Blog About Twitter

Twitter discussions are centered around hashtags.  For instance, for the #happynewyear, users can have conversations about their new year festivities and even post pictures and videos using the hashtags.  Any user from any part of the world can join in the discussion as long as they include the hashtag in any part of the discussion.  Anyone can create a hashtag no matter what their status in life is.  These hashtags can be so unique that only certain people know it and can join the discussion or it can be broad, inviting multiple people to the discussion.  These twitter hashtag discussions do not go away; they can be pulled up at any time by anyone.  

In Blackboard discussion, the professor brings up the topic that is discussed and students discuss and respond to each other’s responses, creating a discussion.  This discussion is limited to the people in the class and most of the time, it has a time limit.  Because Blackboard is used for learning purposes, these discussions usually involve standard English and reputable information whereas Twitter discussions don’t worry about grammar or validity.  Like Twitter discussions, Blackboard discussions can be pulled up at any time as long as the class is still active.

Unlike a Twitter and Blackboard discussion, in-class discussions are not recorded.  The professor brings up a topic that the students discuss but instead of using the hashtag and digitally having a discussion, they can have it in person, face to face.  Like Twitter discussion, these discussions are passionate and incite a lot of emotion.  The downside to class discussions is that you cannot look back and re-read, re-watch a discussion.  Finally, I think the most important difference between the three is that 10 years after having discussions through these three modes, your words cannot be used against you unless you joined a discussion on Twitter.  The most significant similarity is that discussions are not limited to one topic or hashtag.  A discussion can relate to or be connected to multiple topics on Twitter, Backboard and in-class discussions.