Twitter for

Professional

Educators

NATALIE DRAKE

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE TEACHER – OLATHE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

JANUARY 13, 2013

Twitter?

Professional

Development?

What?

Why Twitter?

Choice

Brevity

Resources, resources, resources,

Professional networking if desired

One more way to see what your teenagers are up to.

Note: District policy regarding Twitter

Twitter vs. Facebook

Facebook – Online version of

“hanging out with your friends.”

Twitter – Online version of

“hanging out with the people that

you WISH were your friends.”

Stage 1: Explore

www.twitter.com/DrakeIRT

Create a professional Twitter account --

easier to do so on the computer.

User Name – should reflect what you will tweet

Profile picture – more credibility

Description – relates to user name and

the audience you wish to follow /

reach.

Install App on Mobile Devices

Stage 1: Explore

Find some other Twitter users to follow. How?

Recommended Twitter users from others (see upcoming

list)

Authors/ Presenters / Publications / Institutions

Look at the folks that OTHERS follow

Use hashtags (categories) Example --

#instructionalstrategies

Stage 1: Explore

Some Suggested Twitter Accounts

@edutopia

@Ted_Tweets

@ncte

@ascd

@educationweek

@kathyschrock

@teachersnet

@rickwormeli

@scholasticteach

@annettebreaux

@caroljago

Stage 1: ExploreUse this time to learn some of the characteristics of Tweets.

Article: http://edtechsandyk.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-decode-

tweet.html

Stage 1: Explore

Too overwhelming?

Use lists.

Mark items you really like as Favorites.

Stage 2: Share

See something you like? Retweet It -- this allows the original

author to see that you are interested in their comments.

Stage 2: Share

Create your first Tweets of your own. Mine started as kind

of “notes to myself” -- often from a webpage with an

article using the symbol in the “Share” section.

Keep in simple. Use a URL shortener like bit.ly if needed.

Stage 3: Build PLN Hashtags (#)

Get Noticed?

Use hashtags

Stage 3: Build PLN – Replies or Mentions

Stage 3: Build PLN -- Chats

Usually weekly or every other week for an hour

To view -- Just type in the hashtag name of the chat at the time the chat is to begin.

Often a discussion with 4-5 questions posed by a moderator.

List of chats: bit.ly/offficialchatlist

Stage 3: Build PLN -- Chats

Options:

Follow – read along

Participate – just be sure and type the hashtag at the end of your comments so everyone will see it.

Some chats are archived.

Example: Flipped Prof Development Chat

Sample Chats:

#kinderchat 8-9 PM on Mondays

#5thchat 7-8 PM on Tuesdays

#educoach 9-10 PM on Wednesdays

#ksed 7-8 PM Mondays

#ntchat 7-8 PM Wednesdays

Have fun! Learn new things!

Make friends!