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Using Twitter to Engage Students

Dr Ian Elliott

21 June 2012

2:45pm

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Introduction

• What is student engagement?

• 7 Principles

• Arguments against

• Examples

CC Source: Birger Hoppe www.flickr.com/photos/birgerhoppe/2244333601

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WHAT IS STUDENT ENGAGEMENT?

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What is student engagement?

‘the amount of physical and psychological energy that the student devotes to the academic experience’

(Astin 1984, p. 297).

Source: cybrarian77 www.flickr.com/photos/cybrarian/6284697172

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7 PRINCIPLES

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7 Principles

1. Student / faculty contact;

2. Cooperation among students;

3. Active learning;

4. Prompt feedback;

5. Emphasising time on task;

6. Communicating high expectations; and

7. Respecting diversity.

Chickering and Gamson (1987)

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1. Student / Faculty Contact

• Continue debates after class• Access at any time / place• Fit around student & staff commitments• Instantaneousness• Simple way to make announcements• Creation of vibrant ‘learning community’• May enable students to ask questions that they would

not feel comfortable doing in formal class

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2. Cooperation among students

• Using specialist hashtag, e.g. #b3115

• Seek guidance / support from peers

• Set up virtual study groups• Cooperation can go

beyond a single module – or even year group

Source: Mark Brannan www.flickr.com/photos/heycoach/1197947341

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3. Active learning

• The learning continues after class – and even after the module!

• Help build links between theory and practice

• Ask someone in ‘the real world’

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4. Prompt feedback

• Peer-to-peer feedback• Staff-student feedback• Student-staff feedback• Employer-student feedback• Employer-staff feedback

Source: Travelin Librarian www.flickr.com/photos/travelinlibrarian/223839049

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5. Emphasising time on task

• Reaching students outside formal class time

• Sending reminders of deadlines or weekly tasks

• Highlighting useful readings or other sources

• Especially helpful when linked to current affairs or topical news stories

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6. Communicating high expectations

• c.170 hours independent study – how is it facilitated?

• Highlight good student work• Encourage students to think

about links between theory and their own work / lives

• Learning does not stop when class stops

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7. Respecting diversity

• Time to think about questions

• Equal access to all• Particularly helpful for

those who are reserved in class

• Emphasising that those who engage will benefit Source: Jiheffe www.flickr.com/photos/jiheffe/3462940215

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ARGUMENTS AGAINST

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Arguments against

• Lack of control • Equality of access• Information overload• Time commitment• It’s a fad• It’s not academic

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EXAMPLES

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ExamplesWould you like to see more modules using social network platforms for class feedback and engagement?Yes: 82.05% No: 17.95%

Do you prefer using tools such as Twitter, Facebook and Google Docs to the university VLE Blackboard for feedback and communication?Yes: 76.92% No: 23.08%

Source: @Stuart_Hepburn, Senior Lecturer, UWS

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Examples

@ESRC

@LSEImpactBlog

@HEA_BusinessEdu

@Assoc_of_MBAs

@THEworldunirank

@UniversitiesUK

@Routledge_BMA

@PalgraveBiz

@WB_Business

@LeverhulmeTrust

@HarvardBiz

@TheEconomist

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Examples

@RichardBranson Virgin Group

@GuyKawasaki Alltop CEO

@Lord_Sugar Chairman of Amshold Group

@gcolony Forrester Research CEO

@DrBobParsons Go Daddy Group CEO and Founder

@jack Jack Dorsey, Twitter Chairman

@BillGates Founder of Microsoft

@RNTata2000 Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Group

@SteveForbesCEO President and CEO of Forbes Media

@andrewmason Founder/CEO of Groupon

@MichaelDell Chairman and CEO Dell

@selop Stephen Elop President/CEO of Nokia

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Useful sourcesAstin, Alexander W. (1984) “Student Involvement: A Developmental Theory

for Higher Education”, Journal of College Student Development, Vol. 40, No. 5, 518-529.

Chickering, Arthur W. and Zelda F. Gamson (1987) "Seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education" American Association of Higher Education Bulletin, Vol. 39, No.7, pp.3-7.

Elliott, Ian (2012) “Why You Should Tweet”, available online at: http://iancelliott.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/why-you-should-tweet/

Hepburn, Stuart (2011) “Using Twitter As A Teaching Aid”, available online at: http://stuarthepburn.net/using-twitter-as-a-teaching-aid

LSE Public Policy Group (2011) “Using Twitter in university research, teaching and impact activities”, Available online at: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/files/2011/11/Published-Twitter_Guide_Sept_2011.pdf

McNeill, Tony (2010) “Supporting student engagement with Twitter”, available online at: http://www.slideshare.net/amcneill/promoting-student-engagement-with-twitter

Reed, Mark and Anna Evely (Unknown) “Top Twitter Tips for Academics”, Available online at: http://www.lwec.org.uk/sites/default/files/TwitterTips.pdf

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Thank-you!

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