Sharing of Innovations Lunch, March 2013Sharing of Innovations Lunch, March 2013

Using Twitter to Using Twitter to ttconnect courses connect courses

with newswith newst e st e s

Michael RaithMichael RaithSimon SchoolSimon School

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About meAbout meAbout meAbout me

Associate Prof of Economics and Associate Prof of Economics and Management at Simon School ofManagement at Simon School ofManagement at Simon School of Management at Simon School of BusinessBusinessResearch and (MBAResearch and (MBA--level) teaching on level) teaching on

organizations and strategyorganizations and strategyorganizations and strategyorganizations and strategy–– Mostly caseMostly case--based teachingbased teaching

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Goal: help students connect Goal: help students connect pptheory and applicationstheory and applications

??

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ApproachApproachApproachApproach

1.1. Point students to Point students to currentcurrent news articles, news articles, help themhelp them see and makesee and make connections toconnections tohelp them help them see and makesee and make connections to connections to course content.course content.

2.2. Give opportunities to Give opportunities to practice makingpractice making the the connections.connections.connections.connections.

I’ll f #1 th t’ h T itt iI’ll f #1 th t’ h T itt iI’ll focus on #1; that’s where Twitter comes in.I’ll focus on #1; that’s where Twitter comes in.

Payoff (hopefully)Payoff (hopefully)Payoff (hopefully)Payoff (hopefully)

1.1. Framing/abstraction skills Framing/abstraction skills –– Understand news stories in terms ofUnderstand news stories in terms of–– Understand news stories in terms of Understand news stories in terms of

theories, frameworks etc.theories, frameworks etc.Learn to ask the right q estionsLearn to ask the right q estions–– Learn to ask the right questionsLearn to ask the right questions

2.2. Heightened relevance of course material Heightened relevance of course material More engaged studentsMore engaged students

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From my syllabusFrom my syllabus

“…. I will post articles relevant to STR403 “…. I will post articles relevant to STR403 onon Twitter@MRaithTwitter@MRaith You can eitherYou can either… on … on Twitter@MRaithTwitter@MRaith. You can either . You can either

follow me … or visit follow me … or visit http://twitter.com/#!/MRaithhttp://twitter.com/#!/MRaith every now and every now and then the articles I post arethen the articles I post are optionaloptionalthen. …. the articles I post are then. …. the articles I post are optional optional (bed(bed--time) readingtime) reading——all all requiredrequired material is material is in the case packet or on Blackboard.”in the case packet or on Blackboard.”

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T ti i i dibl !T ti i i dibl !Tweeting news is incredibly easy!Tweeting news is incredibly easy!

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Open tweetOpen tweet box and edit tweet, clickbox and edit tweet, click

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Done!Done!

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Several instructors at Simon Several instructors at Simon use Twitter in this way nowuse Twitter in this way now

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Advantages (1): Easy!Advantages (1): Easy!g ( ) yg ( ) yAlmost every web site has a Tweet buttonAlmost every web site has a Tweet button

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Advantages (2):Advantages (2):g ( )g ( )Only 140 characters is a good thing!Only 140 characters is a good thing!

On Blackboard, temptation to write whole On Blackboard, temptation to write whole paragraph of explanationparagraph of explanationp g p pp g p p–– 140 character limit saves me time140 character limit saves me time

Students still to have to read the article and thinkStudents still to have to read the article and think–– No “Cliffs Notes” = passive consumptionNo “Cliffs Notes” = passive consumption

Tip: Use fewer than 140 if you want to be Tip: Use fewer than 140 if you want to be p yp yretweetedretweeted

Easy to organize with Easy to organize with hashtagshashtagsy gy g gg

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Advantages (3): Student interactionAdvantages (3): Student interactionAdvantages (3): Student interaction Advantages (3): Student interaction during and after courseduring and after course

In this version, In this version, engagement is engagement is voluntary.voluntary.–– OnOn Blackboard, might be seen as mandatory; Blackboard, might be seen as mandatory; , g y;, g y;

students might resent extra workstudents might resent extra work

Extends beyond courseExtends beyond courseyy–– Students keep following after course => stay Students keep following after course => stay

connected to course contentconnected to course content–– Past students have joined as new followersPast students have joined as new followers–– HoweverHowever, , I can’t tell how many followersI can’t tell how many followers acactually pay tually pay

attentionattention1313

Advantages (4): Repository Advantages (4): Repository g ( ) p yg ( ) p yof articles relevant to my courseof articles relevant to my course

1.1. This semester’s tweetsThis semester’s tweets provide provide l t i t t f ll i tl t i t t f ll i texamples to integrate more fully into examples to integrate more fully into

next version of coursenext version of coursee e s o o cou see e s o o cou se2.2. Good source for devising exam Good source for devising exam

questions…questions…

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Advantages (5): Advantages (5): g ( )g ( )Convenient way to keep up with newsConvenient way to keep up with news

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Next step:Next step:ppReinforce through assignmentsReinforce through assignments

RequireRequire students to find new stories students to find new stories relatedrelated to course; for instance:to course; for instance:relatedrelated to course; for instance:to course; for instance:–– Ask students to post articles, with short Ask students to post articles, with short

explanationexplanation–– Accumulate points for either posting, or Accumulate points for either posting, or

commenting on others’ postscommenting on others’ posts–– Move backMove back to Blackboard for this....to Blackboard for this....

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StudentStudent posted articles on Bbposted articles on BbStudentStudent--posted articles on Bbposted articles on Bb

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Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!

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