Is Twitter for the Birds Using Twitter to

Is Twitter for the Birds? Using Twitter to Enhance Student Learning Bill Collier Des Laffey Ben Lowe

What is Twitter? § Twitter is a simple social networking tool designed to communicate “what am I doing now? ” … micro blogging § Enables users to communicate messages (tweets) of up to 140 characters § Users have “followers” who receive their tweets and those they are “following” whose tweets they receive § Tweets can be augmented by URL shorteners § Increases robustness for educational users § Allows the user to direct followers to other resources § Twitter use is growing exponentially § Among top 10 websites globally § Used extensively by individuals and organisations § Most frequent users aged 18 -29 2

The Poor Man's Email? § Twitter and email are not substitutes § Twitter can complement other forms of communication § Unique features include: § Conciseness • quicker & less burdensome than email § Robustness • more powerful than SMS, can link to other material § Convenience • can tweet whenever & wherever you want § Adaptive • may utilise analytical tools to study users’ tweets § Non-intrusive • does not link to other aspects of a user’s social life 3

The Broader E-environment EXTERNAL 4 INTERNAL

Pedagogical Benefits of Twitter § Adoption aligns with University E-learning strategy by evaluating a peripheral technology with the objective of enhancing creativity and innovation in teaching and learning § Provides educators with the ability to bring real-world examples into the learning process § Tweets supplemented by URL shorteners enables access to relevant and up-to-date news instantly § Enhances curriculum content – makes learning material relevant which can facilitate discussion § Encourages broader learning across student cohort § May promote interactivity among users § Some degree of resistance (staff & students) inevitable 5

Twitter Project in Social Sciences § Introduced on a large Stage 1 “core” undergraduate module in Economics § Also on large PG & UG marketing modules in KBS § Participation entirely voluntary § Students introduced to Twitter in lectures & email § Provided with “Twitter briefing” outlining how Twitter would be used. Made available via Moodle § Twitter used regularly throughout term § approx. 3 to 5 tweets per week on average § Approx. 60%+ adoption across modules § Example of use: https: //twitter. com/#!/ec 304 macro 6

Twitter Ease of Use § Key motivation of technology is ease of use § Once account set-up, can configure for smartphone and tablet also § Can use text messages too § Many 3 § party sites including newspapers permit sharing of web resources using built in apps Recent guide to Twitter published by LSE Public Policy Group provides guidance for academics § § 7 rd Guidance on setup and tweeting styles Useful tool for research & teaching Complements blogging activities Adopted by many Schools and Research Centres

Usage and Perception § Adoption designed to enhance module outcomes § Disseminate information on contemporary issues § Disseminate examples of concepts and application § Raise issues based on concepts to generate introspection § Followers also major users of social media, in particular § § Facebook Tweets regarded as useful and considered novel & “fresh” But: § Students most interested in “what’s in it for me? ” rather than it being new and cool… § Issues of Twitter etiquette (passive/responsive) 8

Main Findings § Key benefits: § § § § Enhanced learning about the subject A more enjoyable module Concise and useful communication Timeliness Greater realism (application of theory to real-world examples) Career skills in the use of new technology Twitter not overly burdensome § But, Twitter seen as limited by some: § not important § not necessary § another thing to learn 9

Recommendations § Provide a one-page Twitter briefing § Use a Twitter app or route through a smartphone § Tweet around 3 -5 times per week § Reinforce tweets during lectures &/or seminars § Use a hashtag (#) to allow searching on a topic § Use in modules where much learning occurs outside the classroom § Twitter should complement rather than replace other technologies § Rationale for using Twitter must be conveyed clearly 10

Conclusions § Overall experience (staff and students!) positive § Students appreciate “current” learning § A useful “add on” to learning § Many users utilising Twitter away from learning environment § We continue to use Twitter § § Currently used on large modules Possibility of greater interactivity on smaller modules Could integrate directly into module organisation & delivery Useful for workshops & forums – instantaneous feedback and responses on topics/questions § Students don’t need to be awarded marks to participate § Non-users need to be convinced of Twitter’s benefits 11