I understand what blogs are, what Facebook is and how Twitter works. What I don't get is the allure. I don't understand how these sites will add to my life.
I found myself identifying a little too much with the SuperNews spoof on Twitter that Schwalbe shared.
I took notes about how Twitter is good for following organizations, columnists and other interesting people, how it is a good way to get personalized information and breaking news. Schwalbe talked about how Twitter is a great "listening tool."
I have a hard time keeping up with my school and personal e-mail accounts as it is. I only use my cell phone for emergency calls. I had to write my cell phone number in Sharpie on the back of my phone because I use it so infrequently that I don't even know the number.
I tried to go in with an open mind, but I don't think this type of technology is for me.
Becky Gemmell
Escondido High School
Escondido, Calif.
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ReplyDeleteI agree, Becky.
ReplyDeleteI also wonder, for so many of us who come from underprivilaged schools, do our kids really have access to this kind of technology? Sure, they all have a facebook and a myspace, but should we be encouraging them to spend MORE of their time online? I can think of dozens of activities that would be so much more beneficial for kids than tweeting about who they saw making out in the quad.
I see the potential for benefit, I really do. But the cynic in me is screaming, "the kids don't care!" I can't honestly picture my students using twitter is a news source, or a jumping off point for stories. I see them gossiping, wasting time, and using it as a "short cut" rather than doing the actual leg work.
I feel like this is a whole can of worms that I'm not ready to tackle. Maybe if I had a little more confidence in my students, I'd be more comfortable. But I've found that most of them don't even know how to do a proper google search. I guess I just need to move in baby steps. Perhaps by the time the next "big thing" rolls around, I'll be ready to tweet about it.
Jessica Young
Orange Glen High School
Escondido, Calif.
I agree that students will abuse this, but even if we don't do this ourselves, it is very important that we 'speak the language'.
ReplyDeleteI just started using Facebook. I love it, but I get so much chatter on my phone, that it is distracting! But I did it and it is a great way to keep connected.
Our students are using these technologies. They can relate to the immediate, spontaneous nature of it. It can wake up some of our students and reach them in a fun way. It's up to us to be creative and figure out how we are going to do it.
I did a short lesson plan intended for a Friday integration day. Our school-wide topic was Shakespeare. All departments had to do something related to their own curriculum to Shakespeare.
I teach a computer class in addition to journalism and was struggling on how to do this. I came across the site listed at the bottom, which is a version of Hamlet's soliloquy, "To Be or Not To Be" done in twitter, published by Joanne Jacobs. It's called, "What if Shakespeare Twittered?"
I did a powerpoint and made the kids think I was going to make them memorize Hamlet. Then I asked the question, "What if Shakespeare twittered?" and showed them the twitter version. They loved it!
Then we went into Garage Band on the computers and they had to do a podcast of their own version of Hamlet using whatever dialect they chose. They came up with some really fun ones!
Twitter really got us going!
You can do this! You're a teacher, right?!
http://joannejacobs.com/2009/01/31/if-shakespeare-had-twittered/
Denice Westover
Snowflake High School
Snowflake, Arizona
I agree with Jess. The entire Twitter thing really makes no sense to me and simply seems illogical.
ReplyDeleteI feel this way because I don't understand the "why" of enrolling in and using Twitter, and then using the phone and/or computer to send messages is confusing.
I can't see any productive use coming from it, despite examples given for news gathering, yet the journalist inside me screams "verify, verify, verify!" But how?
I live in one of the poorest areas of the country, and I can't see students wanting to become involved in using Twitter. They love their fancy cell phones and designer jeans, but I don't think Twitter is high on the list of things to do.
I have a thing (whatever it's called) on LinkedIn, but I can't see why one would want something on Facebook or one of these other sites. Wouldn't there be a problem with identity theft?
Mark Webber
Vidal M. Trevino School of Comm. and Fine Arts
Laredo, Texas
http://hsj.org/tx/laredo/vmt
Though I think there will be times, ok lots of times, where this system is abused. If believe that the times the students will tweet for journalistic purposes will be worth it.
ReplyDeleteIf they can have more than one tweet account (not sure), maybe they could set up a news only account.
Or maybe start news related tweets with a code word.
There has to be a way to make it work for you. The biggest problem will be explaining to a principal the journalistic benefits of having a cell phone on campus. That will probably be your biggest obstacle to on the scene tweeting. But then again, the students have been getting away with texting on campus for awhile, so I'm sure they'll figure it out.
Think about how your students could use Twitter to get news out. What if the sports editor went to football games and twittered it? Or if your editor went to the school board meeting and twittered about an item that is a concern to the students or the community? I hate Twitter, to be honest. I joined last year for the specific purpose of following a high profile trial. Filming wasn't allowed, so Twitter was the only way to follow the trial in real time. Now, I get messages from people who are "following me" who I don't even know. And there's nothing to follow! But if the students at your school like it and are tuned in to Twitter, this would be a good tool to increase interest in the newspapeer with students and the community.
ReplyDeleteLynne Schneider
Murrah High School
Jackson, Miss.
I agree with everybody. And, do you know why? Because I 'been so dazed and confused for so long it's not true,'or something like that. Anyhow, I have had a twitter account for two years, but then, like Lynne, people I don't even know started following me, and I had enough of that back in the late '60s. So I have not twatted in about nine months. Actually, after eight days at the Reynolds Institute, I ahve decided to become Amish. Those guys have communication down.
ReplyDeleteRick Burd
Wickenburg HS
Wickenburg, Ariz.
This is probably the most controversial topic we have talked about and the one that has received the most comments! I find it interesting that people either like Twitter and can't live without it, or people genuinely don't care for it. I am probably part of the latter group, I haven't used Twitter and I don't know when I will start using it. It will be fascinating to see if it will be a fad that will fade away with time, or a movement that will keep on growing. One thing for sure is that it has been an invaluable tool for covering news lately. Twitter has been able to be present at places that reporters have not had access to.
ReplyDeleteA Rosenthal
The Hockaday School
Dallas, Tx