using twitter to improve writing, reflection, and community
DESCRIPTION
Slide from a presentation at the National Economics Teaching Association (Austin, TX; October 24 2013)TRANSCRIPT
Tweeting Your Way to Improved #Writing,
#Reflection, and #Community
Alice Louise KassensRoanoke [email protected]
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: [email protected] Alice Kassens