Microblogging continued....

However, to the contrary of the learning experiences that microblogging is useful for, there are people who perhaps disagree. I read an article titled, “More on Academic Twittering: Breaking Down the Classroom Walls” which can be found at this link http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/2825/more-on-academic-twittering-breaking-down-the-classroom-walls. David Parry has been a supporter of twitter and microblogging for educational purposes. It seems not everyone is on board with what he is saying. One quote from the article that stuck out in my mind was, “…these ‘new’ ways of socializing such as Facebook and MySpace are where students are forming their learning communities, ones which do not entirely, perhaps only minimally, overlap with their classroom experience. Thus to extend the walls of the classroom, make education relevant to all aspects of students lives rather than just what they do four-five hours a day we need to think of ways to extend the ways we form and foster learning communities.” However teachers are claiming that when they do form these networks of communication with their students, they will block them from their page. This is giving mixed signals in that students do not want to be networking with their superiors outside of school. Many students are using microblogging for peer socialization, not for education. But I think there are certain boundaries that need to be set, if there is something personal on your page that you don’t want anyone to see then you shouldn’t put it on or you should make a separate page for only your friends to view. The possibilities of learning opportunities with microblogging are so incredible it’s a shame to throw it away because students are not ok with their teachers or professors viewing their personal lifestyles on their webpage.