Thoughts and Experience using Twitter
As you can see, I am pretty comfortable with Instagram. So, when I was told I had to create a Twitter account in August, I was very apprehensive. Since it was for a grade, I went ahead and did so. I followed a few people and joined a twitter chat last semester. It wasn’t until this module that I understood how Twitter can be useful for educators. I have learned that Twitter is a great way to engage parents, share best practices, participate in professional development, and get ideas for teaching (Fitzpatrick, 2015; Miller, 2019).
Ways to use Twitter with Teachers, Students, and Parent
Teachers can use Twitter in many ways. From personalized professional development to building their Professional Learning Network (PLN). Connecting with other educators and other classes, engage and communicate with parents, coordinate assignments, ask questions, connect with the community, sync classroom blog and more! Students in my second-grade class can use Twitter to write stories or poems, role play, collaborate with other classrooms, go on a scavenger hunt. I can even have them track moon phases, answer word problems, live tweet about books we have read, and etc. To connect my parents with Twitter, I would Tweet about upcoming due dates or assignments activities within the classroom. I would even live tweet field trips, take polls, and get their help with planning field trips or forthcoming events (Fingal, 2018; Fitzpatrick, 2015, Miller, 2019).
Please follow me @teachingrocstar
Podcasting and Initial Thoughts
Using Podcasts in the Classroom
A podcast would be perfect for a student in my class who has a learning disability. My student is able to verbalize what he wants to say, but when it comes to writing down his thoughts, he is not successful at doing so. Using a podcast will give the student the opportunity to express his views and not worry stress about writing. I think all of the activities I listed above can be adapted to meet the needs of special need learners. I could also use podcasts to explain an assignment to a student who has missed school, review materials, read a book or passage, and to teach a lesson. All in all, I think that podcasting is excellent for all students because it helps incorporate the 4C’s, help empower students learning and promote higher order thinking.
References
Fitzpatrick, E. (2015). Building your PLN with Twitter: A Beginner’s Guide. Retrieved from https://learningbird.com/building-your-pln-with-twitter-a-beginners-guide/
Listenwise (2017). The Teacher's Guide to Podcasting in the Classroom. Retrieved from http://blog.listenwise.com/2017/11/download-free-podcasting-guide-teachers-guide-podcasting-classroom/
Macpherson , E. (2014). 10 Podcasting Projects Teachers Should Try in the Classroom. Retrieved from https://www.weareteachers.com/10-podcasting-projects-teachers-should-try-in-the-classroom-2/
Miller, S. (2019). 50 Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom . Retrieved from http://www.teachhub.com/50-ways-use-twitter-classroom