Twittering & Education Symposium

How is Twitter being used for teaching and learning?

Educators around the world are experimenting with microblogging, primarily through the use of Twitter. While some have discovered that tools like Twitter can be useful for scholarship and professional development, few have found ways to integrate microblogging in the classroom. David Wicks @dwicksspu and Jonathan Bacon @jpbacon will facilitate a half-day symposium with the goal of finding answers to the question, “How is Twitter being used for teaching and learning?” The physical location of the event is Johnson County Community College Room LIB 373 in Overland Park, Kansas on August 11, 2009 (11 AM to 3 PM CST). The symposium will also include virtual participation.

This event is being organized entirely through Twitter. Educators using Twitter as part of their instruction (or planning to use Twitter) are encouraged to contact @dwicksspu with a brief description of their use. All presentations will be recorded and shared as open content after the event. Print publishing opportunities will also be explored. Limited space, please RSVP @dwicksspu if you want to attend.

Ground rules:

1. Presenters will prepare 15 minutes of content related to uses (or intended uses) of twitter in education. Answer the question: “How is/can Twitter be used for teaching and learning.”  Plan to describe the environment and method, along with actual/predicted advantages and disadvantages. A time keeper will provide 5 and 2 minute warnings. The fifteen-minute time limit will be strictly enforced.
2. Presenters will prepare slides or other screen related content to accompany presentation. All presentations will be given using Adobe Connect which can only import PowerPoint and JPG files (It doesn’t even like PDFs).  Other file types can be shown by sharing desktop. Presenter screen resolution should be set to 1024 x 768.
3. Presenters must be available to present in real-time.  Each will need a headset with microphone to prevent feedback. Presenters will practice using Adobe Connect prior to conference. Please arrange practice time with @dwicksspu.
4. During each presentation, participants will use the Adobe Connect Chat Pod as a back channel discussion tool. (Ironically, Twitter won’t have an official use during this symposium.)
5. Following each presentation, there will be ten minutes of discussion. A moderator will keep track of  Chat Pod questions which need further discussion.
6. The symposium will have a maximum of six presentations.  There will be three presentation, a half-hour break, followed by three more presentation, and a wrap-up, for a total of four hours. (See tentative schedule below)
7. All presentations will be recorded and shared openly through YouTube and iTunes U.

Schedule (All times are Central Standard Time)
Presenter names and presentation titles will be added soon:

• Morning of Symposium – Watch asynchronous screencast introduction before first presentation begins. Link will be sent to all participants August 10.
• 11 AM – University instructor from Ohio plans to use Twitter with students during Fall term.
• 11:30 AM – University professor from Mexico uses Twitter with students in ICT course.
• 12:00 PM – University professor from New York uses Twitter with students and also works with faculty on technology integration.
• 12:30 PM – Discussion – What recommendations can we make about the use of microblogging applications for teaching and learning at the University level?
• 12:45 PM – Break
• 1:15 PM Elementary Teacher from Idaho plans to use Twitter to update parents on learning during school day.
• 1:45 PM – Teacher from Iowa uses Edmodo as a private microblogging system with students.
• 2:15 PM – K-12 Professional development facilitator from New Mexico works with both K-12 teachers and university professors on technology integration.
• 2:45 PM – Discussion – What recommendations can we make about the use of microblogging applications for teaching and leanring at the K-12 level?
• 3:00 PM – Conclude

Contact @dwicksspu with any questions you have.  If it can’t be said in in 140 characters email dwicks@spu.edu