Twitter

So what is Twitter......really?  Many people, myself included, when first thinking about becoming a Tweeter don't really understand how it works or it's relevance to their life & their job.  I mean, who in the world cares if I'm sitting here typing this wiki page about Twitter in Education right now?  As it turns out - A LOT!  I've had 5 tweets within the past 5 minutes offering me more resources than I can deal with to put on this page and it all came from one little tweet: "Making wiki on Twitter 4 teachers - got any resources?"  This page will give you everything you need to become a professional Tweeter on Twitter along with a lot of great ideas for it's use in the classroom.

Where to Start?

• http://www.twitter.com - First thing's first, you need to sign up for an account w/ Twitter!

• Follow our school's Twitter page: @ncmstitans

• Follow me: @mtrump

What IS Twitter?

• Twitter is "a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers." - Wikipedia

   

• In plain English, Twitter is a site where friends, family, and co–workers can communicate and stay connected to one-another by answering one simple question: What are you doing?

• Perhaps the best presentation I've viewed that really helped me see just what Twitter was and how it applied to me both personally and professionally (thank you Wendy Tomberlin):

How do I Use it?

• http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/ - The Best site I've seen on what is / how to use Twitter.
• http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/03/the-ultimate-guide-for-everything-twitter/ - Excellent step-by-step tutorial on how to use Twitter.
• http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/ - Excellent guide book broken up into sections on the web.
• http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/curriculum/tech/socialnetwork/twitter/twitter.htm - Twitter help for educators.

Twitter Talk

• Tweet - A post on Twitter.
• Twitter - The site itself.
• Follow - See what specific users are tweeting.
• Follower - Someone who's interesting in your tweets and is following.
• @- Relpy to a user (ex. @mtrump Doesn't Twitter rock?)
• RT - Re-tweet, giving another user credit for a post (ex. RT @BrainPop: Join our webinar Friday!)
• # - The hashtag allows you to "tag" a subject being widely talked about for easier searching.  (ex. Hope Nadal wins at the #usopen tomorrow!)
• DM - Direct Message, you won't see this much.  like emailing a tweet to someone; only they can set it. 

   

"Twittiquette" - Twitter Etiquette

• http://shrinkingthecamel.com/2009/09/26/the-twidiots-guide-to-twitter-etiquette-essential-dos-and-donts-for-twitter-beginners/ - 12 essential DOs and DON'Ts for Twits.
• http://www.livemint.com/2009/09/25155424/Livemint8217s-guide-to-Twit.html?h=B - Another great guide DO/DON't guide.

So, how do I use this Professionally for myself  (PLN)?

• http://onlinecollegedegree.org/2009/03/19/100-tips-apps-and-resources-for-teachers-on-twitter/ - Great guide containing tutorials, resources, ideas, professionals to follow, educational applications..... 
• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmdX57Dqx0tEcE1fWkU1QlMwU2dxRGFibmhsOFoyYUE#gid=0 - A community kept spreadsheet of tweeters sort-able by subject
• http://twitter4teachers.pbwiki.com/ - A HUGE list of teachers on Twitter covering ALL disciplines.
• http://justtweetit.com/education/ - Another list of educators on Twitter. 
• http://wefollow.com/ - A list of the most popular Tweeters to follow and are being followed.  I loved this site when I first started.

   

Visit The Educator's PLN

So, how do I use this with my Students?

• http://cooper-taylor.com/2008/08/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-for-education/- 50 ideas on using Twitter in Education.
• http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dhn2vcv5_118cfb8msf8- 25 ways to use Twitter in the classroom.
• http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2008/twitter-for-academia/ - More ideas.
• http://techlearning.com/article/20896 - Even more.

Twitter Tools!

• http://techxav.com/2009/07/15/50-really-cool-twitter-mashups/ - 50 different "mashups" (a Web application that combines data or functionality from two or more sources into a single integrated application)
• http://twitterfall.com/ - LOVE this site!  Search tweets, follow trends in a waterfall fashion.
• http://twittervision.com/ - A real time geographic visualization of posts to Twitter.
• http://twtpoll.com/ - Ask a question, graph the response (Senteo?)
• http://www.neoformix.com/Projects/TwitterStreamGraphs/view.php - Real-time visualization of topics on Twitter.
• http://todaysmeet.com/ - Make rooms and follow backchannels with your students (don't need Twitter accounts). 
• http://www.grouptweet.com/ - Set up a Twitter group for just your students. 
• http://twitsnear.me/ - Find people who tweet near you.
• http://search.twitter.com/ - Twitter search (rivals Google)
• http://www.twitscoop.com/ - What's abuzz in Twitter.
• http://www.neoformix.com/Projects/TwitterVenn/view.php - Twitter Venn.
• http://tweetchat.com/ - Follow #hashtag conversations.
• http://tinyurl.com/ - URL shortening service. 

• http://historicaltweets.com/ - History’s most amazing men and women can be fully understood, a mere 140 characters at a time!

    

Twitter Clients - Desktop & Phone

• Twhirl  - Desktop client (easy to use)
• TweetDeck - Desktop client (Trump approved)
• TwitterBerry - Blackberry client

  

• Twitterfon - iPhone or iTouch client 
• Tweetie - iPhone or iTouch client 
• Twitterific - iPhone or iTouch client (Trump approved)

   

Schools in Cabarrus County Currently Using Twitter

• Winecoff Elementary @winecoffelem
• Wolf Meadow Elementary @WolfMeadowElem
• Carl Furr Elementary @cafurrelem
• Irvin Elementary @irvinelem
• Northwest MS @NCMSTitans
• JN Fries MS @JNFries
• Cox Mill HS @CoxMillHS
• Hickory Ridge HS @hickoryridgehs
• Jay M Robinson HS @JMRHS
• Northwest Cabarrus HS @NWHigh
• Mount Pleasant HS @mphstigers