Twitter

Overview
Twitter is a social networking tool where people can create and send small messages similar to a text message to a group of people. The messages can be open to public viewing or can be restricted to an identified group of people. Twitter is becoming more popular due to celebrities using it to keep fans informed about what they are doing.

Strength
Multiple recipients can receive the same message in a very easy manner at a lower cost. A copy of the messages sent can be included automatically on a webpage so students can look at the at a later stage.

Weakness
Like any notification system if someone has their phone turned off they will not get the message.

Opportunity
Twitter can be used in classroom context through sending messages to inform students what is happening, when tests are happening and for sending reminders. Teachers can also use it for a challenge activity, where all students receive the message and see how long it takes for them to find the answer.

Threat
Some schools frown upon students using mobile phones in the school grounds.

Compatibility to learning styles
Great for visual and interpersonal learning styles, but due to the flexibility it would benefit most styles.

What learning theory it is most used for (links to this blog site)
Twitter can be used in a multiple of ways that use different learning theories, examples include

• Teachers sending students reward tweets (messages from Twitter) would be a form of Behaviourism.
  
• Due to its real life context it can be used for Situated Cognition.

Meaning to me
Twitter would be a useful tool in schools. I have never used Twitter, so now I know what it is, which is a huge benefit in itself. Students need to learn how to interact in society when they have completed school so it is important for them to at least know the basics of different tools, the benefit is that they would leave school with at least an awareness of what Twitter is and how to use it.