Presented at the Social Media for Learning in Higher Education Conference #SocMedHE16 at Sheffield Hallam University. Abstract: https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/socmedhe/16-with-a-little-help-from-my-followers-facilitating-the-lthechat/ Presenters: Chris Rowell – @Chri5rowell Regent’s University London Debbie Baff – @debbaff Swansea University Sue Beckingham – @suebecks Sheffield Hallam University Neil Withnell – @neilwithnell University of Salford Chris Jobling – @cpjobling Swansea University Ian Tindal – @iantindal Anglia Ruskin University

1. ‘With a little help from my followers’
Facilitating the #LTHEChat
#SocMedHE16
Presenters: Deb Baff, Chris Rowell, Chris Jobling, Neil Withnell, Sue Beckingham,
Ian Tindal (virtually)

2. What is #LTHEchat?
The #LTHEchat, created by the community for the community, is a
collaborative project on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
via tweetchats.

3. What is a Tweetchat?
A tweetchat is a virtual meeting or gathering on Twitter to discuss
a common topic. The chat lasts one hour and has questions to
stimulate discussion. Each week a different theme relating to
learning and teaching provides the focus.

4. Screencast extract from Tweetchat 68

5. Visualising #LTHEchat 66
Weds 9:00 am

6. Visualising #LTHEchat 66
Weds 6:00 pm

7. Visualising #LTHEchat 66
Weds 7:41 pm

8. Visualising #LTHEchat 66
Weds 8:00 pm - start

9. Visualising #LTHEchat 66
Weds 8:10 pm - Q1

10. Visualising #LTHEchat 66
Weds 8:20 pm - Q3

11. Visualising #LTHEchat 66
Weds 8:30 pm - Q4

12. Visualising #LTHEchat 66
Weds 8:40 pm - Q5

13. Visualising #LTHEchat 66
Weds: 8:50 pm - Q6

14. Visualising #LTHEchat 66
Weds: 9:00 pm

15. Some Stats
Explore Data

16. Five cycles of value creation
1. Immediate: answering/being answered.
The #LTHEchat has created synchronous, Twitter activity. The discussion is
right when you want it and, when a link is shared to a blog or article, the depth
and breadth of shared knowledge increases.
2. Potential: gaining skills/knowledge/connections which we may call upon
in future.
The #LTHEchat provides a fertile ground for sharing learning experiences and
forms collaborative working relationships.
3. Applied: taking something and applying to practice.
Every conversation is applied to the HE context.

17. Five cycles of value creation
4. Realised: reflecting on new implementations.
The chats allowed for the sharing of reflective practice in an open forum.
5. Reframing: in light of value gained, how does that impact on our view of
success.
While this is less easy to measure, the #LTHEchat has impacted on practitioners
thinking about T&L.
Wenger, Traynor and De Laat (2011)

18. Our research Quantitative Online Survey n=61
Further Study ...
Qualitative Structured Interviews
3 so far but still in progress !

20. Community and Motivation
Who, What and Why ! Many different backgrounds … Participation is as often as
people can - Not everyone takes part every week though and pattern of
contribution may also change.

21. How do people participate ?
Although quite a few (46%) answer all the questions, Most people (57%) ‘Dip in
and Answer some questions’ with nearly 15% who mostly ‘Listening’ and 25%
who mostly catch up via the storify...

22. Storify Catch Ups ...
“it is a good example of how to
use Storify, it features riveting
discussion about relevant things.
Therefore shattering the
misconception amongst some
folks that social media is not
productive.”
#LTHEchat Survey Respondent

24. CPD ? What do people take away?
Exposure to New Ideas
Encourages Reflection
Community Of Practice Helps with Confidence
Inspired by Enthusiasm of Group
Interaction
Opens my mind
Networking

25. Our research: Participants
It is an amazing
network that has
really enriched
my personal and
professional
network
Its nice to
contribute
knowledge
and share
it makes me feel part
of a wider community
The chat has led
to new cross-
institution
collaborations
#LTHEchat has
given me a lot of
confidence in my
teaching and
learning.
I enjoy the
spontaneous learning
that can happen
through the encounters
during an #LTHEchat
A social-professional
space to connect with
like-minded people,
share best practice,
stimulate ideas and
challenge thinking in T&L

26. Little Gems ...
#LTHEChat has led to
collaboration !
An agent for change
(dispelling myths)
One of the highlights of my
week !

27. Beyond the Chat ..
Wider Sharing of PracticeBlogging
Blogging
Blogging
Trying Out
Ideas
Stimulating
F2F Chats
Share on
Other
Platforms
Circulate
Links
Retweet
Collaboration

28. Our research: Organisers
"In what ways has #LTHEchat
impacted on your own professional
development?"

29. Acknowledgements
LTHEchat Steering Group: Chrissi Nerantzi, Sue Beckingham, David Walker,
Peter Reed
Organising Team Members:
Oct 2014 - June 2015: Chrissi Nerantzi, Sue Beckingham, David Walker and Peter Reed.
Sept 2015 - December 2015: Jenny Fisher, Neil Withnell and Chris Rowell
January 2016 - March 2016: Stephen Powell, Ian Tindal and Chris Jobling
April 2016 - June 2016: Debbie Baff, Chris Jobling and Kate Soper
Sept 2016 - December 2016: Hayley Atkinson, Isobel Gowers and Teresa MacKinnon
The #LTHEchat Community and Followers 2903 and counting !

30. Links
Web Site
https://lthechat.com/
Latest Storify
https://storify.com/LTHEchat/lthechat-58487ac9634d285d078c2b37
#SocMedHE16 Abstract
http://goo.gl/Gbhq6s

31. References
Beckingham, S. (2014). Introducing tweetchats using #LTHEchat as an exemplar.
http://www.slideshare.net/suebeckingham/introducing-tweet-chats-using-lth-echat-as-an-exemplar Accessed 27th May 2016.
Hawksey, M. (2011) TAGSExplorer: Interactively visualising Twitter conversations archived from a Google Spreadsheet,
MASHe.hawksey.info. [Updated March, 11 2011, cited December 7, 2016]. Available from:
https://mashe.hawksey.info/2011/10/tagsexplorer-intro/. Accessed 8th December 2016.
Tindal, I. (2015) The online communities. https://sites.google.com/site/ultralabprojects/home/talking-
heads/communities/presentation Accessed 27th May 2016.
Wenger, E., Trayner, B., & de Laat, M. (2011). Promoting and assessing value creation in communities and networks : a conceptual
framework. Open Universiteit. http://wenger-trayner.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/11-04-
Wenger_Trayner_DeLaat_Value_creation.pdf . Accessed 27th May 2016.
Wenger, E., Lave, J. Lave, J. & Wenger, E. (2002) Legitimate peripheral participation in communities of practice.
Eds Julia Clarke and Anne Hanson in Supporting Lifelong Learning, Vol. 1: Perspectives on Learning: Learning and
Teaching Vol I. London: Routledge.