New York Times: Speaking Up in Class, Silently, Using Social Media
The New York Times has an interesting article on how some elementary schools and universities are using Twitter-like microblogging platforms to setup up what is known as a "backchannel" in their classes to enhance classroom discussion. The real-time digital streams allow students to comment, pose questions (answered either by one another or the teacher) and shed inhibitions about voicing opinions. The perspective is that if kids are texting on-task, they are less likely to be texting about something else.
