Blog about Twitter

How does a Twitter discussion compare to a BlackBoard Discussion? To an in-class discussion?

I really don’t think Twitter compares in any way to BlackBoard. Let’s start with length. With Twitter, you are limited to 140 characters which does not live many space to expressing yourself. You have to be very imaginative to make each character count or nobody will know what you’re talking about. Tweeter is about expressing your opinion, your state of mind and put your two cents in someone else’s opinion/tweet.

Blackboard on the other side is all about academics. You have to follow guidelines and decorum, respect the opinions of your professors and fellow students and courteously disagree with them which is definitely not a requirement in Tweeter world. And you can go on and on in a Blackboard discussion or post a picture or attach a document which is not possible with the 140 characters of Tweeter.

Finally there is the in class discussion which can or cannot be more structure and you can actually see and interpret non verbal behaviors which to me is the most interesting part. I mean if someone is good with words, you can get hints and cues from them, but the real deal is to actually see the behavior. But the not so interesting part of an in-class discussion is that you can’t escape it or you will be penalized. While when I am bored with the online class or don’t feel like being there I can live it and come back whenever and getting dressed up is not a requirement.