Knowledge
How Twitter can transform teaching
A research carried out has shown that students learnings in science increased dramatically if they used Twitter to interact with prominent scientists and experts from the field in addition to being updated in real time about the latest developments in that topic.
A recent research offers powerful correlation between appropriate usages of Twitter with enhanced learning outcomes among middle school students. The research was conducted exhaustively using survey, interviews and classroom observations of grade VIII students in science classes.
According to students, usage of Twitter let to increase in 4 key parameters. Firstly, first-hand interactions with reputed science leaders, like Bill Nye "the science guy," in real time; secondly, a wider audience for their work outside the classroom, thirdly, more opportunities for connecting science to their own lives; and lastly new ways to talk about science.
Ryan Becker, a 2015 graduate of the doctoral program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Vermont, used his middle school science classes to conduct the research in collaboration with co-author Penny Bishop, professor of middle-level education and director of the Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education. Becker found that 95 % of his students agreed or strongly agreed that Twitter enabled them to follow science in real time.
The factor that was the most exciting and motivating was the ability to seamlessly interact via Twitter with leading organizations like NASA and science-related programs like PBS' NOVA and NPR's Science Friday. "NASA, and scientists that I follow tweet a lot about cool science stuff," commented one student. Becker suggested to another student who had an interest in black holes that they reach out via Twitter to popular astrophysicist Katie Mack. Imagine the sheer delight of the student when Mack tweeted her back and actually went on to include her in a conversation about black holes with other experts and students.
Becker's initial work with Twitter in his classroom encouraged him to submit his dissertation research focused on using Twitter for science learning. The findings further highlight the true potential of the social platform to offer personalized learning and to increase secondary students' interactions with science professionals and organizations.