Things I've Learned from Twitter v.8.19.09

Yesterday, Roger Zuidema posted on his blog "Top 5 Things I've Learned on Twitter Today 8/19/09." With all the fuss about Twitter (including the claim that 40% of all Tweets are useless) I thought I'd follow suit. This is my list from 8.19.09 and includes links, articles and the like from about 5:30-6:30 am PDT.

• @jutecht Just Blogged: Netvibes.com in the classroom http://bit.ly/17LkMn (I think I'll have to try this out. Great idea to push content to students)
• @russelltarr How to make a Youtube interactive video! Very cool idea for the classroom! http://tinyurl.com/ljk4xs Awesome idea for students to work through video semi-independently.
• @suzannewhisler 10 Ideas for Engaging Learners with Cell Phones Even in Districts that Ban Them by Lisa Nielsen. http://www.techlearning.com/blogs/22554
• @frontlineblog Express censured for fourth time in two weeks over undeclared advertorials http://bit.ly/3SA8Ew As a newspaper adviser, I believe it is critical that we discuss ethical issues in class. This is a great example.
• @AEJMC Chadwick Matlin: Huffington Post + Facebook = the Future of Journalism http://ow.ly/ky2x Hmmm. Do I want someone tracking my reading habits like this?
• @dwarlick I liked the colors so much that I changed my blog theme (http://vk2.sl.pt). Check out Personas (http://vk3.sl.pt) I started out by looking at the blog and Personas, then went on to David's post on education reform and the Obama administration here.

Just recently, I've had several educators ask me about Twitter and my infatuation with it. Some claim there is nothing useful out there in the Twitterverse, others say they just don't get it. I always encourage teachers to start by following me, then looking at who I follow (and who is following me) to find educators posting great ideas and resources. Try it, you might like it.

School Board Bans Facebook, Twitter For Teachers - District 299

• School Board Bans Facebook, Twitter For Teachers - District 299

  I find this policy disturbing. While my district in no way suggests that I give my cell phone number to my students or use Twitter to keep students and parents informed, it is strongly suggested that I do make myself available for questions or concerns. That means using district email (which drives me crazy because I can't search!) and my desk phone, I'm sure. However, if we're trying to be more efficient and transparent, doesn't it make sense to communicate with our clients (students and their families) where they are? Your thoughts?
  

  tags: facebook, twitter

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Bill Ferriter on The Curse of the Digitally Illiterate

Bill Ferriter, in this recent edition of ASCD's Inservice blog, discusses The Curse of the Digitally Illiterate. He asks if it is a crime to be a digitally illiterate educator. I have to agree. However, my definition of digitally illiterate goes beyond not knowing how to use technology tools to improve instruction. I would like to include a lack of willingness to explore the possibilities of including new technologies in the classroom.

I have written about using cellphones in the classroom before. Particularly in the instance of using the cell phones as dictionaries, these tools could be used to improve equity. I have students who despise taking notes, even when absolutely necessary, but will gladly type away on their Sidekicks (and they are taking notes...I check). The geography textbook that my district adopted has the entire book in mp3 format for students, yet students aren't allowed to bring mp3 players to school.

Even though these options are available to students, it is difficult, if not impossible, for students to use these tools in the classroom because of school and district policy. It seems that, just as the ink pen was once a feared piece of technology, so are modern tools. It all comes back to education. We must educate ourselves and our students in the appropriate use of these powerful tools.

Cell Phones: Powerful Student Learning Tools

A few weeks back I wrote about using cell phones in the classroom. This month, Edutopia published "Learn2luvcell: A Powerful Multipurpose Mechanism for Learning." In this brief article, author Burr Snider discusses using cell phones effectively in the classroom. It seems that the time has come for those of us in education to consider using these powerful tools to help our students learn.