Social networking tools like Twitter or Jaiku

[Kevin J. Galbraith]

Are you a Twitter user? Jaiku?

From the Twitter FAQ:
Twitter is a community of friends and strangers from around the world sending updates about moments in their lives. Friends near or far can use Twitter to remain somewhat close while far away. Curious people can make friends. Bloggers can use it as a mini-blogging tool. Developers can use the API to make Twitter tools of their own. Possibilities are endless!

From the Jaiku FAQ:
Jaiku is a way to connect with friends by sharing short messages called Jaikus. You can create your own stream of Jaikus and follow your friends.

Let me know... maybe I'll follow you...

[Laura Cummings]

I "Twitter" on a limited basis. Right now I'm in a session by Jane Perzyk at the "Tools for Collaboration Conference" sponsored by MACUL and MISD. She's suggesting some ways we might use Twitter with students. Perhaps send homework assignments, discussions, etc. She admits she hasn't actually tried it with K-12 students. Do you think it coud work?
(I haven't heard of "Jaiku" before. I'll check it out.)

[Kevin J. Galbraith]

I know you're on twitter... cause I already follow you!

Jaiku is basically the same sort of mini-blogging networking tool. It's owned by Google.

Another is Pownce, but I'm sure there are more...

[Lynn Wietecha]

I've been aware of this resource, but wasn't sure if I wanted to "twitter." Yes -- it's a cool tool, but I'm not sure if I really need to know that so-and-so had for breakfast. Someone please convince me!!!

[Kevin J. Galbraith]

I like thinking of it as micro-blogging. I use /monitor three different IM accounts whenever I'm online. I'm thinking that this might be a good way to know if others are available for a chat, for example. Another thought might be that I know some incredibly talented, forward thinking technology directors and if they (nudge, nudge, wink, wink...) would twitter what it is they are working on or thinking about, I might be able to learn from them!

[Ben Rimes]

Unfortunately, having grown up during the the "instant chat" age, I still find Twitter an oddity for me. If I want to chat with people, why not do it with a chat program like ICQ, MSN, or IM? Then I can have real time chats. If I want a discussion with more substance, then I could go to any one of the various forums I'm a part of. I've noticed that a LOT of people that Twitter are those that have the time to sit in front of a computer for most of the day and offer up their thoughts when they need to; sort of like office talk without the cubicles. Being a teacher means that I'm pretty much tied to what's going on with the kids, and not what I'm doing on the computer.

Who knows, maybe I'll eventually get around to Twittering and completely chagne my tune about it, but until then, I'm sticking with my old standbys; message boards and chat boxes.

[Jane Perzyk]

I've been a Twitterer since the beginning of the year, only out of curiosity in using yet another emerging technology. With careful selection of Twittermates, one can have a day full of free professional development in 140-character increments. The beauty of Twitter is that you can take it or leave it -- read or not read, but when you find a powerful Tweet, save it to your favorites. See Steve Dembo's take on Twitter in his posting, "What Learned from Twitter Today."

The more I used Twitter the more I suspected there might be some educational applications, especially in conjunction with online projects for middle school or high school students. Check out my Protopage for some ideas on the subject.

Is anybody using Twitter in the classroom?

[Dale Ehrhart]

A couple of things I've thought would be cool twitter uses:

Class diary:
Place a Twitter gadget on your class page and every so often (half an hour or so) have a well-behaving student make an entry. The tweets could be fed into a RSS gadget (or a blogging tool like tumblr) if twitter is blocked. Using gadgets could be used as a work-around for site blocking.

Mass Feed
During a presentation (conference) encourage participants to tap notes/thoughts into a live twitter feed. It would be interesting to analyze the feedback. What people are getting/what they're missing and where their thoughts are being led.

[Jane Perzyk]

Discovered this wiki a day after my Twitter preso - but it's worth checking out. It lists many ways Twitter can be used, including classroom uses, including Twittering for advice on a purchase, to Twittering prices and models to someone at the store making a purchase (confounding the salesperson, of course.) Yesterday at the Macomb Conference, participants were Twittering during the presentations, very much like sidebars in a meeting.

[Lynn Wietecha]

Let me play the devil's advocate -- We use lists serves and discussion boards for recommendations on purchases and those questions come directly to my email - a productivity gain. As for sidebars -- there a view those sidebars at meetings are disruptive and unprofessional. Don't get me wrong – I’m a tech person and welcome theses tools, I just fear “technology for technology's sake.” I think we focus on new tools and may lose sight of how it makes life and learning better. Thanks for the tips though!

[Kevin J. Galbraith]

Unlike some meeting sidebars, lists, boards, IMs, tweets, and even calls 'can' be ignored.
I know for me, even things that come directly to my email can be productivity killers.

It's how you use the tool... I tell teachers often, "If a $12 set of dry erase markers is the best tool, why would you use a $1200 laptop, $1200 data projector and a $1200 interactive whiteboard?" And like you, I'm a tech person and welcome the tools. Depending on the need... markers RULE! ;-)

[Laura Cummings]

Forest Hills School District is having a two-day inservice next week on Tools for Differentiation. Someone will be "Twittering" about the conference. If you'd like to follow along and perhaps join in, go to Twitter and search for "RVII" (nickname for "Realizing the Vision II").

[Kevin J. Galbraith]

Sort of a live blogging event?