I've been using Twitter myself since the spring and have found it to be a valuable resource for finding information, research, and sources related to the technology and learning beat. It seems to me that many of the educators and ed-tech specialists I follow on Twitter use it with great skill for professional development and touching base with like-minded educators near and far.
Many have found Twitter so valuable, in fact, that they are starting to see relevant applications for their students, as I point out in this EdWeek piece.
While there is some anecdotal evidence from enthusiastic teachers and other advocates of social networking, however, there is scant research on whether it effectively promotes learning. The effect of Twitter-like communications—which generally call for short, rapid responses—on students' ability to consume, analyze, and comprehend material, is essentially unknown.
There are some interesting perspectives on a related topic on this blog discussion on The New York Times Web site today. The story asks the questions:
Is there a difference in the way the brain takes in or absorbs information when it is presented electronically versus on paper? Does the reading experience change, from retention to comprehension, depending on the medium?
Experts weighing in include an English professor, an author, a professor of child development, a computer scientist, and a professor of informatics.
What's your view?
I'm not sure that I agree when you write, "there is scant research on whether (Twitter) effectively promotes learning." Of course, there is very little research on Twitter itself. But, consider the different kinds of activities associated with Twitter:
1. Writing with a purpose: When students post comments on Twitter they are writing for an authentic audience. Research has recognized the value of such writing.
2. Writing succinctly and to the point: Just like every other form of writing, students should be challenged to make high quality points when they Tweet. Such writing clearly requires critical thinking, particularly when the writing must be short and to the point.
Incidentally, I have developed a unit with Twitter questions. Take a look at it here: http://www.pass-ed.com/wheretheredferngrows.html.
Andrew Pass