Tweeting In Class

by Rachel Kenderdine

The traditional classroom does not include social networking. But at Paris Cooperative High School, several classrooms have integrated social networks, such as Twitter, into their curriculum.

Among those classrooms is Mr. Doughan’s, an English teacher at PCHS. During his Advanced Placement Literature class, students use Twitter as an open classroom discussion.

“I’ve tried to use it as a classroom discussion within a classroom, where Twitter is open during class and we get to see what people are Tweeting,” Mr. Doughan said. “I’ve seen it become another way for students to participate,” he added. “The quieter student now has a way to participate.”

Junior Cayla Higgins, a member of the class, agrees. “It is a way for the more shy students to get their opinion out there during class and might lead them to join in,” she said.

Students, Mr. Doughan said, seem to adapt to the use of Twitter in a good way. “It doesn’t seem to me like anyone feels left out,” he said. “It seems like the people who do want to be a part of it are and the people who can’t or don’t want to be a part of it aren’t bothered by it. They don’t feel like outcasts or like they aren’t a part of the class.”

Some students, on the other hand, enjoy Twitter, but with certain reservations.

“It’s not necessarily the best tool for inside class,” Erica Sheeran, a junior AP Literature student. She added, “It’s great for outside class though.”

Hannah King, a junior who is also an AP Literature student, felt the same way. “I think Twitter is helpful in appropriate situations. It shouldn’t rule the classroom because it gets distracting and it overpowers the teacher. However, out of the classroom it is a wonderful tool.”

For Cayla, though, Twitter is the perfect tool to work with. “I think it is useful when there is so much to say so that you don’t forget your point,” she said. “I think it is a good way for students to communicate and get their thoughts out there.”