Twitter: A tool for classroom???

Microblogging: Collaborative technology with a growing interest from users coming from different domains. (CAN WE USE TWITTER FOR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES? BY GABRIELA GROSSECK/CARMEN HOLOTESCU) I would like to start to state with the definition of the microblogging, since its concept is quite new to me. I have heard a lot about blogging and I also doing it now, but microblogging is a fairly new experience to me. That's why I want to make sure what it is.

I started having microblogging experience with joining Twitter. The first impression of the website Twitter is quite strange for me. What does it mean by strange? It seems like a chatting room. People were writing message and I didn't know what the message is for. I couldn't think of any use of the twitter in education at a first glance. However my view has started to change after I looked through the articles about the potential usage of Twitter and other microblogging in the classroom.

One thing popped in my head is that students may get interested in what is new to them. For example, I teach class which discussion is the big part of it. Even though the procedure of discussion may same, I can use a new tool to introduce the topic or I can have the students generate their thought through a new tool such as Twitter or microblogging. Although they can communicate through email, a new tool always draws students' attention.

In addition, I like the ideas I read in an article . It says that the Twitter can be used in various ways such as polling or continuing conversations. The ideas are for training teachers which fits to myself right now. I haven't' used twitter like the article presents but it's definitely possible and I would like to try it.

Also I think the second article(CAN WE USE TWITTER FOR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES? BY GABRIELA GROSSECK/CARMEN HOLOTESCU) I read points out a brilliant point. People cannot write more than 140 characters so writers need to summarize what they are going to say. So it may help students to practice summarizing skills. For example, the teacher can give a task for students to post a summary of what they read using Twitter.

I think I did judge the book by the cover at first. Yet looking at more closely and reading about it make me realize my judgment was wrong. I am glad I can have a chance to consider another tool for my future classroom.