Teaching+Ideas

=**__Fostering Student-Centered Learning Using Twitter and Blogs__**=

**Blogging and Twittering to Foster Student-Centered Learning**
Linda Scott

Keeping in mind that the role of the instructor changes from knowledge conveyor to learning facilitator in student-centered learning, a blog could easily be used for a think-pair-share activity - Twitter could also be incorporated into the activity. As an instructor, I would use my blog to ask the initial question generating the "thought" process. Prior to asking the question, I would randomly assign pairs - in the event of an odd number of students one of the groups would have three students. Once the question was asked, the pairs could then use twitter for exchange of ideas and discussion - this would give them more privacy for their discussions - and come up with a written response to share. Finally, I would ask the groups to share their answers and results with everyone in writing by responding to my original blog post.

How to use Blog or Twitter to foster student centered learning.
Sabah Ahmad

A blog is an excellent way of fostering student centered learning. Students could be told to write short stories, comment on other student's blogs and respond with their own opinions. This would enforce creativity and writing skills students would need. Blogs are not only a good way of teaching students how to become creative writers but also keep track of their stories and responses. They can go back to any blog and reread any post, whether its a few days after its been written or a few years. Blogging also comes in handy for other works, for example, if you blog about sports and your sources are reputable, others will follow because if your sources are valid your blogs become more popular and also the work can become more valuable.

Twitter
Karri Martin

I would use a twitter account for students to help reinforce their learning in the previous days lecture. I think it's easy to forget information that you have learned in the classroom by the time the next week roles around. I would have all students in the class discuss what they learned at 2 separate times before the next week. For instance The English class meets Monday from 9-11 Using Twitter is a great way to foster student-centered learning in that it will help them to discover their own learning styles.
 * Monday 1:00 pm students report to Twitter and discuss what they learned, compare notes and share questions.
 * Wednesday at 1:00 pm students report to the Twitter page to discuss any other questions about Mondays lecture. At this time they would also discuss the homework that is due for the next class. Students could ask questions about something they didn't understand. This would help them to not get behind by time the next class starts. Students would also be able to discuss any homework questions they may have. They could also share study ideas between each other.
 * Friday at 1:00pm students report to Twitter to follow up on any questions about the lecture and homework. Students can also discuss what they expect at the next lecture.

Sherry Wood
 * Fostering student-centered learning through Twitter **

I would post a bit of information for my students to read and think about. When they have had time to process the information then I would have them post a short comment back to me. I would also have a student post a trivia question for the other students to answer. The first one to come up with the correct answer would be able to make the next question. I think this would keep children thinking and checking to see what the next bit of information would be. I could also keep up with what they are responding to and what sparks an interest.

Tommy Gober
 * Using student-created blogs to foster learning **

Student-created blogs can be a new, easy-to-track way for students to keep a learning journal. Students would create a blog from one of many, free blog sites available on the web or via a hosted blogging solution provided by the school. Ideally, students would create a blog entry to reflect on their in-class learning for the day or week. By having students reflect on their learning and put it in their own words, students will retain the lessons learned by assimilating it into their lives. Research has shown that when students reflect on the lessons they learn, they retain the information better and can more easily apply the learning to their life. Over time, as students learn new lessons, older lesson can be forgotten. By blogging about the lessons, they can later go back to review lessons that may have been buried with other content learned. At the end of a course, students can reflect on all they accomplished in the course and see a marked improvement from beginning to end. This satisfaction in mastery of a particular subject will help instill in the student the skills to become a life-long learner.