Twitter

= Twitter is … = a microblogging informational network. The idea seems to be the opposite of facebook. While facebook connects people who know each other, twitter connects people who don't know each other all based on areas of interest! According to twitter.com:

"Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest information about what you find [|interesting]. Simply find the public streams you find most compelling and follow the conversations. At the heart of Twitter are small bursts of information called [|Tweets]. Each Tweet is 140 characters in length, but don’t let the small size fool you—you can share a lot with a little space. Connected to each Tweet is a rich details pane that provides additional information, deeper context and embedded media."

Twitter allows users to tag tweets with hashtags. (any word with the "#" sign in front of it) This identifies the content of the post and makes it searchable for other users. This is how you connect with new people on twitter!

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Just the Facts …
Twitter is accessible anywhere, anytime. All you need is an internet connection. Twitter is FREE! This tool can be used by adults to convey information to any age group. For additional information, click here (general info) or here (how it works)/

//How to set-up a twitter account (Part 1)// media type="file" key="Twitter instructions.wmv" width="300" height="300"

//How to set-up a twitter account and send your first tweet (Part 2)//

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In the Classroom …
Twitter can seem intimidating, but the uses are multi-fold for education. It is easy to get overwhelmed, so here is a scaffolded approach:

BEGINNER: Professional Learning Network INTERMEDIATE: Communication with Parents ADVANCED: Student Connectivity

Beginners:
Once you've joined twitter, a great place to start is by building a Professional Learning Network (PLN). This is your own custom network of educators with whom you can share ideas and resources. Don't feel obligated to send out any tweets right away. Instead, begin by joining one of the weekly edchats on twitter. An edchat is a one-hour conversation dedicated to a specific topic in education. The key to an edchat (and any really good tweet) is the HASHTAG. There are tons of different content area-specific edchatsthat are easy to find based on their hashtag. Once you've found a chat that is of interest, you'll need to learn how to join the edchat. Once you're in the chat, you'll find LOTS of tips, resources and ideas flying around in the conversation. Keep an eye on who is sending out good information; you'll want to 'follow' them on twitter. When you follow someone, all of their tweets show up on your twitter feed (aka, homepage) so you'll always be up to date on any resources they are sharing. It is important to remember that step one, LURKING, is an important step. It is absolutely ok to read twitter without ever sending a tweet.

Intermediate:
So...you're beginning to get the hang of twitter, right? You follow some great people, and perhaps you have even joined an edchat or two. Well, now is a great time to take the next step: Why not use twitter to communicate YOUR ideas about education to your PLN...or even parents? While lurking is an important part of twitter, it can be exciting to actually contribute to the conversation. The key to successful contributions (again) is the hashtag. If you're sending out information about an art lesson plan, be sure to label your tweet with #artsed. Without a hashtag, no one will ever be able to find your tweets! Want to know what hashtags are out there? Once you're ready with your tweet and your hashtag, the sky is the limit. Send tweets about homework assignments, word of the day, upcoming tests/quizzes; can you imagine how excited parents would be if they, too, were on twitter and could follow you? You're now at the level where you may want to consider including your twitter username in your email signature!

Advanced:
Twitter is part of your daily professional development. You're using tweetdeck (or a similar tool) to keep track of the many conversations that help your classroom stay ahead of the curve. Why keep it to yourself? If you teach in a high school setting, twitter may be a tool that your students can use. Why not start a hashtag based on a current topic in your lesson? If you're studying the Civil War, why not let kids tweet their thoughts or resources they find? Students around the world could connect and converse about a relevant classroom topic! Perhaps content-specific tweeting isn't up your alley. Instead, create a hashtag for your class to use as a resource when they're stuck on a homework problem or studying for a test. Wouldn't it be cool to have a record of student's posing and responding to each other's questions? Now take it one step further: imagine calculus students in Des Moines asking for help and your kids are tweeting back with formulas and strategies!

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Help, I’m Stuck …

 * Twitter Basics
 * Twitter Lesson Plans
 * Tweet4Education Ning
 * Foreign Language Twitter Project
 * Foreign Language Twitter Project: Teacher's Page

Check it out …
Here is a feed of tweets from top technology educators around the country! media type="custom" key="8605496"

B Selden 2011