I was assigned to follow 5 accounts on Twitter and write paragraphs about each of the accounts and what they're about. I was also asked to include snapshots of tweets I commented to or about.

1. CI 350 Twitter Assignment KaitlynM. Ellis
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Account #1: Harold Blanco @CI350Class

2. CI 350 Twitter Assignment KaitlynM. Ellis
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Harold’s CI 350 class twitter is a very helpful source for teachers. He posts articles and
blogs that contain information about using the technology tools we have learned in this course.
One particular blog entry I found helpful is the one I provided a snip of below, “How to
Incorporate Digital Storytelling to Empower Student Voice”. This link provided a blog entry with
a helpful example of using digital storytelling in the classroomand posting it to a blog. It
explains the value of allowing students to tell their stories as well. Many of his posts also
consisted of critical thinking and technology links that are helpful for educators.
Account #2: @WISEinWV
Wise in WV promotes sexual health and education. The tweets contain links to sites and
articles about sexual health and education and the importance of having it included in the
general education classroom. I do not agree with the sexuality content of this organization that
promotes the LGBT community because I believe this kind of lifestyle is sinful. No, I’m not any
part of a hate group (hate the sin, but love the sinner). I do not hate anyone. I just do not agree
with the lifestyle. No matter how much they want to push that part of the content into schools,
I will take no part in teaching it. However, I find the statistics about sexual assault particularly
interesting. I also think it is important to educate students about sex and its consequences, so,
for that part of the content, I agree with the stand WISEinWV is making.

3. CI 350 Twitter Assignment KaitlynM. Ellis
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Account #3: George Couros (@gcouros)
3/23/15

4. CI 350 Twitter Assignment KaitlynM. Ellis
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One of the people I chose to follow from the video is George Couros. He is an
elementary school principal that tweets inspirational and motivational links of information from
blogs (including his own). A lot of his tweets include information about leadership and the
characteristics of today’s desired classroom environment. He also provides information about
technology in the classroomand how to use it effectively and efficiently. I find his information
meaningful because it makes me think in-depth about the kind of teacher and leader I want to
be, what I desire my classroom to be like, and how I will teach. His overall purpose is providing
information that will help educators become innovators so that we can create the innovators of
tomorrow-changing the world of education for the better!
I found George’s link from BBC about using Google during examinations interesting. In
college, if students are honest, they use Google for help with homework, but also for online
quizzes and tests when possible. Teachers even encourage students to use Google when we can
not answer a student’s question. I think Google is just another network of information. Like
adults, students can learn and benefit from the information provided through Google search. I
do not encourage the use of Google during examinations, though. Exams are to figure out what
the students have retained and can apply and provide feedback to teachers about what steps to
take next. Allowing the use of Google would give a false reading of what students learned.
I also follow his brother, Alec Couros, who is a tech professor. The brothers often share
one another’s information on Twitter, including reflections about projects and technology use
in their classrooms.

5. CI 350 Twitter Assignment KaitlynM. Ellis
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Account #4: Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte)

6. CI 350 Twitter Assignment KaitlynM. Ellis
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While I followed a few others from the video, I enjoyed following the maker of the video
the most, Justin Tarte, a central office administrator. He strongly encourages and uses wide
networks of thousands of educators for the purpose of improving education. His links and
quotes also include information about using technology in the classroom. Some of my favorite
tweets of Dr. Justin Tarte’s are the ones that address educators’ misconceptions. For instance,
in one of his posts (pictured below), he addresses the differences between projects and project-
based learning. I think educators that have been teaching for years are struggling to grasp it;
even those being educated about how to teach it now are still confusing the two. I have
discovered I can learn so much as an educator by simply taking a few minutes a day to read my
Twitter feed, particularly, the information provided by Justin Tarte and the network of
educators he has created and made available to all of us.
A particular quote of his that I really like is, “A teacher saying: ‘I’m not good with
technology.’ better be ready to hear a kid say: ‘I’m not good with books.’ In order for us to be
effective teachers, we have to learn technology and use it in the classroom. It’s a new world. If
we are not willing to learn and grow as educators, our students will not learn and grow to
become engaged effective citizens of our tomorrow. The effort we put in as educators will
determine the outcome of our efforts. We should not expect more from our students than we
expect from ourselves. Being an educator doesn’t mean we know it all, it means we learn
everything to the best of our ability and find effective strategies to teach all of our information

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to others. The classroomitself is a network of information, but when we broaden the network
to the school, community, county, state, nation, and the world, we create a global network in
which we all can learn so much more from one another-even from other countries! I think this
is exactly what Dr. Tarte is aiming for with his Twitter network.
Account #5: Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin)

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Democratic, Senator Joe Manchin represents the state of West Virginia proudly. I have a
lot of respect for Manchin because of his support for coal mining and the families here. My
family is full of coal miners. I followed him on Twitter for this assignment. I found that I can
keep up with a lot of proposed legislation and activities in the state through Senator Manchin’s
Twitter feed. He posts upcoming events in the state of West Virginia as well as embedded
Youtube videos of his conversations with journalists and TV networks about legislations and
world events. I can keep track of what Manchin is into by following his Twitter. I think everyone
should follow their political leaders they support, so that they can keep in touch and
communicate with them and also stay updated on what their political leaders are involved with.
I am not disappointed thus far with Senator Manchin’s words and Twitter feed.
I found that he is involved with many of this state’s high schools, so I think it would be
exciting to have him visit an elementary school and post pictures of him with the upper
elementary students on his Twitter. He could visit for the units about government and answer
questions. This idea could be turned into project-based learning with community involvement,
civics, and maybe math for voting and percentages.