What is twitter?
“Twitter is a real-time information network that connects
you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about
what you find interesting. Simply find the account you find
most compelling and follow the conversations.” (1)
“At the heart of Twitter are small bursts of information
called Tweets. Each Tweet is 140 characters long, but
don’t let the small size fool you—you can discover a lot in a
little space. You can see photos, videos, and
conversations directly in Tweets to get the whole story at a
glance, and all in one place.” (1)
Why Twitter?
It is a place you can get small tid-bits of information fast.
It is free and open to everyone who has an email.
It is accessible from anywhere; even your smart phone
or tablet.
You don’t even have to Tweet to get information, just
“follow” others.
Twitter for Students
Teachers can post resources for students;
articles, websites, videos, pictures.
You can also use as a homework assignment by
posting a discussion topic and having students
respond.
Students can also post questions for their
teacher or other students.
Twitter for Teachers
Teachers can follow people or groups that would
be resources for their classroom.
School or District
Professional Organizations
Teacher’s Union
Content specific resources
Who do I follow?
As a Family & Consumer
Sciences teacher I teach
a variety of classes: Life
Skills, Money Skills,
Parenting, Child
Development,
Relationships, Fashion &
Interior Design.
Here is a screen shot of
people/groups I can
follow that would apply
to my position. (2)
Who uses Twitter?
Forbes magazine did a study and found that the most people
who use twitter are women in their 20s. The next slide has
more specific details. (3)
Anyone (yes anyone) can use Twitter.
Most use Twitter to follow friends or celebrities.
The top five most popular Twitter users are Lady Gaga
(25,936,686 followers), Justin Beiber (23,604,613), Katy
Perry (21,626,988), Rihanna (21,005,783), and Britney
Spears (21,005,783). (4)
Why do I have Twitter?
Quite honestly, I have been using Twitter to follow only 1
group… Boone County Schools.
This is the district I teach in and they will post any
important information on their Twitter, such as snow days.
I typically receive a Twitter notification on my smart phone
about 45 minutes before receiving a phone call from my
principal notifying me of an hour delay or closing due to
snow.
After doing this how-to I have found many others that I can
follow, which you saw in previous slides.
Why not Twitter?
Twitter is not the place for large assignments,
you are only allowed 140 characters.
You cannot upload or post documents for your
students.
Twitter is public, unless you change your
settings to private, but each student would have
to do this.
Examples
The following slides are screen shots of people
or groups that are on Twitter.
Step 1: go to www.twitter.com
Step 2: for new users fill out the information under
“New to Twitter”, then click “Sign up for Twitter”
Step 3: Choose a name from their suggestions or
create your own, click “Create my account”
Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to begin
tweeting.
Step 5: Start tweeting by typing a message here…
Now you’re tweeting!
Step 6: Find more people or groups you know by
searching for them.
More information
Watch this video to see how to use hashtags (#)
to see what’s trending. (9)
Twitter’s Help Center has how-to’s for
everything on Twitter. (10)
Resources
1. Twitter. http://twitter.com/about
2. Following. https://twitter.com/#!/following
3. Forbes Magazine. Happy Birthday Twitter: Twitter Turns
6!http://www.forbes.com/sites/sabrinaparsons/2012/03/21/happybirthday-twitter-twitter-turns-6/
4. Twitter Counter. http://twittercounter.com/
5. Sarah Steffen, Twitter. https://twitter.com/#!/following
6. Brad Steffen, Twitter. https://twitter.com/#!/brad_2325
7. Dave Ramsey, Twitter. https://twitter.com/#!/DaveRamsey
8. Boone County Schools. https://twitter.com/#!/Boone_County
9. YouTube, “Twitter: Yours to discover”. http://youtu.be/0qqDy5BmYKE
10. Twitter Basics. https://support.twitter.com/groups/31-twitter-basics