Wait, I can use Twitter to teach?!

     Social networking has become a fundamental part of the global online experience. Microblogging is one of it.

     Microblogging is a broadcast medium in the form of blogging, which differs from a traditional blog, for microblogging is much smaller. One of the microblogging softwares that we are familiar with is Twitter. Twitter is continuously being popular which has already 190 million users. Most people consider Twitter as a tool to relax and socialize with others. However, teachers can also use Twitter to teach! 

     From the two articles that I read, I conclude some ways to integrate the use of Twitter into English language teaching to help facilitate students' learning. ("Can we use Twitter for educational activities?" & "Nine great reasons why teachers should use Twitter")

     Firstly, since Twitter is a great medium for sharing ideas and getting instant feedback, teachers can create a group for their students on Twitter and encourage students to post their ideas in regard to learning English. Students can also raise questions on Twitter, and through this means, peer teaching is promoted as well. Teachers can also post interesting and thought provoking discussion questions every now and then to get students involved outside classroom. By using Twitter as a study means, students improve their skills in reading and writing and the ability to do academic research, and at the same time their knowledge is broadened.

     Besides, students get a lot of information using Twitter which they are usually not exposed to a lot in class. For example, teachers can share various English language learning links and edubloggers on Twitter, so that students get more opportunities to better their studies.

     All in all, yes, as a teacher,  you should try start teaching with Twitter ASAP!

It's time to have a picture for your blog with the perfect resolution!



     Have you ever got frustrated with the picture you put on your blog for your students with terrible resolution and being embarrassed, you have no idea how to adjust it? Now you can say bye-bye to those situations!
    In one of the posts of Langwitches' blog--- Image Resolution and Resizing for Your Blog which helps you solve the problems you have with picture resolution, and you can also introduce it to your students who are also struggling with picture resolution.
    In this post, the author uses simple language to guide you one step after another in how to re-size an image. What I like a lot about this post is that the author gives information on digital image for computer learners with beginning level. For example, the post mentions how images like digital files are measured in bytes and then gives a chart of how many bytes equal to certain kilobytes, megabytes and so on. It is also included in the post that there is no need to upload an image with a pixel size larger than 600 pixels in width, which is a quite useful suggestion for learners to know as well.  Last but not least, the demonstration of using the software is very detailed and clearly done.
    In sum, as technology enriches our life, facilitates teaching and learning, and brings us more conveniences, it demands and challenges if our level of knowledge is up to date. Hence, never stop moving forward; never stop learning new technologies.