What is Twitter?

Twitter is a social network built around the idea of sharing 140 character messages with people in your network. Although sometimes used for banal purposes by celebrities, Twitter can be used personally to build up networks and exchange ideas with like-minded individuals from around the world. However, with a little creativity, Twitter can also be used in lectures/seminars.

Twitter is free to use. Although you can search public ‘tweets’ (an individual Twitter post) without registering, you’ll need an account in order to participate fully. You can sign up at www.twitter.com.

Suggested Links

The following sites/blog posts will hopefully give you some ideas on how you might use Twitter in your teaching:

• Teaching with Twitter
  Ideas for using Twitter in the classroom, by Steve Wheeler.
• Twitter – A Teaching & Learning Tool
  Tom Barrett discusses possible uses for Twitter in education.