Quote above from an amazing Kathy Sierra post)
A few weeks ago, I realized that I was thinking in Facebook Status Updates. As I have often said, I need a life.
I wasn't posting them on Facebook, just continually thinking them to myself. Is this like when you are learning a new language, and realize you've mastered it when it enters your informal thoughts and dreams? I've finally made it, baby. I speak Facebook fluently, it appears.
To quell my inner Status Updates, I started Twittering again. I still can't get into it, for whatever reason. I have a problem with Twitter-ing personal stuff about my day--it simply seems too indulgent (and too invasive). I'll keep that boring stuff in my head, thank you.
Still, despite my inability to hop back on the Twitter wagon, it appears microblogging is reaching critical mass in again. The Chronicle published an article on Twitter use in academia, noting that some faculty are using it in their classes, and citing the Santa Barbara City College Library's Twitter feed as an example of how libraries are using microblogging to promote resources and services. CommonCraft (authors of the Plain English video series) even launched a new video short, "Twitter in Plain English." Is this a technology that needs to be explained in detail?
I'm still not convinced that microblogging has its place or relevance in academia (including academic libraries) yet. I know that it has a utility in quickly disseminating small bits of information. Is it at its most useful in group situations where it's hard to hear multiple voices, such as at conferences? I have been at conferences where it was exciting to see other people's Twitters about sessions. It enabled a conference-wide conversation that otherwise would have otherwise been impeded by size and distributed sessions.
Does Twitter have a place in a learning environment, outside of a conference or large meeting-style environment? Or is it, as John Blyberg so nicely puts it, "the Paris Hilton of the Social Web?"
A few weeks ago, I realized that I was thinking in Facebook Status Updates. As I have often said, I need a life.
I wasn't posting them on Facebook, just continually thinking them to myself. Is this like when you are learning a new language, and realize you've mastered it when it enters your informal thoughts and dreams? I've finally made it, baby. I speak Facebook fluently, it appears.
To quell my inner Status Updates, I started Twittering again. I still can't get into it, for whatever reason. I have a problem with Twitter-ing personal stuff about my day--it simply seems too indulgent (and too invasive). I'll keep that boring stuff in my head, thank you.
Still, despite my inability to hop back on the Twitter wagon, it appears microblogging is reaching critical mass in again. The Chronicle published an article on Twitter use in academia, noting that some faculty are using it in their classes, and citing the Santa Barbara City College Library's Twitter feed as an example of how libraries are using microblogging to promote resources and services. CommonCraft (authors of the Plain English video series) even launched a new video short, "Twitter in Plain English." Is this a technology that needs to be explained in detail?
I'm still not convinced that microblogging has its place or relevance in academia (including academic libraries) yet. I know that it has a utility in quickly disseminating small bits of information. Is it at its most useful in group situations where it's hard to hear multiple voices, such as at conferences? I have been at conferences where it was exciting to see other people's Twitters about sessions. It enabled a conference-wide conversation that otherwise would have otherwise been impeded by size and distributed sessions.
Does Twitter have a place in a learning environment, outside of a conference or large meeting-style environment? Or is it, as John Blyberg so nicely puts it, "the Paris Hilton of the Social Web?"
I agree with you about the twittering thing. I like it for conferences A LOT. Aside from that I find it hard to do...I do the FB status thing and do me, once I've done that, it's out of my head, onto the next thing! :)
I agree with you about the twittering thing. I like it for conferences A LOT. Aside from that I find it hard to do...I do the FB status thing and do me, once I've done that, it's out of my head, onto the next thing! :)