Faculty Focus has published the results of an interesting survey on Twitter usage and trends amongst higher education professionals. Questions related to familiarity, perception, and experience with the micro-blogging technology, as well as estimated future Twitter usage.
35% of 1,400 respondents reported using Twitter in some capacity, up from 31% in 2009, whilst the percentage who never used Twitter decreased to 48%.
Most commonly Twitter was used to share information with peers, and as a real-time news source. Usage of Twitter to communicate with students, and as a learning tool in the classroom, increased from the previous year.
Non-users expressed concerns that Twitter creates poor writing skills, distracts students in their learning environment, and is actually used by very few of their students. It was also suggested that Twitter further complicates communication with students, as there are already too many places to post messages or check for student questions and comments.
The full report is available from www.scribd.com/doc/37621209/2010-Twitter-Survey-Report
Faculty Focus is a US-based website featuring articles and reports on innovative strategies, best practices and fresh perspectives on teaching, learning, and leading in higher education today.
