Skip to main content
Top
Published in: TechTrends 1/2021

07-08-2020 | Original Paper

Using Twitter for Civic Education in K-12 Classrooms

Authors: Amy L. Chapman, Holly Marich

Published in: TechTrends | Issue 1/2021

Login to get access

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

This paper is a report of a qualitative case study of two teachers who use the social media platform Twitter with their students to teach civic knowledge and skills. Although the use of Twitter in higher education has been studied, few studies have been done to understand the use of Twitter in K-12 education (Greenhow et al., 2020). This article adds to that literature on Twitter in K-12 education by examining the ways in which one elementary school teacher and one high school teacher use Twitter in their classrooms to prepare their students for lifelong civic engagement. This study showed the elementary teacher used Twitter to teach her students how to interact with others on social media, while the high school teacher used Twitter to increase student engagement and civic participation. For both, Twitter provided a space where each teacher and their students could learn and practice the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in civic life across the lifespan.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
go back to reference Blessing, S. B., Blessing, J. S., & Fleck, B. K. B. (2012). Using twitter to reinforce classroom concepts. Teaching of Psychology, 39(4), 268e271. 10.1177/009862831246 1484. Blessing, S. B., Blessing, J. S., & Fleck, B. K. B. (2012). Using twitter to reinforce classroom concepts. Teaching of Psychology, 39(4), 268e271. 10.1177/009862831246 1484.
go back to reference Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
go back to reference Carpenter, J. P., & Krutka, D. G. (2014). How and why educators use twitter: A survey of the field. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 46(4), 414–434.CrossRef Carpenter, J. P., & Krutka, D. G. (2014). How and why educators use twitter: A survey of the field. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 46(4), 414–434.CrossRef
go back to reference Carpenter, J., Tani, T., Morrison, S., & Keane, J. (2020). Exploring the landscape of educator professional activity on twitter: An analysis of 16 education-related twitter hashtags. Professional Development in Education, 1-22. Carpenter, J., Tani, T., Morrison, S., & Keane, J. (2020). Exploring the landscape of educator professional activity on twitter: An analysis of 16 education-related twitter hashtags. Professional Development in Education, 1-22.
go back to reference Clarke, V., Brown, V., & Hayfield, N. (2015). Thematic analysis. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods (3rd ed., pp. 222–248). Thousand Oaks: Sage. Clarke, V., Brown, V., & Hayfield, N. (2015). Thematic analysis. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods (3rd ed., pp. 222–248). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
go back to reference Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Sage. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.
go back to reference Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2017). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage. Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2017). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.
go back to reference Davis, K. (2015). Teachers’ perceptions of twitter for professional development. Disability and Rehabilitation, 37(17), 1551–1558.CrossRef Davis, K. (2015). Teachers’ perceptions of twitter for professional development. Disability and Rehabilitation, 37(17), 1551–1558.CrossRef
go back to reference Greenhow, C., Galvin, S., Brandon, D. & Askari, E. (2020). A decade of research on K-12 teaching and teacher learning with social media: Insights on the state-of-the-field. Teachers College Record, 122(6). Greenhow, C., Galvin, S., Brandon, D. & Askari, E. (2020). A decade of research on K-12 teaching and teacher learning with social media: Insights on the state-of-the-field. Teachers College Record, 122(6). 
go back to reference Greenhow, C., Sonnevend, J., & Agur, C. (2016). Introduction. In C. Greenhow, J. Sonnevend, & C. Agur (Eds.), Education and social media: Toward a digital future. Cambridge: The MIT Press.CrossRef Greenhow, C., Sonnevend, J., & Agur, C. (2016). Introduction. In C. Greenhow, J. Sonnevend, & C. Agur (Eds.), Education and social media: Toward a digital future. Cambridge: The MIT Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Hsu, Y. C., & Ching, Y. H. (2012). Mobile microblogging: Using twitter and mobile devices in an online course to promote learning in authentic contexts. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 13(4), 211–227.CrossRef Hsu, Y. C., & Ching, Y. H. (2012). Mobile microblogging: Using twitter and mobile devices in an online course to promote learning in authentic contexts. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 13(4), 211–227.CrossRef
go back to reference Junco, R., Heiberger, G., & Loken, E. (2011). The effect of twitter on college student engagement and grades. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 27(2), 119–132.CrossRef Junco, R., Heiberger, G., & Loken, E. (2011). The effect of twitter on college student engagement and grades. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 27(2), 119–132.CrossRef
go back to reference Kimmons, R., Carpenter, J. P., Veletsianos, G., & Krutka, D. G. (2018). Mining social media divides: An analysis of K-12 US School uses of twitter. Learning, Media and Technology, 43(3), 307–325.CrossRef Kimmons, R., Carpenter, J. P., Veletsianos, G., & Krutka, D. G. (2018). Mining social media divides: An analysis of K-12 US School uses of twitter. Learning, Media and Technology, 43(3), 307–325.CrossRef
go back to reference Kop, R. (2011). The challenges to connectivist learning on open online networks: Learning experiences during a massive open online course. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 12, 19–38.CrossRef Kop, R. (2011). The challenges to connectivist learning on open online networks: Learning experiences during a massive open online course. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 12, 19–38.CrossRef
go back to reference Krutka, D. G., & Carpenter, J. P. (2016). Participatory learning through social media: How and why social studies educators use twitter. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 16(1), 38–59. Krutka, D. G., & Carpenter, J. P. (2016). Participatory learning through social media: How and why social studies educators use twitter. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 16(1), 38–59.
go back to reference Kurtz, J. (2009). Twittering about learning: Using twitter in an elementary school classroom. Horace, 25(1), n1. Kurtz, J. (2009). Twittering about learning: Using twitter in an elementary school classroom. Horace, 25(1), n1.
go back to reference Loomis, S. (2018). # twitter: A pedagogical tool in the high school classroom. Journal of Language and Literacy Education, 14(1), n1. Loomis, S. (2018). # twitter: A pedagogical tool in the high school classroom. Journal of Language and Literacy Education, 14(1), n1.
go back to reference Lynch, J. M. (2018). How school principals use twitter to support leadership practices: A mixed methods design (doctoral dissertation). Lynch, J. M. (2018). How school principals use twitter to support leadership practices: A mixed methods design (doctoral dissertation).
go back to reference Marich, H. (2016). Twitter in the elementary classroom: A Teacher's journey. Language Arts, 94(1), 67. Marich, H. (2016). Twitter in the elementary classroom: A Teacher's journey. Language Arts, 94(1), 67.
go back to reference Maxwell, J. A. (2013). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications. Maxwell, J. A. (2013). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
go back to reference Miles, M., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage. Miles, M., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
go back to reference Orfanakis, V., & Papadakis, S. (2016, December). Teaching basic programming concepts to novice programmers in secondary education using twitter, Python, Ardruino and a coffee machine. In Hellenic conference on innovating STEM education (HISTEM) (pp. 16-18). Orfanakis, V., & Papadakis, S. (2016, December). Teaching basic programming concepts to novice programmers in secondary education using twitter, Python, Ardruino and a coffee machine. In Hellenic conference on innovating STEM education (HISTEM) (pp. 16-18).
go back to reference Palys, T. (2008). Purposive sampling. In L. M. Given (Ed.), The Sage encyclopedia of qualitative research methods (Vol. 2) (pp. 697–698). Los Angeles: Sage. Palys, T. (2008). Purposive sampling. In L. M. Given (Ed.), The Sage encyclopedia of qualitative research methods (Vol. 2) (pp. 697–698). Los Angeles: Sage.
go back to reference Robinson, O. C. (2014). Sampling in interview-based qualitative research: A theoretical and practical guide. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 11(1), 25–41.CrossRef Robinson, O. C. (2014). Sampling in interview-based qualitative research: A theoretical and practical guide. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 11(1), 25–41.CrossRef
go back to reference Rosenberg, J. M., Greenhalgh, S. P., Koehler, M. J., Hamilton, E., & Akcaoglu, M. (2016). An investigation of state educational twitter Hashtags (SETHs) as affinity spaces. E-Learning and Digital Media, 13(1–2), 24–44.CrossRef Rosenberg, J. M., Greenhalgh, S. P., Koehler, M. J., Hamilton, E., & Akcaoglu, M. (2016). An investigation of state educational twitter Hashtags (SETHs) as affinity spaces. E-Learning and Digital Media, 13(1–2), 24–44.CrossRef
go back to reference Shaw, E. (1999). A guide to the qualitative research process: Evidence from a small firm study. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 2(2), 59–70.CrossRef Shaw, E. (1999). A guide to the qualitative research process: Evidence from a small firm study. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 2(2), 59–70.CrossRef
go back to reference Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2008). Interpretive phenomenological analysis. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods (2nd ed., pp. 53–80). Thousand Oaks: Sage. Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2008). Interpretive phenomenological analysis. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods (2nd ed., pp. 53–80). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
go back to reference Spradley, J. (1979). The ethnographic interview. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace. Spradley, J. (1979). The ethnographic interview. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace.
go back to reference Tang, Y., & Hew, K. F. (2017). Using twitter for education: Beneficial or simply a waste of time? Computers & Education, 106, 97–118.CrossRef Tang, Y., & Hew, K. F. (2017). Using twitter for education: Beneficial or simply a waste of time? Computers & Education, 106, 97–118.CrossRef
go back to reference Van Osch, W., & Coursaris, C. (2015). A meta-analysis of theories and topics in social media research. In T. X. Bui & R. H. Sprague (Eds.), Proceedings of the 48th annual Hawaii international conference on system sciences (pp. 1668–1675). Los Alamitos: IEEE Computer Society. Van Osch, W., & Coursaris, C. (2015). A meta-analysis of theories and topics in social media research. In T. X. Bui & R. H. Sprague (Eds.), Proceedings of the 48th annual Hawaii international conference on system sciences (pp. 1668–1675). Los Alamitos: IEEE Computer Society.
go back to reference Van Vooren, C., & Bess, C. (2013). Teacher tweets improve achievement for eighth grade science students. Journal of Education, Informatics & Cybernetics, 11(1), 33–36. Van Vooren, C., & Bess, C. (2013). Teacher tweets improve achievement for eighth grade science students. Journal of Education, Informatics & Cybernetics, 11(1), 33–36.
go back to reference Vázquez Cano, E. (2012). Mobile learning with twitter to improve linguistic competence at secondary schools. New Educational Review, 29(3), 134–147. Vázquez Cano, E. (2012). Mobile learning with twitter to improve linguistic competence at secondary schools. New Educational Review, 29(3), 134–147.
go back to reference Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage. Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Metadata
Title
Using Twitter for Civic Education in K-12 Classrooms
Authors
Amy L. Chapman
Holly Marich
Publication date
07-08-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
TechTrends / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 8756-3894
Electronic ISSN: 1559-7075
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-020-00542-z

Other articles of this Issue 1/2021

TechTrends 1/2021 Go to the issue

Premium Partner