neta 2014 presentation (kassens, enz)
TRANSCRIPT
Tweeting to improve writing & expand the learning environment
Dr. Alice Louise Kassens & Dr. Michael Enz, Roanoke CollegeNETA 2014
Introduction
• Assessment results suggested deficiencies in student writing
• Framing an argument biggest issue
• Assigning additional writing assignments (traditional) is not always feasible/effective
• Need for frequent, small-scale assignment(s) Twitter
Twitter in the classroom
• Twitter has been shown to improve:– Engagement– Participation– Writing– Community– Learning– Memory
Twitter 101
• Online microblogging technology
• Post “tweets” up to 140 characters
• Over 200 million active users, over 400 million tweets/day
• Free service, www.twitter.com
• Accessed through variety of portals: cellphone, computer, tablet
• Tweets can include pictures and videos
• User’s twitter page can be customized using templates
Roanoke College
• Small liberal arts college in Salem, VA (~2,000 students)
• Economics major and minor
• Principles (micro and macro) required for BUAD, International Relations, Health Care Administration, …
Framingham State University
• A slightly larger state university that attempts to prepare students for a productive life (~4,000 undergraduate and 2,000 graduate students)
• Economics major and minor
• Intermediate microeconomics WAS required for all Business Majors
The sample
Roanoke College•Principles of Macroeconomics (1)•No prerequisites•Freshmen Senior
•Economics majors, minors, BUAD, other
•N = 18 (24)•@kassensecon122, #kassensecon122
FSU•Intermediate Microeconomics (2)•Principles of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics Required•Economics and Business Majors
•N = 49 (53)
•@enzec302, #enzecon
Methods
• Pre-test (writing assignment)– Enz: part of presentation score– Kassens: in class writing assignment, not graded
• Ten graded twitter assignments during semester – Enz: 10%– Kassens: 10%
• Post-test (writing assignment)– Enz: same assignment, weight as pre-test
– Kassens: graded blog post (5%)
Sample Assignment
Twitter assignment #2
Use the economic principle of comparative advantage to argue in favor of a volunteer military over conscription.
Student A: A volunteer army has a comparative advantage over conscription because more desire to fight will lead to productive soldiers #kassensecon122
Rubric
Results
Results
Results
Results
Helpful tools
Live streaming twitter feedHootfeed (https://hootsuite.com/hootfeed) – “free” (http://ow.ly/DNEsQ )
Others
•TweetBeam (www.tweetbeam.com) – “free” (http://www.tweetbeam.com/show?id=EBG5l)
Helpful tools
Archiving tweets (grading)Tweet Archivist (www.tweetarchivist.com) - paid
Others
•Request from www.twitter.com
•Tweet Book (www.tweetbook.in) – “free”, only your tweets, favorites •TAGS (https://tags.hawksey.info/) - “free”, Google sheet
Lessons learned
• Twitter uses an algorithm to block accounts; a process to get reset
• Unique hashtag (test it before you use it)
• Set up account for class only
• Emphasize difference between @ and #
• Great feedback, students enjoyed the asignments
Positive externalities
• Expand the classroom
• Teach responsible social media use
• Increased student interaction
Questions?
Alice Louise KassensRoanoke College
@RnningEconomist
Related work:The Journal of Economic Education, 2014, vol. 45, issue 2, pages 101-109
Michael EnzRoanoke College
@enz_mike