This document provides an overview of how to use Twitter as an educational tool. It discusses how Twitter can be used for communication and professional development. The document explains how to set up a Twitter account, find people to follow, use hashtags to filter tweets, and find helpful educational resources on Twitter. It emphasizes that Twitter is a powerful way for educators to connect with others and expand their learning network.

1. Tweet 2
Ms E. Gregory
School District #74 (Gold Trail)
November 2012

2. Learning Intentions
• To learn how Twitter can be used:
– As a communication tool
– For professional development
• To explore Twitter
• The Shape of the Workshop…

3. We’ll start with a shout out
• A shout out is when you ask others to say
hi and tell where they’re from
– Sometimes a simple question too
• A good way to show how it works
– Can show the power of the personal learning
network (PLN), and,
– shows the reach of a one Tweet

4. What is Twitter?
• A social networking & microblogging service,
• Allows users to send & read messages called
‘Tweets’,
– maximum 140 characters,
• Based in San Francisco,
• Started in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey as a way
to communicate within a company,
• Users worldwide (500+ million),
• 340 million Tweets a day,
• Powerful way to search too.

5. Why Tweet?
• Efficient communication tool
– Real-time as events happen
• tsunami - Haida Gwaii
• current events, elections, storms
• Powerful professional development
– Learn anytime
– Find resources
– Follow conference tweets - #iste, #nwmc12
• Connect with like-minded people!

6. Specifically educators...
• Role modeling to other staff and students
• Show people you’re a learner
• Number of educators, in particular,
administrators, who are very active social
media users is increasing
• Become part of the conversation!

7. How does it work?
1. Sign up,
2. Fill out your profile with purpose (the
world can see!),
– Important if you want people to follow you,
starts building trust
– Link to your blog or website
3. Add a photo or avatar (think personal
branding),
4. Send out some tweets,
5. Find some people to follow
– Choose wisely!

8. Some basics
• Think before you tweet
– anyone can see it!
• To send a tweet to someone, put @ in
front of their twitter name or click reply
• To send a message only to someone who
follows you, use D and a space or click
direct message
– These are private
– You or the other person can delete them

9. More basics
• To retweet is to send out someone
else’s tweet crediting them by the RT: in
front (or click retweet)
– A way to spread information
• Can block/report spammers or people
you don’t want to follow you
– they can still see your tweets
• If hacked, strange DMs sent from your
account (after clicking links sent to you)
– change your password

10. Who to Follow?
Cybraryman's PLN Stars
Wefollow.com
• Start with a purpose, that will determine who
you follow
– Professional?
– Personal?
• Start by following a few people you know/trust
• See who they follow
• Use other’s lists to help

11. Twitter Clients
• Alternative to the Twitter site itself
• Real time updates
• Designed to manage your feeds
• Apps for mobile too
• Tweetdeck
• Seismic
• Hootsuite
• Twhirl

12. Hashtags
• Popular Education Hashtags
• Type # and then word/abbreviation
• Created as a way to categorize messages
• Filter your twitter feed (#edchat)
• Search for information (#canucks)
• Follow pro-d events (#bcsd74tech)
• Great way to find people to follow
– ‘Follow Fridays’ #FF

13. Helpful sites:
• The Twitteraholic's Ultimate Guide to
tweets, hashtags, and all other things
Twitter
• twitter4teachers
• Why Educators Should Be Using Twitter
• Twitter Handbook for Teachers

14. From my viewpoint
• Transformed recent conference experience
• Blown my professional mindset wide open
• I don’t feel isolated anymore
• Helps me be a better teacher & a better mom
• It takes time, try to get following 100 people
or send 100 tweets before calling it quits

15. Thank yous & References
• My PLN, especially @gcouros & @remi_collins
• https://twitter.com/logo
• Wikipedia
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfilej/
2397881577/
• One on One with Jack Dorsey accessed May 10
http://www.flickr.com/photos/
democonference/4991585134/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/
4247757731/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/keiya/
3255575238/