1. Using Twitter to Engage Students
Dr Ian Elliott
21 June 2012
2:45pm
@ian_c_elliott

2. Introduction
• What is student engagement?
• 7 Principles
• Arguments against
• Examples
CC Source: Birger Hoppe www.flickr.com/photos/birgerhoppe/2244333601
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3. WHAT IS STUDENT ENGAGEMENT?
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4. What is student engagement?
‘the amount of physical and
psychological energy that
the student devotes to the
academic experience’
(Astin 1984, p. 297).
Source: cybrarian77 www.flickr.com/photos/cybrarian/6284697172
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5. 7 PRINCIPLES
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6. 7 Principles
1. Student / faculty contact;
2. Cooperation among students;
3. Active learning;
4. Prompt feedback;
5. Emphasising time on task;
6. Communicating high expectations; and
7. Respecting diversity.
Chickering and Gamson (1987)
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7. 1. Student / Faculty Contact
• Continue debates after class
• Access at any time / place
• Fit around student & staff commitments
• Instantaneousness
• Simple way to make announcements
• Creation of vibrant „learning community‟
• May enable students to ask questions that they would
not feel comfortable doing in formal class
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8. 2. Cooperation among students
• Using specialist hashtag,
e.g. #b3115
• Seek guidance / support
from peers
• Set up virtual study groups
• Cooperation can go
beyond a single module –
or even year group
Source: Mark Brannan www.flickr.com/photos/heycoach/1197947341
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9. 3. Active learning
• The learning continues
after class – and even after
the module!
• Help build links between
theory and practice
• Ask someone in „the real
world‟
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10. 4. Prompt feedback
• Peer-to-peer feedback
• Staff-student feedback
• Student-staff feedback
• Employer-student feedback
• Employer-staff feedback
Source: Travelin Librarian www.flickr.com/photos/travelinlibrarian/223839049
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11. 5. Emphasising time on task
• Reaching students outside
formal class time
• Sending reminders of
deadlines or weekly tasks
• Highlighting useful readings
or other sources
• Especially helpful when
linked to current affairs or
topical news stories
Source: coda www.flickr.com/photos/coda/1416909158
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12. 6. Communicating high expectations
• c.170 hours independent
study – how is it facilitated?
• Highlight good student work
• Encourage students to think
about links between theory
and their own work / lives
• Learning does not stop when
class stops
Source: cometstarmoon www.flickr.com/photos/calistan/5044082999
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13. 7. Respecting diversity
• Time to think about
questions
• Equal access to all
• Particularly helpful for
those who are reserved in
class
• Emphasising that those
who engage will benefit Source: Jiheffe www.flickr.com/photos/jiheffe/3462940215
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14. ARGUMENTS AGAINST
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15. Arguments against
• Lack of control
• Equality of access
• Information overload
• Time commitment
• It‟s a fad
• It‟s not academic
Source: Steve and Sara www.flickr.com/photos/emry/5763556961
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16. EXAMPLES
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17. Examples
Would you like to see more modules using social
network platforms for class feedback and engagement?
Yes: 82.05% No: 17.95%
Do you prefer using tools such as Twitter, Facebook
and Google Docs to the university VLE Blackboard for
feedback and communication?
Yes: 76.92% No: 23.08%
Source: @Stuart_Hepburn, Senior Lecturer, UWS
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18. Examples
@ESRC @Routledge_BMA
@LSEImpactBlog @PalgraveBiz
@HEA_BusinessEdu @WB_Business
@Assoc_of_MBAs @LeverhulmeTrust
@THEworldunirank @HarvardBiz
@UniversitiesUK @TheEconomist
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19. Examples
@RichardBranson Virgin Group @RNTata2000 Ratan Tata,
@GuyKawasaki Alltop CEO Chairman of Tata Group
@Lord_Sugar Chairman of Amshold @SteveForbesCEO President and
Group CEO of Forbes Media
@gcolony Forrester Research CEO @andrewmason Founder/CEO of
@DrBobParsons Go Daddy Group Groupon
CEO and Founder @MichaelDell Chairman and CEO
@jack Jack Dorsey, Twitter Dell
Chairman @selop Stephen Elop
@BillGates Founder of Microsoft President/CEO of Nokia
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20. Useful sources
Astin, Alexander W. (1984) “Student Involvement: A Developmental Theory
for Higher Education”, Journal of College Student Development, Vol. 40, No. 5, 518-529.
Chickering, Arthur W. and Zelda F. Gamson (1987) "Seven principles for good practice in
undergraduate education" American Association of Higher Education Bulletin, Vol. 39, No.7,
pp.3-7.
Elliott, Ian (2012) “Why You Should Tweet”, available online at:
http://iancelliott.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/why-you-should-tweet/
Hepburn, Stuart (2011) “Using Twitter As A Teaching Aid”, available online at:
http://stuarthepburn.net/using-twitter-as-a-teaching-aid
LSE Public Policy Group (2011) “Using Twitter in university research, teaching and impact
activities”, Available online at:
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/files/2011/11/Published-
Twitter_Guide_Sept_2011.pdf
McNeill, Tony (2010) “Supporting student engagement with Twitter”, available online at:
http://www.slideshare.net/amcneill/promoting-student-engagement-with-twitter
Reed, Mark and Anna Evely (Unknown) “Top Twitter Tips for Academics”, Available online at:
http://www.lwec.org.uk/sites/default/files/TwitterTips.pdf
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21. Thank-you!
Source: kyz www.flickr.com/photos/kyz/2964982700
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