The Power of Twitter Community in the Classroom

Unleashing Free Knowledge For Educational Use

By the end of this presentation, we will be able to……

Develop an understanding of terminology and professional use of Twitter.

Acquire integration ideas for use Create a Twitter Account Conduct a Twitter Search Receive Resources to Further

Knowledge

Twitter Terminology MicroBlogging: 140 characters or less via

SMS, instand messaging, email, Twitter’s website, third party websites, third party apps.

Profile Badge: Classroom/Educator Brand Friends or Follower Receive updates through text messages,

RSS, 3rd party apps Hashtag: # (Conduct Search, or Way to

communicate if you do not follow each other)

Sign up for a Twitter Account

Your display name can be your own name or  a pseudonym.  You will need to give an email address, as you will need to validate your account.

Customize Your Profile Page

Settings: Write Bio, Select Profile Picture, Customize Look or Brand or Your Page: Background and Color Scheme, set up Web Widget

Account: Private: Open so people can see your tweets that follow you, Many choose not to follow if you protect tweets, since they can’t see previous tweets.

Mobile: Text Message Notifications

Why Twitter?

Quick Communication with Parents 24*7 Send Reminders, Announcements, latest

class news Create Twitter Lists specific to your

course that others can follow Bring Educational Experts Into the

Classroom Develop a PLN: Share Educational

Links, Resources Collaborate

Here are the most popular teaching hashtags:

#Edtech – anything to do with technology in the classroom#education – anything to do with education#elearning – mostly about computer based learning, although also covers anything to do with the ‘e’ role in learning#teachers – focuses on the teacher#edchat – a weekly and lively discussion about all things education#ntchat – resources for new teachers#teachmeet – connecting teachers#ukedchat – UK teacher chat#ozteachers – Australian teacher chat#gct – Google certified teachers#ednews – news feed#ceoelearn – Catholic education chat (very active resource feed)

#teacherontwitter – Most posts are for job vacancies.#spedchat – short for Special Education Chat, this list is usually very

deep in thought and helpful around special needs in education and great for teacher train

Subject or role specific #elemchat – elementary teacher chat

#mathchat – math teacher chat#scichat – science teacher chat#college chat – for teachers of college students#kinderchat – kindergarten chat#cpchat – connected principals chat#bio – biology chat (can get mixed results)#tlchat – teacher librarians chat#spedchat – teachers working in special ed#kedu – another kindergarten hashtag

#dublinisd

Integrating In Classroom Curriculum Gather Real World Data: Location, Geography,

Temperature, Historical Fact, Opinion Monitor/GeoTag “Buzzwords” on www.twitterfall.com

Example: “Poverty” Use www.twittermap.com: Get an idea where certain

topics are being discussed most. Bring a historical figure to life:

www.historicaltweets.com Research author or book or Develop Tweetstory with

other classrooms. Start online book club Develop Class haikus, Micropoem: #poetweet or

#micropoem

Integrating In Classroom Curriculum Scavenger Hunts: Find websites, pics, online docs Brainstorming Keep Discussions Going: Large Group: Projection

Screen to display results from chosen #Hashtags Upload Videos from iPods to share on Twitter Feed Probability Questions: Example: "What are the

chances it will snow where you are?"With a variety of people in different locations you will hopefully have a variety of different responses.

Track School Trips with Twitter

Integrating In Classroom Curriculum Research Diary: Sharing, Reflecting,

Engaging, Inquiring, Reporting Mulit-Media Class Newspapers:

http://paper.li/

Applications For Twitter

Twitter TweetDeck: Column

Based Approach Twitterrific: Pay for

multiple accounts TwitBird: Ad

supported free Tweetie HootSuite: similar to

TweetDeck