using twitter to improve writing, reflection, and community

Tweeting Your Way to Improved #Writing,

#Reflection, and #Community

Alice Louise KassensRoanoke Collegekassens@roanoke.edu

NETA Fall 2013Austin, TX

Can we harness social media to work with us in the classroom?

Social media is here It is very popular Economists are not great

at embracing technology in the classroom

Students enjoy it If you can’t beat it…

What is Twitter?O Online

microblogging technology

O Post “tweets” up to 140 characters

O ~200 million active users, ~400 million tweets/day

O Free service, www.twitter.com

O Accessed through variety of portals: cellphone, computer, tablet

O Tweets can include pictures and videos

O User’s twitter page can be customized using templates

@kassensecon122

Twitter in the classroom

O Twitter has been shown to improve:O EngagementO ParticipationO WritingO CommunityO LearningO Memory

Twitter and writing/reflection

O 140 character limit forces succinctnessO “electronic

editor”O Brevity of tweets

= powerful tool for teaching writing & other communication skills

#writing

Twitter and writing/reflection

O Writing about economics=vital test of understanding

O Challenge in 100-level courses

O A key to good writing=developing an argument

#reflection

What we didO Social media

projectO ~25 student

avg.O 15% of course

gradeO Computer labO Screen

projecting Twitter feed

O Unique hashtag (#kassensecon122)

O Ten graded tweetsO Rubric

developed with class

O Assignments both in and out of class period

O Review tweets in class

Preparation (in class)O Brief introduction to Twitter (many

students had never used Twitter)O Set up accountsO 10-15 minutes to personalize page,

follow, tweetO Develop rubric: “What makes a good

tweet?”Faculty should

already be familiar

with Twitter

Preparation (in class)

Twitter grading rubric

Sample assignmentO State of the

Union Address 20131. Watch address

w/in 24 hours of event

2. Tweet several comments or questions

3. One tweet graded

O PurposeO Increase student

awareness of current issues

O Apply course material to these issues

O Communicate in thoughtful/concise manner

Sample assignment

…

…

Sample assignment

Unintended consequence

O Twitter expands the classroom beyond the physical wallsO Global

conversationsO “guest

speakers”O Community can

be developed in typically isolated experiences

#community

Suggestions BenefitsO Hold class in labO Establish ground rulesO Allow practice tweetsO Select unique #O Grade tweets via

student pageO Follow your studentsO Assign a significant

weight to assignment

O Expand classroom, become part of a larger community

O Refine reflection & writing skills w/o a large written assignment

O Increase engagementO Demonstrate

responsible use of social media

Difficulties Cautions

O Challenging with large classes

O Currently are not reliable applications to collect tweets for a record

O Professor should be comfortable with the technology

O Pick a unique hashtag for all assignments

O Keep tweets to course material

Thank you!

Follow me @RnningEconomist

Follow my class @kassensecon122

Read my paper http://ssrn.com/abstract=2331004

Email me: kassens@roanoke.edu Alice Kassens