URL: http://www.twitter.com

Description: Twitter is a free, online "microblogging" tool.  It is "part blog, part social networking site, part cell phone/IM tool designed to let users answer the question 'What are you doing?'"*  The cool thing is that users can both send and receive Twitter messages (called "Tweets") from/to your cell phone so you're always in touch if you want to be.  Each tweet is a maximum of 140 characters so the writer must be succinct.  It has a search feature that lets users locate and follow specific topics.  This is handy if you are tracking current events or a specific conference.  It is also helpful in building

* from 7 things you sould know about...Twitter from Educause.

Price: Free

Privacy: Public views only

Online/Download: Online

Uses in the Classroom:

• Foster interaction about a given topic.
• Increase metacognition.
• Share thoughts about the class.
• Continue conversations outside of the class.
• Foster class community.
• Track current events.
• Get instant feedback from your class about a topic.
• Follow a professional or famous person online (example: Obama or McCain campaign).
• Community writing assignment where one person starts a story and then another continues it in 140 character snippets.
• Networking with specialists in the field.

Best Practices:

Security > Higher Ed

Twitter has no security features.  You can create groups to help track or follow certain people but everything that is written is available to the world.  Because of this you should encourage students to avoid using their real names and refrain from putting in any personal details such as an exact location of where there are.

Security > K-12

Twitter has no security features.  You can create groups to help track or follow certain people but everything that is written is available to the world.  If you are interested in microblogging with your class there are a few educationally focused applications.  Check out Edmodo and  Youth Twitter.  These applications may have security features more appropriate for children.

Articles and Resources:

• Twitter for Academia (David Parry) - http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2008/twitter-for-academia/
• Educators Test the Limits of Twitter Microblogging Tool (Katie Ash) - http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2008/06/24/01twitter_web.h02.html
• Teaching with Twitter (Jeffrey Young) - http://chronicle.com/media/video/v54/i25/twitter/
• 7 things you should know about...Twitter (educause connect) - http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7027.pdf
• Micro Blogging with Twitter (Linda Briggs) - http://campustechnology.com/articles/59315/
• Twitter Tweets for Higher Education - http://web20teach.blogspot.com/2007/08/twitter-tweets-for-higher-education.html
• Why We Twitter: Understanding Microblogging Usage and Communities - http://ebiquity.umbc.edu/paper/html/id/367/Why-We-Twitter-Understanding-Microblogging-Usage-and-Communities