This document provides an overview of Twitter and how to use it effectively. It discusses key Twitter concepts like hashtags, retweets and the 140 character limit. It also covers how to find people to follow, use advanced features like lists and follow conferences remotely. The goal is to demonstrate how Twitter can be used for professional development and staying engaged in discussions, even when not attending events in person.

1. Hashtags, Retweets, and 140
Characters:
Finding Meaning in Twitter
Nell Eckersley

2. Agenda
• What is Twitter?
• Basics of Twitter
o Hashtags
o Retweets
o Shortening Links for Tweets (and other purposes)
o How to find people to follow
o How to get people to follow you
• Advanced Uses of Twitter
o Tweetdeck
o Follow Conferences even when you cannot attend (Paper.Li,
TweetChat)
o TweetReach
o Use with students
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3. Why Incorporate Social Media?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyZRS0Bn
pAI&feature=youtu.be
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4. What is Twitter?
• Short messages called “tweets”--maximum140
characters
• You “follow” people on Twitter (you “friend”
people on Facebook)
• You can send and receive tweets from your
cell phone, computer, tablet, e-reader etc.
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5. Twitter & Metacognition
• Metacognition
o The practice of thinking about and reflecting on your learning
o Increases comprehension and retention
• Twitter can be a viable platform for metacognition
o Forces users to be brief and to the point-an important skill in
thinking clearly and communicating effectively
o Can provide a simple way for attendees at a conference to share
thoughts about particular sessions and activities with others at
the event and those unable to attend.
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6. https://twitter.com/
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7. What Can You Say in 140 Characters?
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8. Retweeting
• RT @Username
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9. Tagging
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10. HashTags
#EdTech #EdChat
#AdultEd #TechPD
#TwEd #SoMeEd
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11. Our Hashtag
#NYACCE12
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12. Anatomy of a Good Tweet
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13. Shortened URLS
• http://ipadeducators.ning.com/profiles/blogs/preparing
-your-school-for-an (73 characters)
• Bit.ly/3FjhpX (13 characters)
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14. Shortening Links
You can use https://bitly.com/ to shorten URL’s
without creating an account
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15. Customizing Your Shortened URL
But if you create an account on BitLy.com, you can
customize your shortened URLS
Go from http://bit.ly/vJrH91 to http://bit.ly/wiggiotips
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16. Analytics
With an account you can also track how many times
the URL you created has been clicked.
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17. QR Code
And with or without an
account you can make
any of the shortened
URLS into a QR Code
by adding .qr at the
end
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18. Following People
• Not required to
follow everyone
who follows you
• You can un-follow
someone very easily
and they won’t
know
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19. Finding People to Follow
• Twitter Directories like
http://WeFollow.com
• Search hashtags and words #AdultEd
• See who follows people you follow
• http://Twibes.com
• http://Listorious.com
• http://Archivist.visitmix.com
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20. Search Twitter
• Search on http://Twitter.com for people,
keywords or hashtags
• Search on http://Search.Twitter.com for
keywords or hashtags even if you don’t have a
Twitter account
• Track hashtags and tweet from
http://tweetchat.com/
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21. Sending and Receiving Tweets
• Twitter.com
• SMS Texts via your cell phone
• Applications on computers & smart phones
o Tweetdeck
o HootSuite
o Seesmic
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22. http://www.tweetdeck.com/
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23. Advanced uses of Twitter
• Follow Conferences (even when you cannot attend in
person)
o TweetChat
o Paper.Li
• Lists, interactions
• HootCourse
• TweetChat
• Other fun tools
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24. http://tweetchat.com/
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25. COABE 2012 Paper.Li
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26. Twitter Backchannel
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27. Lists
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28. Interactions
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29. Hootcourse
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30. Twitter Chats
• How do we keep
up with
important
education
Twitter
discussions?
• #EdChat Wiki
• #AEChat
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31. http://twtpoll.com/aechat
When should we
have our AEChat?
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32. http://twtpoll.com
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33. http://archivist.visitmix.com
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34. Twitter Town Hall at COABE12
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35. http://tweetreach.com
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36. http://HistoricalTweets.com
• http://historicaltweets.com/2008/12/04/lincoln-asks-twitter-followers-for-
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37. http://packrati.us/
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38. http://wiffiti.com
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39. http://twitpic.com
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40. https://support.twitter.com/articles/64986-how-to-report-spam-on-twitter#
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41. What to Do Right Now?
• Create a Twitter account on twitter.com
• Follow three people
o @LACNYCnell or @NYACCE
o Search for people using #AdultEd
o Search for your favorite hobby, writer, singer, actor
• Retweet one tweet and create one of your own
tweets. Remember to use hashtags
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42. What to Do in the Next Few Weeks
• Spend 15 minutes on Twitter every morning
o reading
o retweeting
o following new people
• Try TweetDeck or receiving tweets as sms text
messages
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43. Nell Eckersley
• @LACNYCNell
• NellE@LACNYC.org
• http://www.scoop.it/t/twitter-in-adult-education
• http://lincs.ed.gov/mailman/listinfo/technology
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