This document discusses how Twitter can be used for teaching and learning. It provides examples of how one instructor, Alexandra Pickett, has used Twitter in her online course to engage students, communicate announcements, and continue the discussion beyond the term. Students found Twitter easy to use and thought it had instructional potential. The instructor encourages others to explore using Twitter and shares additional resources on the topic.

1. How is Twitter
being used for teaching
& learning?
Twitterpated by Twitter
(for instructional purposes)
alexandra m. pickett
associate director
suny learning network

2. Introduction
– 2000 EDUCAUSE award for Systemic Progress in Teaching
and Learning
– 2001 Sloan-C award for Excellence in ALN Faculty Development
– 2002 Sloan-C award for Excellence in Institution-Wide ALN
Programming
– 2006 USDLA 21st Century Best Practice Award - Online
Technology - Higher Education
– 2009 NUTN award for Distance Education Innovation!
©alexpickett is @ the
Twittering & Education
Synmposium
Twitterpated by twitter (for ins truct ional purposes ))
(for ins truct ional purposes

3. My Online Course
ETAP 687
– Intro to Online Teaching
» Present • Engage • Assess
©alexpickett is @ the
Twittering & Education
Synmposium
Twitterpated by twitter (for ins truct ional purposes ))
(for ins truct ional purposes

4. WHY?
I feel an obligation to
» Participate
» Evaluate
» Document
» & expose and engage students & faculty to
and in this process.
©alexpickett is @ the
Twittering & Education
Synmposium
» I am a learner too!
Twitterpated by twitter (for ins truct ional purposes ))
(for ins truct ional purposes

5. WHY?
Present • Engage • Assess
» to explore, test, & evaluate
» to add bling (i.e., interaction, engagement,
visual appeal)
» to provide student access beyond the end
of the term.
» To blur the boundaries of the course - to
take them “out” AND bring others “in” !
©alexpickett is @ the
Twittering & Education
Synmposium
Twitterpated by twitter (for ins truct ional purposes ))
(for ins truct ional purposes

6. Announcements
How?
– http://twitter.com - embedded!
Why?
– Demo Microblogging & Intro to social networking
– Communication, access, support, prof. dev.
– Cool, easy, engaging, interactive, visually slick.
– Build class community, social presence, public, access
beyond the end of term.
What happened?
©alexpickett is @ the » http://twitter.com/etap687
Twittering & Education
Synmposium » http://twitter.com/alexpickett
Twitterpated by twitter (for ins truct ional purposes ))
(for ins truct ional purposes

7. What Happened ?
Twitter
• 91.6% - easy to use
• 75% - feel it has instructional potential
• 66.7% - will use it in the future
• 75% - would recommend it to friends/colleagues
• 50% - say their online learning was enhanced by it
According to my students I am hard, hot, and nurturing!
» http://etap687.edublogs.org/2008/08/26/i-teach-
like-a-girl/
©alexpickett is @ the » http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?
Twittering & Education tid=1106177
Synmposium
Twitterpated by twitter (for ins truct ional purposes ))
(for ins truct ional purposes

8. Resources
For more information:
• http://www.diigo.com/user/alexandrapickett/twitter
– http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dhn2vcv5_118cfb8msf8
• Bonus example:
» http://phylisebanner.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/collective-
storytelling-with-twitter/
» http://phylisebanner.wordpress.com/storytelling-with-
twitter/
©alexpickett is @ the
Twittering & Education
Synmposium
Twitterpated by twitter (for ins truct ional purposes ))
(for ins truct ional purposes

9. Any Questions?
©alexpickett
Synmposium
is @ the
Twittering & Education
?
Twitterpated by twitter (for ins truct ional purposes ))
(for ins truct ional purposes

10. Thank You!
Share what you know!!
»Join my networks!
alexandra m. pickett
alexandra.pickett@suny.edu
http://twitter.com/alexpickett
http://www.slideshare.net/alexandrapickett
©alexpickett is @ the
Twittering & Education
Synmposium
Twitterpated by twitter (for ins truct ional purposes ))
(for ins truct ional purposes