Twitter has the possibility to bridge the gap that exists between the teacher and the parent. This gap often becomes wider as students become more self reliant and as they move into muddle school. My personal use of twitter began in August of last year. As I began to read about Web 2.0 tools for educators, Twitter kept popping up. Social networking in the school setting seems to be the next step in technology and education. Twitter is a tool that if used correctly can be used academically for students and as a communication tool for parents. The are a few great things about Twitter. Twitter is a tool that many parents and students are already familiar with.The postings and activity can easily be moderated. Followers can be approved so that protects students privacy as well. Also it is free and can postings can be regulated and moderated by the teacher. With the advent of Smart phones parents and students don't have to have a computer to participate. There are specific ways in which I would use this. Of course I would post homework and classwork assignments so that parents are aware of what is expected of their child. Important reminders and announcements could be tweeted as well. I would also post a question for my students to answer by the end of the class week. Due to the limited typing available students would need to post a concise answer. This would definitely help their critical thinking skills as it would cause them to choose their words carefully.
