Microblogging, Blogging and Podcasting!

Micro Blogging: After reading the first article on Twitter used during conferences, it is obvious to me that Twitter is not just a social network where people stalk and gossip.  Twitter is in fact a microblogging sit. Twitter can be use by many businesses to hold conferences and can even be used in schools by educators.  I think it is an amazing idea to use Twitter as a means of communication between a group of people.  By hash tagging, you are providing specific information to certain people about a topic of interest.  News and ideas can be spread on Twitter.  It is easy to upload a picture, send out a hash tag, and even send out links to new articles and other resources found on the internet. In schools, teachers are post homework assignments, remind students of a test or quiz that is coming up or even just add informational links that they want their students to take a look at. I think that Twitter in classrooms can be beneficial to students, the same way Twitter in Conferences is beneficial the their audience.

Blogging:  Like microblogging, Blogging is a way to share information with others.  Unlike Mircoblogging, Blogging does not limit your word count or amount of information you want to share with the world, or a specific group.  People use blogs for all different reasons.  Some use blogs to entertain others, some use it to express themselves, some use it to meet and network with others, where others use it to make money.  Blogs can be used in an educational way, for example, blogs are used in our Literacy and Technology class for us to reflect on the course readings and different projects. I never thought much of blogging until college. I think it's a great way for students to interact and express how they feel about a class or just about life. Blogs are different for everyone. Some people may not like being able to express themselves for anyone to read, and some may love to do that.
 
Podcasting: Like Microblogging and Blogging, Podcasting can be used in many different ways and by many different people.  One major way Podcasting is being used is in schools and educationally.  Podcasting is something that is so great and fun for students. Teachers are using it to produce  podcasts ranging from children's stories, audio diaries, plays, interviews, news and reviews. Some teachers are even using them to distribute exam revision material. Teachers are able to distribute learning materials, which can include sound, images and video. In today's world, sitting in a class for hours is boring and no one wants to do that. Podcasts is a way to keep students engaged and motivated.  Podcasts allows students to be able to watch the lecture when they have time and in the comfort of their own home. It also allows students who may not have been able to attend class, the opportunity to watch it without being penalized. Technology is just growing and growing and podcasts allows students to gain the experience and knowledge of using the computer to the best of their ability.