1. The document discusses the rise of Twitter as a microblogging platform and how it gained popularity in 2008. 2. It describes how the author and their friend initially got on Twitter after attending conferences where it was used to enhance discussions in real-time. 3. The document then covers potential benefits of Twitter for informal learning, social networking, and engaging discussions, but also notes it could be "too good" due to its addictive nature and how it may discourage deep work or focus.

1. Trial by Twitter: The Rise and Slide of the Year’s Most Viral Microblogging PlatformJune 2008Vance StevensPetroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, UAE

2. Who Needs Twitter?And why?

3. “Getting” Twitter

4. “Getting” TwitterThe author got into it after attending a conference in which the presenter communicated with another educator in real-time via Twitter to enhance his presentation.Author’s friend Christina Costa had Twitter on her “have-an-account-but-not-using-it-tool” shelf, but got into it after following “Blogging 4 Educators.”

5. “Getting” Twitter“I was fascinated by the amount of relevant information, bits of personal insights and also some trivial tweets that were arriving at my desktop in a twinkling of an eye. It was fun and most times relevant.”Christina Costa

6. “Getting” TwitterHave questions/comments you need to “get out there?” Get a precise answer within seconds!Conversations of blogs are between a few people. Twitter conversations are in the hundreds.Information shared is often in response to a requestNew tools and resourcesFeeling of connectedness

7. Learning by TwitterMake sure people in your network understand that there is a low tolerance for trivial things.Your Twitter feed will soon be full of postings that seek to inform and engage one another“See Flickr photos of tour in Jokaydia”VS.“Thinking I’m old”

8. Learning by TwitterThings a learning Twitter is good for:Just-in-time informal learningSocial networking“Follow” almost anyone you chooseLow affective filtersProvocative URLsEngaging mix of personality and professionalism

9. IS Twitter Too Good?

10. Is Twitter TOO Good?

11. Is Twitter TOO Good?1. Near-perfect example of the Intermittent Variable Reward principleThe same principle that addicts people to slot machines.2. Fake “feeling of connectedness”The brain believes it is having a social interaction, but it subconsciously knows something is missing.3. You can’t be Twittering and be in deep thought/a flow state.Continuous partial attention doesn’t allow us to become experts at anything.

12. Twitter-tasking“If I see on Twitter that someone has just begun streaming a presentation on www.ustream.tv, and if I have a moment to learn something new right then, then I will check out what’s happening, and I seldom regret such decisions.”VS.“On the flip side, productivity can suffer if one does not appropriately balance the lure of the constant feed-stream with the discipline to address tasks requiring focus.”

13. Social NetworkingBring it up over breakfast and see what was happening in the Twittersphere while you were asleepTag interesting links on DeliciousSee who else is tagging those links . . . and follow them on Twitter!“The true value of Twitter is in this network.”

14. Uses in TeachingTeaching languageStudents can practice language outside the classroom by tweeting their classmates in the language to be learnedTwitterlearn sends periodic language challenge questions to you Twitter feed

15. Uses in Teaching1. Class Chatter: conversations continue inside and outside of class 2. Development of Classroom Community 3. Get a Sense of the World: twitter.com/public_timeline 4. Track a Word: “Through Twitter you can “track” a word. This will subscribe you to any post which contains said word.” 5. Track a Conference: or follow an event via Twitter feeds 6. Instant Feedback: Twitter is “always on” 7. Follow a Professional or a Famous Person

16. Uses in Teaching9. Grammar: Twitter can lead to discussion and insights of its own unique grammar and ambiguity as well as of the rules it breaks. 10. Rule Based Writing: Discover insights based in 140-character discourse units 11. Maximizing Teachable Moments: Twitter provides context often lacking in traditional classroom situations 12. Public NotePad: “good for sharing short inspirations, thoughts that just popped into your head” 13. Writing Assignments: can be based around Twitter capabilities.