Matt Weir / The Collegian
Academic information passed via Twitter
Who would have thought that “tweeting” with your professors for school purposes would be considered mainstream?
Twitter, one of the most popular social networking sites, is now being used as a communication tool for professors and students. Its benefits are the ability to communicate faster, providing information more efficiently.
When users build their networks on Twitter, they can communicate with friends to build their social network, as well as pass along information about where they are or what they’re doing.
Public Relations major, Marcus Fabro, says he follows a few of his professors and his advisor on Twitter. He occasionally reads their tweets but mainly their tweets related to school.
“I have been encouraged to use Twitter this year in the Mass Communication and Journalism department only,” says Fabro. “This department is on the cutting edge of technology and communication compared to others on campus.”
Fabro says most of his professors in the Mass Communication and Journalism department suggest using Twitter for school purposes.
According to an article written by Zach Miners on USNews.com, twitter is being used in larger lecture halls.
A professor at University of Texas-Dallas started using Twitter to post messages and ask questions to students during class because it encouraged students to participate.
Many college students are finding it odd that their professors can see what is going on in their personal world of social networking regardless if it’s for a class or not.
Courtney Chooljian, a business sports marketing major, doesn’t feel it’s a big deal if students and professors are communicating over their personal social networking site.
“I mean, if it got out of hand and teachers were favoring other students who used Twitter, then yes, I would think there would be some issues,” Chooljian says.
While Chooljian’s viewpoint may be a concern to many students, other students still have no desire to use Twitter for school purposes.
“I think one of my professors follows me on Twitter,” says senior Rachel Buckley. “I feel like I have to monitor what I say on my page just because if my professor see’s it I can easily be judged.”
Buckley feels that with technology today, everything is geared to social media and even though all of her professors encourage it, she still doesn’t feel comfortable with the fact that professors can see her personal stuff.
According to Tom Raftery’s 15 Twitter Tips for Social Media, if you want people on Twitter to follow you, make sure your twitter page is not protected because usually people won’t follow you.
Some students don’t feel comfortable with professors having insight into what their personal life is outside of school. Buckley says she feels like it could hurt her if her professors saw her tweets.
“School is school, work is work and play is play,” says Buckley. “And I like to keep them all separate.”