Blogging, Twittering, and Teaching: Online Resources in the Classroom

A presentation at the annual convention of the Texas Community College Teachers Association, Houston, March 5, 2010.

Uses for class blogs:

• To post questions or comments about the readings before we discuss them in class;
• To follow up on class discussions with additional comments or questions.
• To post relevant news items or videos.

Examples of class blogs:

• Introductory American -- fall 2009
• Introductory American -- spring 2010
  
• American Presidency
• US Congress
• Politics of Journalism

The Claremont Legislative Simulation

• YouTube 2007
• Student blog
• Student Twitter

Interactive sites

• Budget Hero
• Pew Typology
• Center for Congress Learning Modules
• The Redistricting Game
• Fundrace
• Fantasy SCOTUS

One relevant video involved a wildfire and its lessons for federalism.