Twitter to be taught in schools

Twitter and Wikipedia could become key learning tools under new proposals to overhaul the primary school curriculum.

Under the draft plans, topics such as World War II and the Victorian era could give way to the study of Web 2.0 communication tools.

The plans have been drawn up by Sir Jim Rose, the former Ofsted chief.

The draft will be published in full next month and concentrates on six core 'learning areas' to replace the current 13 standalone subject areas.

What is Twitter?

Under the leaked plans children leaving primary school at 11 should be familiar with blogging, podcasts, Wikipedia and Twitter as sources of information and forms of communication.

The plans stipulate that pupils must gain "fluency" in handwriting and keyboard skills, and learn how to use a spellchecker alongside learning how to spell.

John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers (NUT), said that the plans show that the government is eager to jump on the latest trends.

"It seems to be about trends on the one hand, then political pressure on the other hand, the government didn't want to look like it is scrapping traditional education," said Bangs.

"Computer skills and keyboard skills seem to be as important as handwriting in this. Traditional books and written texts are downplayed in response to web-based learning," he added.