Twitter is a free micro-blogging service that has revolutionized how people share information. Tweeters are allowed to make short text posts with up to 140 characters or short video clips from any location in the world as long as they have access to the internet. It’s easy to see how effective Twitter can be with examples like Tweets giving followers breaking news such as with the earthquake in Haiti, the landing of the plane on the Hudson River and the recent social/political disturbances in Iran.

The educational system must not be left out! There are many ways in which Twitter can be incorporated into the classroom environment. There are many Twitter support groups online dedicated to developing new ways of embracing this technology and use it to improve education in the classroom. Some of the ways in which teachers can use Twitter include:

• Building Togetherness: The life of a teacher is sometimes lonely with long classes and short breaks between them. Twitter can be used as a virtual staffroom where teachers can step in to share ideas, get links from professional teaching sites and just give support to each other.
• Global View: Most educational systems focus on issues related to their social, economic and religious standards of their environment. As a result, students become tunneled into only knowing about their cultures with limited exposure to the outside world. Since Twitter has a global following, teachers can use Twitter to bring these foreign elements into their classrooms. Teachers can also follow the Tweets of other teachers from other countries.
• Self-Assessment: Any good teacher will want to know if they are maximizing the effectiveness. By using Twitter, teachers can compare their achievements and failures and establish standards and grade themselves. One teacher was quoted in saying that reading about the experiences of other teachers made her realize that she can do more for her students.
• Instant Workshop: Prior to Twitter, teachers had to wait until quarterly workshops to share and pool ideas on how to improve the educational system. With Twitter, teachers can instantly upload an idea as it hits them. Therefore, there is no need for scribbling on paper to save it for the next seminar. Teachers can also share lesson plan ideas on particular subject areas. As result, teachers do not have to “re-invent the wheel” every time they have to create ideas for their lesson plans.
• Instant News Room: Unfortunately, teachers do not have the luxury to sit and read the news on a regular basis while at school. Twitter micro blogging helps them stay current with the latest news, currents affairs and developments in any area of interest. This access has bearing from both a safety and planning standpoints. Teachers can receive Tweets about events such as social disturbances, traffic jams, meetings and other commitments.