This PowerPoint explores the basics of Twitter and why it is a valuable education tool. You will learn what a hashtags and mentions are, as well as how to shorten links to fit inside the 140 character limit of a tweet. We will talk about how to find people to follow and how to help people find you on Twitter.

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

2. Agenda
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What is Twitter?
Why Tweet?
Basics of Twitter
Finding People to Follow
Sending and Receiving Tweets
Helpful tools
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3. https://twitter.com/
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4. Why Tweet?
How do you get information?
You Search for it
• Magazines/Newspapers
• Books
• Google
• Google Image
• YouTube
• Wikipedia
• Amazon
Sent to You
• Magazines/Newspapers
• Email
• Google Alerts
• RSS Feed
• Saved searches
• Facebook
• LINCS Group
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5. Why Tweet?
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6. Why Tweet?
• Information is sent to me
• I decide who to follow
and un-follow
• Twitter is a one way street
• Constant feed of the
tweets from the people I
follow waiting for me
• Search by
hashtag, keyword, list
• Follow organizations
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7. What Can You Say in 140 Characters?
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8. Basics of Twitter
• Retweeting
• Hashtags
• Shortening Links for Tweets (and other
purposes)
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9. Basics of Twitter
• Retweeting: RT @Twittername
• Hashtags: #word #AdultEd
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10. Shortened Links
• http://ipadeducators.ning.com/profiles/blogs/preparing
-your-school-for-an (73 characters)
• Bit.ly/3FjhpX (13 characters)

11. Anatomy of a Good Tweet
Tips
• Include hashtags in content of tweet
• Include shortened links to more information
• Write a headline, leave out unnecessary words, but try
not to use texting shorthand
• Use common abbreviations
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12. Shortening Links for Your Tweets
You can use BitLy to shorten URL’s without
creating an account
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13. 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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14. http://bitly.com/16KMHab+
Analytics
With an account you can also track how many times
the URL you created has been clicked.
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15. 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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16. Finding People to Follow
• Search on https://twitter.com/search-home for
people, keywords or hashtags even if you don’t
have a Twitter account
Once you have a Twitter Account
• Search hashtags and words #AdultEd
• See who follows the people you follow
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17. People to Follow
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@LACNYCnell
@otan
@flatechgirl
@Edudemic
@Larryferlazzo
@JoyceHinkson
@ChipCarlin
@DrSarahEaton
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@LINCS_ED
@usedgov
@Education_AIR
@WorldEdUS
@web20classroom
@ShellTerrell
@mcleod
@ReadWriteAct
• @NCLAdvocacy
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18. Sending and Receiving Tweets
• Twitter.com
• Texts via your cell phone
• Applications on computers, tablets & smart
phones
o
HootSuite
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19. HootSuite
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20. http://tweetchat.com/
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21. http://paper.li/LACNYCnell/1320940472
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22. https://support.twitter.com/articles/64986-how-to-report-spam-on-twitter#
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23. What to Do Right Now?
Before you create a Twitter account on
twitter.com
• Think of a good Twitter handle (short, easy)
• Find five people to follow and write down
their Twitter handles
Search for people using #AdultEd #EdTech
o Search for your favorite hobby, writer, singer, actor
o
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24. What to Do in the Next Few Weeks
• Create your Twitter accoutn or log into your
exitsing twitter account
• Retweet one tweet and create one of your own
tweets. Remember to use hashtags
• Spend 15 minutes on Twitter every morning
o
o
o
reading
retweeting
following new people
• Try HootSuite or receiving tweets as sms text
messages
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25. Nell Eckersley
• @LACNYCNell
• NellE@LACNYC.org
• http://www.scoop.it/t/twitter-in-adult-education
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26. Literacy Information and Communication
System (LINCS)
LINCS provides you with the
information, resources, professional development
activities, and online network you need to enhance
your practice and ensure your adult students receive
high-quality learning opportunities.
http://lincs.ed.gov/
LINCS is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult
Education. It is comprised of the Resource Collection, managed by Kratos Learning, the
Regional Professional Development Centers, and the Technical Contractor, Quotient, Inc.
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27. LINCS Makes a Difference
How can LINCS help you with your work? It offers:
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A Resource Collection containing high-quality, evidencebased materials in 16 topic areas;
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An online Community of Practice where you can share and
collaborate with your peers;
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A Learning Portal where you can engage in self-paced and
facilitated professional development courses; and

Four Regional Professional Development Centers
(RPDCs) that deploy evidenced-based PD trainings to states.
For a video overview of LINCS, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3bq6Mdn2Qg
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28. LINCS Technology Online Course

Title: Integrating Technology in the Adult
Education Classroom
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Free, self-paced online course
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Completion time: ~ 4 hours
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Certificate received upon completion
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Course accessible through the LINCS Learning
Portal: http://lincs.ed.gov/courses
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29. Don’t Miss a Beat; Connect with LINCS
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Join the Community:
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https://community.lincs.ed.gov
Access the Learning Portal:
http://lincs.ed.gov/courses
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Search the Resource Collection:
http://lincs.ed.gov/collections
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Follow the latest updates: @LINCS_ED
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Join our professional group: LINCS_ED
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Watch webinar archives and more: LincsEd
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