Philippine iSchools Project taps Twitter for PC literacy

The iSchools Project, a government-funded computerization program, is tapping the microblogging platform Twitter to promote PC literacy and re-establishing its connection to fellow Twitter users. Through tweets, people following @ischoolsproject — and even those interested in iSchools activities —become updated about latest efforts to distribute Internet-enabled computer labs to far-flung high schools in the Philippines. The project intends to take advantage of the rising interest in Twitter and Twitter users, iSchools’ content development team leader CP Calma said. The number of Twitter users has reportedly surged by 10,000 percent in 2010, compared to four years ago. Approximately 50 million tweets are sent everyday, including those posted by an estimated two million Filipino Twitter users. Twitter is also preferred by many businesses, organizations, and individuals since it requires less effort to use and maintain. Twitter can connect iSchools to the whole world, almost effortlessly since the website does not require correspondence. It guarantees a perfect stream of outgoing information, Calma added. Besides putting up computer labs, the project also encourages its recipient schools to take active roles in websites such as Twitter. In return, iSchools’ content team is striving to make their tweets informative but interesting as well. At the same time, the project is intended to attract followers that can help spread its various advocacies, such as open source software, Calma added. Anyone can follow iSchools on twitter by adding @ischoolsproject to their Twitter accounts. — Newsbytes.ph