Twitter

Twitter seems to be the most popular microblogging system. Officially launched in October 2006, Twitter was developed by Obvious Corp.

This robust, elegant, and simple system has gained important popularity, rapidly approaching 1 million users - TwittDir reports over 940 thousand twitterers in March.

After creating an account in a few seconds, a user can start twittering. The users of Twitter can send and receive messages via the web, SMS, instant messaging clients, and by third party applications. The notifications can be received in real-time as SMS, IM or RSS. Twitter is one of the few applications which deliver free SMS outside USA.

Posts are limited to 140 text characters in length. This is why Twitter was called social networking in 140 characters.

People use Twitter to communicate, to ask questions, to ask for directions, support, advice, and to validate open-ended interpretations or ideas by discussing with the others. Twitter has mashed up personal publishing and communication, the result being a new type of real-time publishing.

As what have said, Twitter may be the most popular micro blogging site on the Web, but it is also an effective teaching tool. Educators, who once relied on books and blackboards, are now turning to digital applications which serve to enhance their student’s academic progress. With greater speed and functionality, Twitter creates an online platform for communication that rivals conventional blogging.

Some Positive Things About Twitter

1. Twitter helps one organize great, instant meetups (tweetups).
2. Twitter works swell as an opinion poll.
3. Twitter can help direct student’s attention to good things.
4. Twitter in the classroom helps people build an instant “backchannel.”
5. Twitter breaks news faster than other sources, often (especially if the news impacts online denizens).
6. Twitter gives institutions a glimpse at what status messaging can do for an organization.
7. Twitter brings great minds together, and gives everyone daily opportunities to learn (if you look for it, and/or if you follow the right folks).
8. Twitter gives your critics a forum, but that means you can study them.
9. Twitter helps with staff development, find other teachers.
10. Twitter can augment parent feedback.

Social Networking Sites such as Twitter are usually been overrated. We should not close our doors on its positive benefits. The outcome of using them depends on the person that uses them. They can be destructive in some ways, but can also be useful in positive ways.