TWITTER AND THE CLASSROOM!!

I love Twitter, I really do! It's pretty amazing how much one person can say in 120 characters. While not all of what is said on Twitter is stimulating, interesting or worth reading it has totally revolutionized social media. For all of you that read this blog enough, you know that I am looking to be a teacher once I am finished with my masters this December and I am always thinking about teaching and new ways to motivate, excite and interconnect things that kids use and like into the classroom. I have been wondering about how could I include social media into the equation? So why not bring Twitter into the classroom? When I asked about this and looked into it, all I received was negative responses and ideas...until now! Finally I have found an article and video from CNN and on another blog post about how a middle school history teacher from East LA has used Twitter to help engage shy students in learning history. Watching this video, has inspired me and has shown that Twitter and social media in general can really enhance a learning environment within a classroom or within different curriculum areas. I think adding Twitter to curriculum areas could get students motivated and excited about the curriculum, and it could be a way for students to express themselves and participate. I also think Twitter could be used to help ESL students have a voice and practice reading/writing English. I love seeing teachers like Enrique be inventive (by using students interests like social media) in the classroom to help further engage the students and enhance learning.

Let's look at how current or future teachers can use social media to help students vs. looking at it as a negative thing. 

http://www.good.is/post/twitter-in-the-classroom-watch-this-teacher-engage-shy-students-in-learning-history/