George,
You are right. Students will check their phone texts before their email. Research also bears that out.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Timothy,
True, it can help students work on their vocabulary and their concise writing. Good post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I would incorporate short discussion questions, assignment reminders and potential test questions. Assignment reminders would only be implemented if it is not available through the online university. Short discussion questions on something like twitter would be invaluable because forces them to get to the point in a short amount of words.
So many students use twitter, I agree in its use to help in posting reminders and other "timely" information. Students are more likely, really, to keep up with tweets than log on and read e-mail....at least they seem to do so more often....(My daughter being the example.)
Esther,
True, the idea of mastering a calendaring program is foreign to many students. Using the microblogs can be helpful with this.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I would always include notifications or reminders of upcoming tests. This is the area that in my experience students need. In many instances students come to class not knowing that assignments are due or a test will be administered.
Richard,
True, would you develop a rubric to assess the microblogging?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Richard,
True, look at the Google tools. They also provide some multimedia capabilities.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
roger,
Great idea! You can use if for quick fact checks to see determine gaps in learning. Nice post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Austin,
that is great idea. Start slow and make sure you have a expectations and assessment built in.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Sharon,
Great post! You bring to the table several important points. You have to do what is comfortable for you. I do use the 140 characters as a way to teach students to write in a more concise manner required by technical writing. I am not a fan of texting language and we do talk about the idea of some of the blogging is really "just my thoughts" not anything substantial.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Kimberly,
True and it will give you a way to determine mastery of certain subjects.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Feedback on micro blogging is very important and keeps students engaged!
Love the idea of using youtube. It is easy and ads a face to a name. Much more personal!
Using microblogging to conduct polls, one can test the waters with students to see what would be the next appropriate action based on feedback. Using microblogging in this way is akin to a submarine using sonar to get oriented as to where other ships or objects are.
I wish microblogging was used to poll students and faculty on what is needed and wanted for our AIU website. What works well, what is problematic and what new features should be made available, for example. The feedback from such microblogging 'surveys' would be very valuable.
I will use micro blogging to remind students of assignment due dates and to post summary of common mistakes observed during grading. I will also use it to poll the class on variety of topics.
I am so lost as to see the benefit of microblogging. The limit of 140 characters, although teaches a student to be succinct, stunts the ability to be articulate (opps can't use that word it used up 10 characters -:)) Next the texting language concerns me. I know very little of it and fear I will misunderstand a student or miss the meaning of their tweet. Is texting language universally understood, I have many international students who are challenged with english let alone 'texteese'. Is there any archival capacity to a blog? I teach accounting, so if I have students follow the tweets of a major CFO (if indeed that was possible at all) and that individual turns out to be another Andy Fastow I have no control over the matter. My fear in much of this type of communication is that valid academic resources, solid research are being minimized because it can't be communicated in 140 characters. So the blogs of the 'articuquick' are solely what's being communicated. I use discussion boards, I right linked in articles, I love to embrace technology when I truly see the benefit, but when you are trying to get students to critical, reflectively think through concepts and applications, is microblogging really a good mode of communication?
Sincerely,
Frustr....(opps ran out of characters)
I really like to share videos and sequential activities. I think that providing reinforcement of activities and learning objectives is important.
Belinda,
Great ideas. I think I tweet vocabulary words and they have to respond. I like your techniques!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I could tweet students to remind them when their assignments are due. I could ask them to state their definition of a business term. I could have them follow an entrepreneur.
