Via Shaun Slattery on Facebook, I came across two potentially interesting/useful Twitter links:
First, there’s “10 High Fliers on Twitter” from CHE is about some popular academic Twits– or Twitterers, I guess. The most active Twit(terer) is Sarah Evans, director of PR at Elgin Community College. Over 20,000 followers. Jeesh.
Second, there’s “Ten Handy How-To Resources for Twitter” by Traci Gardner on the Bedford Bits blog. Basically, a list of good links about what Twitter is and hwo to use it for teaching and beyond.
I’ve had a Twitter account for a while now, but I really have as of yet to see what the hype is about, even compared to something like Facebook (which, given the fluff factor of the book o’ face, is sathing something). Things weren’t helped much by my winter 2009 section of English 516, which was generally (and rather curiously) somewhat Luddite in terms of technology and teaching. They were pretty resistant to Facebook, actually, and we never got to Twitter because, well, we just had a lot of stuff to do.
Anyway, I know we’ll deal with Twitter next winter, and I might find a way to include it in 444 this summer and 505 in the fall term.
Steven,
I’m the editor of Bedford Bits and wanted to thank you for the link to Traci’s post! I too was reluctant to jump onboard with Twitter for a while–the main question being “How in the world will I use it?”–but the Bits bloggers have greatly impressed me with their recent coverage of using Twitter in the classroom, and I think I’m a convert! If you’re interested in seeing more of our Twitter coverage, just head to http://blogs.bedfordstmartins.com/bits/tag/twitter/.
Hope your fall is starting up well!
Regards,
Victoria Sandbrook