina at Greensboro.
Meliassa Walker Beeson - is an assistant professor at
Salem College, Winston-Salem, N.C.

8. This article is based purely on anecdotal evidence and
doesn’t provide any empirical data. The research is
based on the observations a Civics class in which the
teacher enlisted Twitter as a means of authentic
instruction.
The article provides information on how the teacher
used Twitter to have students participate in the
election campaign process.
Evaluation
of the
Resource

9. The article provides a framework that in my experiences is
accurate. For example:
Using Hashtags - benefits of using hashtags (#) which allows a
student search for real time information by subject. In my own
professional development I often use hashtags like #edchat
#edtech to find information and find this strategy extremely
useful.
Authentic Instruction – twitter offers teachers an excellent way
to provide access to “current events and real=world
perspectives.”
Digital Citizenship - teachers need to teach students how to use
social media responsibly. The authors point that teachers should
establish rules for tweeting and commenting.
Evaluation of
the Resource

10. I would strongly recommend this article to my fellow
educators as it:
 provides practical advice on using Twitter
effectively in the classroom.
 provides guidelines on both effective strategies for
using Twitter as a teaching tool as well as pitfalls to
look out for.
 The article will also open up discussion about other
ways to use Twitter in the classroom which may
include like increased student participation and
more interaction between teacher and student.
Recommendation
Regarding
Resource

11. How to Improve
the Study?
The major weakness of this article is it doesn’t
provide any observations or survey material as to
the students’ attitudes towards using Twitter in this
context.

12. Promote
Digital
Citizenship
The article suggests that teachers should provide more
information on Digital Citizenship and how it apples to
using Twitter. The article should identify Digital
Citizenship and expound on the concept further.
Digital citizenship: the norms of appropriate,
responsible behavior with regard to technology use
 www.digitalcitizesnhip.net

13. Citation
.
Citation
Journell, W., Ayers, C. A., & Beeson, M. W. (2014).
Tweeting in the classroom. Phi Delta Kappan,
95(5), 63-67.