How does a Twitter discussion compare to a BlackBoard Discussion? To an in-class discussion?

To me, an in class discussion is the most useful discussion. Though Twitter emphasizes real-time interaction, nothing can compare to real life discussions which are more personal. In class discussions include real time conversation with classmates and teachers and do not eliminate things like body language, sarcasm, and other characteristics of in-person interactions that are lost in many social media site. Being able to speak your ideas rather than type them makes in-class discussions different because you cannot delete what you have said or take an extended period of time to revise and gather information.

Twitter discussions and Blackboard discussions are similar to me in many ways especially that they lack the characteristics of in-person communication, but they also have some contrast. Twitter discussions, in my opinion, are more updated and fast paced than a BlackBoard discussion. You are able to be notified when somebody posts a reply to something that you said unlike BlackBoard. One characteristic of BlackBoard that makes it so different than Twitter but makes it similar to in-class discussions is the reason why you are having that discussion. Twitter is full of people who are voluntarily voicing their opinion on a certain matter whereas most in-class and BlackBoard discussions are mandatory for getting a good grade. While you are not forced to talk in class and in BlackBoard, you will receive a worse grade. In our class however, Twitter assignments are graded, therefore giving us the incentive to participate in them.