Cell Phones, Web, Social Networking
Purdue's 'Hotseat' Brings Twitter to the College Classroom
Purdue University, one of the first to institute an emergency text messaging system and an early adopter of Apple's iTunes U, is testing a custom developed app called 'Hotseat' that allows for students to comment and ask questions in real-time, via Twitter, Facebook, text message, and a Web interface. The university is testing the application in two classes right now, and of the roughly 600 students taking those courses, 73-percent have used 'Hotseat' to ask questions, critique their professor, or vote for topics to be covered.
Reaction so far has been quite positive. Professor Sugato Chakravarty told Purdue University News, "I'm seeing students interact more with the course," which is exactly the sort of effect Purdue was hoping for.
Do such tools really have place in the classroom? Or are such social media experiments an attempt to capitalize on a trend in hopes of capturing the attention of students, without really adding much value to the curriculum. If you ask us, the usefulness is undeniable. The Web and social networking won't be able to completely (or even mostly) replace a traditional classroom experience, with face-to-face discussions and text books. But it'll certainly open it up to broader participation, especially from the tongue-tied or too shy who dread speaking up in a crowded classroom.
Check out the short demo video below to see how 'Hotseat' works. [From: Mashable and Purdue University News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve B said 8:54AM on 11-06-2009
Terrence: Thanks for the post. Very interesting possibilities. Steve B.
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Erin said 10:51AM on 11-25-2009
So this new technology allows students to ask questions, vote for topics to be covered in class, and critique their professor. As a teacher myself, I believe that all but the first of these uses subverts quality education.
It is the job of the professor to determine what should be taught in his/her class. Students have already "voted" for the topics that interest them by choosing the class from the course catalog. The whole point of being in college is to learn specialized material from those who are masters in their fields. How could an 18-year-old college student possibly have the breadth or depth of knowledge to presume to tell the instructor what should be covered in class?
Secondly, these same 18-year-old students do not have the knowledge, wisdom, or life experience to presume to critique the instructor. Few have lived on their own before. Most still have their parents paying their bills. These students are there to learn, not teach. Period. Hopefully, throughout their college experience, they will discover that it is possible to learn even from those instructors who are not young, sexy, dynamic, or technologically savvy.
To be sure, new technology opens up a wider range of choices in education. However, we should not permit the adoption and elevation of youth-driven technology to elevate callow, cocky, youthful ignorance as well.
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