twitter

=media type="custom" key="17388404"Twitter=

Author(s): Michael Adeyeye
 * Last updated: 9th May 2012**: Dr. OE Ekpo

1. Definition
Twitter is a Web 2.0 social networking application with over 140 million active users, consisting individuals and corporate organizations. Registered users can post tweets through the website interface, SMS, or a range of apps for mobile devices. Like most other applications, only short messages not exceeding 140 characters [known as "tweets"] can be sent at a time.

2. Examples of products (open source/free or commercial)
Twitter is an open source, free to use application, but requires registration.

3. Examples of applications for Teaching and Learning
Tw itter is a tool for assessing opinion, examining consensus, looking for outlying id ea s, etc. It co ul d also be us ed in an academ ic se tt in g to foster interaction about a given topic. It could be used in a number of ways for teaching and learning. Using a website like twitterfall.com, all messages with the hashtag can be seen by everyone in the class regardless of each student's connection or who is following who. With the use of one or more hashtags, it will be possible to classify topics, class sessions and so on into various groups. Anyone interested in a topic would only need to search twitter using the hashtag. The below images show how twitter and identi.ca are used to share information.
 * __Outside classroom__**: It could be used to share hyperlinks, questions and answers, assignment topics, announcements and many more.
 * __In the classroom__**: students could be asked to use a hashtag for a topic and send messages with the hashtag.

So it is important for lecturers to: a) make your students aware of the account for the particular course b) encourage students to follow the account c) keep posting relevant information so that students get engaged e) make sure to reply instantly as much as possible

4. Other resources (articles, guides, videos, examples...)
Below are screenshots of twitter as well as other resources that will enhance our understanding of how to use Twitter for teaching and Learning:



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