The first Twitter class |
Connect with TechFlash on our Facebook page for all the latest technology news headlines and commentary, plus information and access to special events, photos from events, promotions and more.
Today On Techflash
- Micron Tech CEO killed in airplane accident in Idaho
- Microsoft teams with NASA chief to talk about science education
- Renters, buyers (and lookers) continue to flock to Zillow
- Best in-house lawyers sought by PSBJ
- Nearly 100 million in the U.S. now own smartphones
- Expedia partnering with China Southern Airlines
- Amazon also supports same-sex marriage, following others in tech
- Craig McCaw backed GOP candidate Huntsman 'Super PAC’
- Microsoft's Youngjohns: Let business dictate move to cloud
- Nearly 100 million in the U.S. now own smartphones
- Tweet signals Microsoft marketing layoffs
- Keiretsu Forum NW invested $24 million in 36 startups in 2011
- Microsoft teams with NASA chief to talk about science education
- Renters, buyers (and lookers) continue to flock to Zillow
- 'Fast Pitch Forum' to debut May 27 with some familiar names
- Getty Images has GUESTLIST music for movie trailers, ads
- Amazon sees gold in Babe Ruth or Wayne Gretzky trading cards
- Keiretsu Forum NW invested $24 million in 36 startups in 2011
- Shop.com, backed by Bill Gates and Amazon.com, finds a buyer
- Amazon.com gets toehold in India with website, package center
Mass High Tech
The first Twitter class
DePaul University's College of Communications got national press attention this week when it announced plans to offer a college journalism course on Twitter, with the The Wall Street Journal reporting that the class is being touted as the first of its kind. DePaul's press release also made the claim of being first. But University of Washington communications professor Kathy Gill says not so fast.
Gill taught a spring course at the UW that largely focused on Twitter, and followed up this summer with another more detailed offering in the graduate school. That class was titled "Beyond The Fail Whale: How Twitter Is Changing Organizations."
"You could say qualifiers that ours was graduate and theirs (is) undergraduate, but there are no qualifiers needed for ours," Gill said. "Ours was just the first one, period."
Gill admits that there's a "little ego involved" in terms of getting recognition for the UW's Department of Communications.
She said that the true pioneer in this realm is Howard Rheingold, who used Twitter extensively in a Stanford Unviersity journalism course last year.
Gill's planning to release a book this November based on the summer course, an instructional manual of sorts on how organizations utilize Twitter.
In terms of great college rivalries. Could this spark the next great college rivalry between the Blue Demons and the Huskies? Probably not.
But it does show how deeply Twitter is penetrating even the halls of universities.
"Lots of faculty have integrated Twitter into existing classes -- not just journalism or communications ones," Gill said. "However, focusing a class on Twitter -- this is definitely a 2009 phenomena."
Asked why it was important to teach Twitter in the classroom, Gill said that it represents the power of the real-time Web.
"It is a form of communications that is here to stay," said Gill. "Just like we needed to teach people about email -- how to use it, how to use it well and how it is being used -- we need to be teaching our students how to use this new communications technology."
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
TechFlash Team
Recent Sponsor Posts
The Triple Door Presents: The Atomic Bombshells "J'ADORE!: A Burlesque Valentine"
Seattle's reigning Burlesque super-troupe delivers a gorgeous and glittering VALENTINE featuring some of the Bombshells' most exhilarating acts to date. J'Adore! promises to celebrate l'amour with good humor, style, and a healthy dose of dazzle! Bring a friend, a lover, a family member, or a secret crush, and celebrate with the Valentine's Burlesque spectacular that will leave you shouting: "J'ADORE......The Atomic Bombshells!" The incomparable Jasper McCann emcees with high style and charm.
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
The Triple Door Presents: Bob Mould – See A Little Light: An Evening of Reading and Music
"Bob Mould. Those two words are synonymous with integrity. From Husker Du in the last century to right at this moment, Bob is the real deal, writing and playing music for music's sake. He's a great songwriter and performer. I have been a fan of Bob's for thirty years now with no end in sight." -Henry Rollins
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
Why Choose BDO for your SOC (previously SAS 70) Reports?
BDO’s experience in providing attestation services (SAS 70/SSAE 16, AT 101, AT 201, AT 601, etc.) to a broad range of industries, and our team of skilled professionals distinctly qualifies us to serve as your company’s Service Auditor. By leveraging the BDO global network of control specialists, we are poised to provide global services in more than 1,000 offices and across 119 countries. Many organizations find that investing in reports on controls may result in benefits, including:
• Increased client confidence
• Improved competitive advantage
• Minimization of frequent audits
• Streamlined business processes and controls
• Enhanced risk management
For detailed information contact Paul Martini at pmartini@bdo.com.
Seattle University Graduate Programs Accepting Applications:
Seattle University now offers two graduate programs in computing. The evening Master of Software Engineering program builds upon the professional experience of its students and offers courses in a variety of technical and management topics, with an emphasis on teamwork and a disciplined approach to problem solving. The Master of Science in Computer Science program accommodates both full-time and part-time students and enhances students’ previous academic work in computer science, in order to develop technical depth and lifelong learning skills necessary for successful career advancement.
