Twitter in the ESL Classroom

Twitter is a versatile tool that can shape education, and even our lives. A seemingly trivial and mundane platform, this website allows users to "tweet" a short snippet regarding their lives. The uninitiated internet user might not see the charm in this technology, but upon further inspection, there may be much more under the surface.

As Steven Johnson, author of NY Times article How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live writes, Twitter possesses an "unsuspected depth" where users can get a "strangely satisfying glimpse of their [friends'] daily routines." This website allows individuals to see what is going on in others' lives, without having to physically ask for the information. Moreover, this website runs alongside a long tradition of human interaction, namely, orality. Individuals can communicate and have their voices heard from the convenience of their own homes!

Imagine the educational implications. Students can create twitter accounts to emulate historical figures, and interact according to the context of the corresponding historical period. Or perhaps students can follow important figures in the field of science and track advances in the discipline. The use of twitter can be likened to that of a condensed blog, wherein users can post 140-character messages and link to various articles, pictures, videos, and so on.

A recent article by avid Twitter user Shea Bennett entitled What I Have Learned In 4 Years And 1,180 Articles About Twitter points out the rich impact Twitter has on modern society. Social platforms such as Twitter are closing the gap between the far corners of the earth and we are seeing a digitized society that has instant access to a plethora of information. Bennett warns against some of the maladies that can come from Twitter, such as immodest browsing, and the tendency for students to come off task. However, he writes that the benefits greatly overweigh the drawbacks. Students are forging important skills that will be valuable in post-secondary study and in the workplace.

Evan Williams and Biz Stone of Twitter

ePals

ePals is a K-12 learning network, covering over one million classrooms worldwide. This website is a wonderful service for technologically-savvy students across the globe to connect with other learners. ePals constitutes a rich, diverse learning environment for students seeking to learn more about world languages and cultures. This website has taken the art of pen pal writing, and digitalized this practice into a practical 21st century means.

There are a multitude of activities for students to partake in, all of which are aligned to state standards for each of the fifty states. ePals offers many types of projects that foster collaborative learning within the classroom, and across the web. This social media allows students to practice problem solving, critical thinking, and communication through the use of various web 2.0 tools. There are a multitude of testimonials which indicate the efficacy of implementing such a tool in the classroom.

Below is a video detailing the basics of ePal for the uninitiated educator. The layout is simple and user friendly. Students will love using this site to partake in a lush, student-oriented center of learning.

Connectivism

According to the video, The Changing Nature of Knowledge, knowledge is "the internal neural network" and it is "how the mind creates learning itself in the neural network." Educational researcher George Siemens explains the interconnected nature of knowledge according to the paradigm of connectivism. Siemens explains how our minds are adapting to the ever-changing landscape of our evolving society. Technology, in particular, seems to have a profound impact on how our brains work. 

The article, Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age, avows that connectivism is built upon the idea that "[t]he ability to synthesize and recognize connections and patterns is a valuable skill". This viewpoint holds that learning is a continuous process in the context of an ever-changing set of schema in the brain. Connectivism recognizes the complexity of the mind, and in turn, of learning, and emphasizes the importance of drawing conclusions and making distinctions in the mind. Unlike behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism, this paradigm addresses the complexities of organizational knowledge and transference. Personal knowledge is organized into a network, which "feeds into organizations and institutions, which in turn feed back into the network, and then continue to provide learning to individual".

Connectivism allows us to grasp the complexities of the mind within the constantly shifting environment. With the introduction of such implements as technology, we can examine the organization of knowledge through the lens of this paradigm.

Technology and the ESL Classroom

We need to be vigilant as educators to ensure that technology is contributing constructively to the progress of our students. A recent post by Mondo's ESL/EFL World Blog commented directly to the point of this issue: is the integration of the internet in our classrooms degrading the modesty of our education?

The post alerts readers to the dangers of allowing the youth to have unfettered internet access. Excessive technology use has been linked to shorter attention spans, poor focus, and an increased risk of clinical depression. In many situations, adolescents possess a higher degree of computer savviness than educators! Mondo's World links to the following video, which should serve as a warning to us all.

 

However, we must not place too tight a grip on students' browsing habits. Overly strict internet filters do not allow students to practice any real moderation. In a situation wherein a student commits immodest browsing, punishment can be dealt, like in any other school violation. Educators should grant students some liberty in their browsing endeavors, but exercise reasonable supervision over students. There is no question that allowing for some browsing freedom communicates trust to students.

If implemented properly, the internet can improve ESL education, expand social networks, and even promote civic engagement. Yet parents, educators, and legislators need to work meticulously to ensure that the use of technology is working towards building these desirable goals. As we all can imagine, the use of the internet has its drawbacks. Our task is to stay sharp and be aware of the risks that accompany internet use.

 

Social Media: A Revolutionary Landscape

Two profound glimpses at the state of the educational world are found in the videos Social Media Revolution 2011 and Educational Change Challenge. The landscape of our current educational system does not necessarily reflect the ever-changing competencies of today's society. Today's students require an education that fits their needs and that prepares them for the technological demands of today's world. Something as trivial as a language barrier should not prevent students from meeting these needs.

Look across the nation's schools. Even at an early age, students are learning to use computers, calculators, iPads, and other handheld devices.

As the Educational Change Challenge points out, our society's take on school has not evolved with the changing times. The video consists of a brilliant amalgamation of quotes from progressive educational critics. It is true that many students are largely placed into classes on the basis of age, rather than skill and knowledge levels. For this reason, many students are placed in a class by which they do not belong! We need to pay greater attention to student needs, as well as the formats of class. As the video indicates, one solitary room containing one adult and twenty-five children cannot lead to the comprehensive education that everyone deserves. We need to immerse students in a vibrant, technology-infused climate that prepares students for success in post-secondary school and the real world. When students are judged by scores on standardized tests, their needs and accomplishments are oversimplified to an arbitrary rubric of aptitude.

With the advent of technology, pedagogues have developed the idea of technological literacy. Specifically, technological literacy refers to the ability to communicate, problem solve, and properly utilize software to solve twenty-first century problems. The tools for solving problems become richer and more complex with each passing year. Students should be familiar with the use of these many tools in order to become productive members of this digital society.

We cannot deny that social media occupies a large segment of social interaction today. Instead of neglecting this dynamic resource, educators should embrace its potential as a learning resource. Instructors should use Facebook, Blogger, Twitter, Tumblr, and other social media to supplement instruction! The possibilities are endless, and students will gain a hands-on learning experience that cannot be taught solely via lecture. The video Social Media Revolution 2011 comments upon this technology that pervades nearly every facet of our lives. The users of social media are rapidly increasing, and these landscapes are shaping up to becoming useful social networking resources for educators, professionals, individuals, and so on.

The research is clear. We need our schools to catch up to the changing demands of society. As teachers, we can play our part in shaping the direction of education. We can incorporate more technological-infused lessons into our curriculum, we can differentiate more meticulously, and we can petition educational legislators to make them aware of these shifting needs. The time is now, folks!

The versatility of blogs.

In this booming technological era, it is quite easy to become engrossed with the wide selection of technology at our fingertips. Now, note that simply because a technological implement can be introduced in a class, does not necessarily mean that it should. Educators—especially novice educators—should exercise caution when planning technological units. It is imperative that the use of technology positively supplements instruction, and does not act as a convenient substitute.

Blogs can be utilized as a learning community which students can access in and out of school. Furthermore, the interactions that occur between students in these communities can assist students in appropriating an adequate base of knowledge. Additionally, through the technology medium, feedback and commentary can be given instantly. However, instructors must ensure that ground rules are laid for civil behavior in these digital environments. It is easy for students to act in facetious manners and to bring up off-topic discussion.

Students can use blogs to create a historical figure relevant to the unit's subject matter in order to interact with other students' historical figure blogs. The interactions can be graded on content depth and historical accuracy. This task enables students to interact in a fun, engaging environment where thinking outside of the box is encouraged. From the ESL (9-12) Learning Standards and Performance Indicators, Standard 2.9 indicates that students should "[e]ngage in collaborative activities through a variety of student groupings to create and respond to literature."

Another use of blogs can be to compile recent developments in the discipline. Students can cite recent news articles and discuss the implications of the advancement. By discussing the current issues on the blog and with other students, the possibilities for learning are greatly amplified. Furthermore, students can argue positions on polarizing issues and learn to justify their beliefs effectively. Standard 3.1 points out that it is critical for students to "[d]evelop and present clear interpretations, analyses, and evaluations of issues, ideas, texts, and experiences; justify and explain the rationale for positions, using persuasive language, tone, evidence, and well-developed arguments." In addition, Standard 3.3 indicates that students should be able to "[r]ecognize and communicate personal and multiple points of view within and among groups, in discussing, interpreting, and evaluating information; make inferences about a writer’s or speaker’s point of view." Often times, students might disagree with one another regarding certain issues. As long as the discussion is kept civil, the students can utilize one another to further investigate the issue and re-evaluate their own beliefs.

Blogs open an entire world of possibilities to the classroom. As teachers, it is our duty to conscientiously implement lessons that prove to be engaging and effective for students.