Follow the Hashtag: Twitter as Pedagogy in Graduate Education

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 28
  In Roundtable Session: Rethinking Teaching Materials and Instructional Approaches

Abstract

The prevalence of social networking has resulted in increased interest in using platforms such as Twitter in teaching and learning. The examination of Twitter and its use in teaching and learning have been confined to studies in undergraduate courses and in-classroom pedagogy. There is little attention to the role of social media in transformative teaching and learning. The purpose of this study is to examine how, and to what extent, graduate students in an education course engage with Twitter as a pedagogical tool for transformative learning around social justice and equity issues. Three findings emerged from the tweets, retweets, and comments posted by the class including engaging with counter-narratives, recognizing dominant narratives, and connecting to personal and professional experiences.

Authors

• Ericka Roland, University of Texas at Arlington

• Alden C Jones, The University of Texas at Austin