Written by Nate Copeland
I know what you’re thinking. You are certain this column is going to be about how Auburn is the most dominating team incollege football. However, even though we did win the BCS National Championship earlier this year, I’m unsure about Auburn’s future. Our main problem is that we were unable to secure quarterback Cam Newton for another year. Apparently the NFL pays better.
Or maybe you’re thinking this column will address the latest Harding rumors. The truth is, I haven’t heard any good ones recently. It seems the “rumor-mill” is running a bit slow.
Instead I have decided to write about something more relevant — Twitter. The social network that allows you to type 140-character posts caught my interest more than a year ago after I read an article in the Wall Street Journal titled “How to Twitter: The social rules and tips for gaining ‘followers’; why opinionated people win.“
That article provided good insight into “Tweeting 101.” Until I read the article, I thought Twitter was simply a place for people to rant about the social issue of the day or give an update of what they planned to eat for lunch. I wasn’t too interested.
However, in the last year I have concluded that Twitter can be a strong tool for learning. Although I get a few jabs from some faculty members who haven’t embraced the new technology, Twitter has become a regular part of my classroom because of the way it complements my educational goals.
For example, Twitter allows me and my students to continue discussions outside of the classroom. As a result, our time inside the classroom is more flexible.
Furthermore, Twitter, like other social networks, allows me to get to know mystudents better. Reading what my students post on Twitter gives me a little more insight into their lives that I likely would not have gained had my interaction with them been limited to the classroom.
With every technological advancement comes new opportunities for education. Social media are new resources for teaching and learning. Simply following people or organizations that share your interests can provide you with knowledge and new insight.Twitter is a networking tool for industries of all types.
However, like everything in life, Twitter has downsides. The most obvious misuse of the social network is the way some people use it to attack or ridicule others without having to look them in the eye.
An example that hits close to home is the #chapeltweet thread. For those unfamiliar with Twitter, hashtags — such as #chapeltweet — can be added to Twitter posts, allowing users to join a thread of conversation that is unified by the hashtag topic.
I am amazed at what people will post in a tweet but would never say to someone face to face.
I’m not suggesting that Twitter can’t be used to express one’s opinion. Nonetheless, I believe we shouldn’t post comments online that we wouldn’t say to someone’s face.
Social media seem to be weakening our interpersonal relationships because we no longer have to deal with conflict one on one. Instead of meeting with someone to work through a disagreement, we simply fire off degrading comments from the safety of our online personas.
Twitter affords us many good opportunities, but it also provides an avenue for adults to act like children. It’s a double-edged sword.
With all of that said, I still believe Twitter, as well as other social media outlets, belongs in higher education. We should embrace the future before it’s the past.
You can follow me on Twitter @n_b_c.
