The document discusses how Twitter can be used as a tool for distance education by delivering real-time content and enabling communication between instructors and students, highlighting benefits like connecting communities, sharing knowledge, and facilitating global outreach. Barriers to adopting Twitter for education are also addressed, such as resistance to social media and information overload, along with recommendations for using hashtags, groups, and chats to enhance online discussions.

1. What is on your mind?

2. Twitter & Distance Learning
By Doug Strahler
GDIT 711: Distance Learning Global Leadership

3. Overview
• Distance Learning & Twitter
• Benefits of Twitter as a Distance Education Tool
• Twitter Chat
• Final Thoughts & Reflections

4. Distance Learning
• “Defined as Internet-based learning that
delivers content and enables communication
between instructor and students, online teaching
and learning is rooted in the transaction of
distance education and advanced computer and
communications technology.”
(Cleveland-Innes & Garrison, 2010, p.2)

5. Twitter
• “Twitter is a real-time information network that
connects you to the latest stories, ideas,
opinions and news about what you find
interesting.”
• Micro-blogging
• Tweet: 140-character message
– Text
– Links
– Photos/Video/Audio

6. Twitter Symbols
• @ - Username
– Individuals username on Twitter
– @profstrahler
• # - Hashtag
– Category of a tweet
– #DistanceEducation

7. The Twitter Effect

8. If it is having such an impact on major
world events, why not leverage the power
of Twitter for distance education?

9. Distance Learning & Twitter
• Delivers content/real-time information network
• Enables communication (between instructor and
student)

10. Benefits of Twitter as a
Distance Education Tool
• Connects community
• Meet new people
• Learning & Sharing of knowledge
• Public Discussion beyond the classroom walls (no
time limit)
• Review/key concepts tool
• Formal/Informal Setting
• Synchronous/Asynchronous
• Global Outreach
• Professional networking & development
• Active Learning Environment
• Transactional Distance

11. Barriers to Adoption
• Resistance to join
• Social Media Policies (K-12)
• Information overload
• Global perspective: Twitter is banned in some
countries (i.e. China)

12. Do you see any other benefits or barriers
to using Twitter in Education?

13. Getting Started with Twitter
• Create an account at Twitter.com
• Start following professionals/friends
(@profstrahler)
• Start posting and sharing information
Still have questions? Visit the website I posted in the online discussion board!

14. Where are the Twitter Groups &
Chats?
• Twibes is an online directory of
different Twitter users and groups,
and helps you find people with the
same interest as you (Education)
• “Follow” them

15. What is a Twitter Chat?
• It is an online discussion that occurs through
Twitter with the use of a hashtag
– Specific date/time
• Set time limit, but doesn’t mean the discussion has to end
– Moderator or facilitator to ask questions
– Open to anyone to join
– Hashtag categorizes tweets for the conversation

16. Twitter Chat Case Study
• Slippery Rock University Social Media course
– #srusmchat
• Students are responsible for organizing, planning,
promoting and executing a 1-hour long Twitter chat on
the topic discussed that week

17. TweetChat: A Tool for Following a
Twitter Hashtag
• TweetChat helps put your blinders on
to the Twitter-sphere while you
monitor and chat about one topic.
• Enter the hashtag you want to follow
and click Go to follow!

18. Twitter & Distance Education
Webpage
www.profstrahler.com/twitter-and-distance-education.html

19. Final Thoughts & Reflections
• Twitter is a utility to distance education.
• Using Twitter to enhance the learning
experience in GDIT711
– Post news stories related to Distance Education
– Post reactions/reflection on class discussions
– Hold a 30-minute Twitter chat
– #GDIT711

20. References & Resources
Check out my webpage for a list of references with
links for this presentation!
www.profstrahler.com