EDUCATION Minister and all-round Good Egg, Jim Knight, told me this evening about his latest Twitter experience: using it to take part in a Q&A in Blackpool from his office at the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
You can see the whole thing here, and it seems to me a rather innovative way to use Twitter; like tele-conferencing, but different — less informal and, crucially, two-way. Jim thought it went well, and I gather the feedback from the delegates was positive.
But the exercise gave me an idea: how about ministers at the despatch box being limited to 140 characters when they answer? It would certainly throw up some interesting scenarios.
Back to top
Tuesday 3 March 2009 at 11:44 pm
Could have done with that at the NPF on Saturday when it came to questions for Gordon. Cue union baron approaching the rostrum with a sheaf of paper. Half an hour later….
How about having tweets projected onto the screens in the Chamber during PMQs, so we can give a running commentary on everyone’s performances?
Wednesday 4 March 2009 at 1:01 am
Just remembering endless “Training days” when the Twitter discipline would have been a huge advantage.
We’d have been out by coffee time!
Maybe you should try an experiment with your posters.
Hang on! I’m in danger of pandering to the current sound-bite culture, and the implication that we all have the concentration levels of a fruit fly.
Or, maybe, I’m just getting old. Sigh!
Thursday 5 March 2009 at 11:08 pm
The video of Jim Knight’s address to Naace (the association for educational ICT professionals) to which the Q&A session refers can also be found on the conference blog:
http://blackpoolconference09.naaceblogs.org/2009/02/01/welcome-and-housekeeping/
Thursday 5 March 2009 at 11:14 pm
Last year Jim appeared at the Naace conference in Second Life. It’s great to see a minister putting his money where his mouth is, and taking risks with live technology, which is what we’re encouraging our teachers to do. Jim’s openness was highly appreciated by delegates in the hall, and those following the conference online from elsewhere.
Leave a comment