Twitter in the Classroom Overview of Todays Session

Twitter in the Classroom

Overview of Today’s Session § Getting started § Making friends § Using your own hashtag § Building relationships with Twitter

Overview of Today’s Session § After-class chats § “In-class” Twitter feeds § Lesson ideas § How to find more Twitter ideas § My Twitter info

Getting Started § Make multiple Twitter accounts § § A “Teacher” account A “Personal” account A “Professional” account Make an account for each one of your classes § You could make more if you think of other “personas” you want to assume online

Adjust Your Settings

My Twitter Feed

My “Connect” Page

Your “Connect” Page Contains: § Direct messages from your followers § Tweets of yours that have been “retweeted” by others § Tweets of yours that have been “favorited” by others § Tweets that you have been “tagged” in by others

Making Friends § You should post your tweets to a “hashtag” § #edwebchat, #edtech, #ntchat § #Satchat, #edcamp, #sschat, #engchat § Visit these hashtags periodically by typing #edwebchat in your Twitter “search bar” § Follow people who post in the hashtag § It is a great way to meet people who have the same interests!

#greatthinkers

Using Your Own Hashtag § When you post important materials for your class, post it to a hashtag § That way, your students don’t have to “follow” you (& you don’t have to follow them) § My hashtag is #holdenmath § If you teach multiple classes, you may want to post to different hashtags

Posting to Your Hashtag § Links to educational videos § Links to blog posts § Links to educational websites § Pictures

Posting to Your Hashtag § Links to PPT presentations you have posted on Slide. Share § Links to interesting news articles you found online that are pertinent to the class § Questions/Answers/Comments § Invite parents to your hashtag

Posting to Your Hashtag § Try “Outwit Me” – a Twitter-based trivia game § Link Twitter to Moodle or Blackboard (if you are using them) § Use “Twiddeo” to tweet videos

After-Class Chats § Use your class’ special hashtag to hold online chats with your class § At 7 pm every Wednesday, chat with your class about questions they may have about the material, upcoming projects, etc. § Don’t forget that every tweet has to include your class’ special hashtag (ex. #holdenmath)

Do an “In-Class” Twitter Feed § Use your computer and projector to post a real-time Twitter feed in your room § Use your class hashtag § Students can post questions from their mobile device while class is going on

Do an “In-Class” Twitter Feed § Students can ask the teacher questions without disrupting the “flow” of the class § Put a student in charge of typing in “answers” to the questions students post § This provides a permanent record of questions and answers that students can refer to later! § This is sometimes referred to as a “Twitterwall”

Parent Contact § You can post information for parents under a different hashtag (or the same one) § § Assignment due dates & test dates Online resources that can help their student Upcoming school events Other school/class announcements § If parents follow you, you can send them a direct message

Building Relationships § Post your hashtags in your class syllabus § Build relationships with parents & students § You could be a little more “casual” on your Twitter feed than you are in class § Your parents & students might see you as “cool” instead of uptight!

Remember FERPA! § Don’t post any of your students’ personal information online § Make sure to read your school’s technology “Acceptable Use Policy” (if your school has one)

Lesson Ideas § Follow @Twts. From. History § Students post tweets that historical figures would have posted (had Twitter existed back then)

Lesson Ideas § Language learners can connect with people who speak that language (ex. Spanish, French, German, etc. ) § Students can communicate with them to practice their language skills § If you don’t want your students interacting with strangers from a foreign country, post words and have students write responses in a foreign language

Lesson Ideas § Students can connect with a famous scholar, inventor, or political figure § If that person is alive, odds are good that they have a Twitter account § Student can ask the person questions, try to start a conversation!

“Live Tweet” a TV Show § Have your class meet on Twitter to exchange ideas while watching an event on TV § The election § A movie version of a book the class is studying § State of the Union Address § Continue the class discussion the next day in class

Field Trips § Students can post their observations to a specific hashtag or account during a field trip § Students share what they have learned § Teachers can post updates on where students should meet next at the museum § Teacher can set up a “scavenger hunt” § Parents can monitor how the trip is going

Key Word Search § Type a name or keyword into your Twitter “search bar” and tweets containing that term will appear § Examples § § § “Democrat” “Iceland” “Scalene Triangle” “Circumference of a Circle” “Abraham Lincoln”

Math Ideas § Teachers can post a “Math Word Problem of the Day” § Students tweet back the answer § Use “Tweet. Stats” to track the activity of certain Twitter accounts § Put the data into a bar graph or other type of Infographic

Twitter Word Games § Post a word, and have students respond with § Synonyms § Antonyms § Definitions § Post a collection of letters, and have students respond with § Words you can make with the letters

Experience a Current Event in Real Time § Use the “Track a Word” feature to experience a current event as it happens § Example: Type “Egypt” into the Twitter search bar to track tweets about the revolution as it happened

Summarization § Have students tweet you a 140 -character summary of what they learned in your class today

This is the Tip of the Iceberg § There is no limit to the ways you can implement Twitter in the classroom § Today’s webinar is designed to get you thinking about how you can do it

Want More Ideas? § Post this question: § “How do YOU use Twitter in the classroom? ” § Post the question to the hashtags we discussed earlier in the program § #edwebchat, #edtech, #edchat, #techtools § You will be shocked to see how many replies you get!

Want More Ideas? § Post the question in our Tech. Tools community! § We have almost 3400 teachers – many of our teachers are using Twitter every day!

Follow ME on Twitter! § @newteacherhelp § My hashtag: #holdenmath § My Instagram name is also @newteacherhelp § I will be on Twitter at #edwebchat for the next 30 minutes if you have any additional questions or comments about today’s presentation!