Utilizing Twitter for Concept Learning

Abstract

Despite the perception that face-to-face classrooms provide speaking opportunities, studies by , , and have conveyed that there is limited interaction in a traditional college lecture setting. Social media networks such as Twitter provide an opportunity for instructors to utilize popular mobile technology to create a discussion beyond the classroom. Twitter's 140-character maximum creates an efficient method of communication that can be spaced over time. Spacing practice has the potential for improving classroom learning (). This mixed-methods study utilizing a convenience sample tested if Twitter could serve as a more effective method of review than a traditional paper study guide in an introductory college history course. No significant differences were found in in the posttest performance of both groups. Participants found Twitter easy to use, were unconcerned about their privacy on social media, and reported that Twitter did not increase student engagement when used only as an information distribution tool.

Society, History and Education: dialogues from a disciplinary perspective

“…In the set of papers related to education, the first focused on the analysis of influencers and trends (Shen, Kuo and Ly, 2017), and the second on Twitter for conceptual learning (Buzzelli, Holdan, Rota and McCarthy, 2016). Both documents reveal a slight advance in research on mobile learning and Twitter and, although only one of them uses text mining, this can be considered an indication of its potential to analyze the contents published in this network as a basis to advance in the understanding of the phenomena associated with mobile learning.…”

Understanding the benefits and risks of nursing students engaging with online social media

“…In-class conversations can be collated by the use of hashtag allowing students to follow and join in, and is thought to be a way to boost the opportunity of those who prefer not to speak up in class to have their say (Tyma 2011). There is evidence that the use of Twitter to engage with course material and in course-related discussions can increase student marks (Buzzelli et al 2016, Junco et al 2011. Garrison et al (1999) for first year student nurses in the context of Digital Professionalism.…”