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Tweet for homework?Ìý This spring, CU Boulder students nominated Sociology graduate student Amanda TylerÌýfor an ASSETT Outstanding Teaching with Technology Award for her teaching of Sociology 2044, Crime and Society.Ìý One student wrote, "We used both Clickers and Twitter to enhance learning and incorporate current events into the curriculum."Ìý Tyler spoke with ASSETT about how important it is for her to involve students in class discussions: "... I work towardÌýcreating an environment where students are able to discuss class material,Ìýeven when the class hasÌýa large number of students.Ìý Clicker questions are a great way for me to engage my students in conversation."ÌýÌýShe says that she uses Clicker questions to poll students about their opinions andÌýstartÌýdiscussions.Ìý Tyler explains that when students don't have to worry about whether their answers areÌýright or wrong,Ìýthe class can betterÌýengage multiple opinions.Ìý Also,ÌýClicker questions help her gauge her students' understanding of material.

Using TwitterÌýin Class Discussions

Additionally, Tyler createsÌýclassÌýTwitter pages asÌývenuesÌýfor student participation.Ìý She embeds the class Twitter pageÌýfeed onto the D2LÌýcourse page and asks students to TweetÌýcurrent event news stories or videos about class topics andÌýwriteÌýtheir ownÌýdiscussion questions for homework.ÌýÌýTyler says that she believes that Tweeting providesÌýan opportunity, "... For students to apply course material to their everyday world."ÌýÌýÌýTyler truly involves students in class discussionÌýwhen sheÌýuses students' Tweeted questions asÌýthe class's Clicker questions.Ìý "Students often Tweet insightful questions that engageÌýtheir peersÌýin further discussion, so I like toÌýhighlight these questionsÌýin my lecture slides," says Tyler.Ìý In class,Ìýshe projects the class TwitterÌýfeed onto the board andÌýoften invites students to Tweet their ideas during lecture.ÌýÌýTyler says that sheÌýfindsÌýthat giving studentsÌýthe opportunity to join the spotlightÌýmotivates them:Ìý"I think Twitter makes class more fun!Ìý I believe that when students have fun learning, it is more likely thatÌýthey do their homework, and they will want to attend class."ÌýÌýTyler says that sheÌýhopes that Tweeting may evenÌýhelp students better remember course material: "They might visually rememberÌýa term they learned in a Tweet, which will stick with them later ..."

Case in point: one day during a discussionÌýabout the value of eye witness testimony in court procedures,ÌýTyler staged a mock eye witness activity.ÌýÌýA colleagueÌýcame into the classroomÌýand quickly left again.Ìý TylerÌýasked her students to Tweet to the class Twitter page what they remembered they saw.Ìý When the students' realized how few of them had accurately remembered what theÌýman had been wearing, they better understood the validity that is often lacking in eye witness testimonies.

In order to give students participation credit for theirÌýTweets,ÌýTyler assigns specific hashtags to each week's Tweets andÌýperiodically asksÌýthem to submit screen shot logs.

Tyler looks forward to a career in teaching at the college level:Ìý"Teaching is one of my greatest passions!ÌýÌýItÌýalwaysÌýkeeps me on my toes.ÌýÌýI am constantly researching and thinking aboutÌýnew waysÌýto engage myÌýstudents.Ìý Being nominated for this award is an incredible honor!"