Marylan, is the toolbar worth importing? I watched a video on it but couldn't determine how intrusive it would be, taking up screen space, for instance, and how effective the sticky notes would be? Have you downloaded and tested it?
In the attendant article linked to this one, the professor gives two excellent ideas for use of Twitter in the classroom:
1. I could have my English 110 students do as he requested--track a word or a name. I would like them to expand their vocabulary, and a Twitter search would be preferable to the standard list of words.
2. In creating a sense of community, Twitter brought his students together in discussions that continued along similar veins as they had in class. In addition, the conversations gave him a glimpse into the workings of their minds. This type of short exchange would be like an MRI combined with a sound bite.