Mod-6 Comparing Twitter and Pownce

So, I would have to say that after looking at both sites, that Pownce is so much more user-friendly and more efficient than Twitter. There are just too many constraints on Twitter that would hinder using it as a classroom tool.
One thing I like about both is that they have nice, clear privacy settings. If the kids only want to send a message to one person or not want their work to be seen by everyone, there is a choice to expand/limit the audience. The way in which one does this, however is different on each site. For example, on Pownce, there is a drop down box right below which designates who will be able to see it (one friend/all friends/public). On Twitter, you must first go to direct messages on the right hand side and go into that inbox, kind of like e-mail. This feature isn't as user friendly as Pownce. One thought I had was: what if a student just starts writing on the main page and forgets to click on direct messages first? They would have to either erase the whole thing, or copy and paste. Or if they submit it publicly, it might be embarrassing because it might be something personal only the teacher needs to know. This could get frustrating.
Another reason I like Pownce better is because it allows text, video, urls or even a special event to be posted. These tools are located right on the main text box to avoid any confusion. Again, another reason why this site is extremely user-friendly. For example, if a teacher wanted to post an extra video for students on a topic discussed in class, or if a student wanted to upload his/her paper for the class to view, it is easy and efficient. Twitter, on the other hand, does not have this capability(at least I looked through the different options and this wasn't available). There seems to be more "searching" on Twitter to make sure the tools are available...Either way, this program is very limited. You can only post text up to 140 characters. This is very frustrating for me (as I can be wordy at times) because if you go one character over, it doesn't allow you to send the post. To use this in the classroom would be very hard, especially for submitting homework assignments. I would probably only use this program just for small updates for the class or as a question and answer forum, but nothing more than that.
Another thing I like about both sites is that it allows you to personalize the page by adding a picture. I like Pownce better though because it doesn't have a KB limit on how big the picture has to be, and students can add pictures into their post. Twitter has a KB limit which can be aggravating if the student isn't that computer saavy to understand why this is happening. Also, posts can't be personalized as much because of the limitations of text and other multimedia functions. Both were easy to sign up for. I had no problems with that process whatsoever. In the end, I have to say that for better efficiency for classroom purposes, I would definitely choose Pownce as a microblog.

Mod 6- Microblogging for the classroom

The microblogging article that I read about is at
http://www.writetech.net/2008/04/microblogging-1.html. It has a first part as well, but is only one paragraph, and you can use the "previous" button on the blog to get to it if needed.

This article speaks about how the convenience of these microblogging programs contributes to the classroom. Although the blog speaks about the corporate learning environment also, I believe that the reasons for both environments (classroom/corporate) are interchangeable. One convenience of these programs is explained here:

"Students may continue the conversations outside of class using Twitter. This is especially important when the class is spread out via elearning. The students have a shared experience - your classroom."

Because this program is online and easy to access, the kids will be excited to chat with their friends/classmates on this site. However, it isn't just a social tool, but as the article says, will expand upon their learning in a significant way. As long as it is moderated by the teacher, the students can post about that day's class and have fun doing it. As stated, it is a shared experience for the entire classroom. Also, the students (whether they like it or not) will be thinking about the material in a meaningful way when they post on the sites. For example, as the students leave the classroom already engaged in learning, and the teacher wants them to post a few sentences in French in response to what the teacher said on the microblog, this is engaging and everyone can share what they did on the blog. Their minds become reactivated thinking about the language, even after class is out of session. It is kind of like giving two lessons in one day if you think about it. It keeps students engaged in the learning process.
Another convenience of this microblog is for informative purposes. If a date is changed for a test or a parent-teacher conference is coming up, the teacher can post it on the microblog. The article mentions hooking it up to a cell phone as well, but I don't feel that is needed for a 7-12 classroom. The article gives a good example of this convenience by having a person giving a lecture post on their Twitter his # to give him a call...5 minutes later people started calling him. Also, this is a good way to go "green" in the classroom. Instead of sending out flyers and paper homework assignments, it can all be done right on the Twitter site. These are just a few ways microblogging can be used in the classroom.