Deviating From the Traditional Instructional Tools: Integrating Twitter in a Sociology of Deviance Course | S’éloigner des outils pédagogiques traditionnels : intégrer Twitter dans un cours sur la sociologie de la deviance

Adrienne M.F. Peters; Jane Costello; Daph Crane

doi:10.21432/cjlt27792

Authors

Adrienne M.F. Peters Memorial University of Newfoundland
Jane Costello Memorial University of Newfoundland
Daph Crane Memorial University of Newfoundland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21432/cjlt27792

Keywords:

Twitter, online learning, class engagement, assessment, sense of community

Abstract

As the use of social media in post-secondary education expands, so does the research literature examining its effectiveness in engaging students. Studies have examined the use of Twitter as an assessment and engagement tool, and since this is a broad and growing research area, better understanding whether Twitter can promote these outcomes in an upper-level university course is valuable. This paper explores these themes based on a student survey (N=37) conducted in a Sociology Deviance course. It also reviews how students responded to the use of Twitter as a “community-classroom” engagement and assessment tool. Findings reveal that Twitter did contribute to some students’ sense of community. We offer suggestions for how instructors can successfully integrate Twitter activities into their course assessment to make them more engaging and to improve connectedness.

L’utilisation des médias sociaux dans l’éducation postsecondaire prend de l’ampleur, entraînant l’augmentation de la documentation de recherche qui examine leur efficacité à motiver les élèves. Des études se sont penchées sur l’utilisation de Twitter comme outil d’évaluation et de participation. Comme il s’agit d’un domaine de recherche vaste et en croissance, il est important de mieux comprendre si Twitter peut favoriser ces résultats dans le cadre d’un cours universitaire de haut niveau. Cet article explore ces thèmes en s’appuyant sur un sondage réalisé auprès des étudiants (N=37) dans un cours de sociologie de la déviance. Il examine également comment les étudiants ont réagi à l’usage de Twitter comme outil de participation à une « classe-collectivité » et comme outil d’évaluation. Les conclusions révèlent que Twitter a contribué au sentiment d’appartenance à la collectivité de certains étudiants. Nous offrons des suggestions sur la façon dont les instructeurs peuvent intégrer avec succès des activités liées à Twitter dans leurs évaluations de cours afin de rendre ceux-ci plus motivants et d’améliorer la connectivité.

Author Biographies

Adrienne M.F. Peters, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology

Jane Costello, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Senior Instructional Design Specialist, Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL)

Daph Crane, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Senior Instructional Designer, Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL)

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