What’s the ChitterAbout Twitter?

Twitter and Health Education

Mark J. Kittleson, PhDSouthern Illinois University

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GoalsAt the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

Explain the basics of TwitterDescribe the rationale for the use of TwitterIdentify ways to activate TwitterIllustrate how Twitter can be used in health education

What is Twitter?1. Considered a Social Network2. Micro-blogging3. Ways to communicate with friends

(‘followers’)4. Way to keep up to date with others

(friends and organizations)5. Limited to just 160 characters

a) Same as SMS limits on cell phonesb) Messages are referred to as ‘Tweets’

Think of it as a cyber bulletin board

What you can do:People can follow you and read your comments

“I’m sitting on the front porch”

You can follow other people/organizationsYou can read what they are doing

Why Tweet?ConversationsExpertiseNewsStaying ConnectedShare Interests

Organizations Tweet because…Public relations

Letting people know what your group is doing

Talk and listen to your followersGive your organization a human touch

Back

Getting started1. Get registered with Twitter

The Twitter Home PageTwitter.com

Accessing TwitterGo on-line to twitter.comWeb Browser Add-onTask Manager Add-onCell Phone

Back

The Twitter Home PageTwitter.com

Read TweetsSend TweetsChange Profile

Not a very user friendly approach

Adding Twitter to your browserFirefox

www.echofon.com

Twitter to your taskbar

www.madan.org/ada

Twitter to your Smart PhoneReceive AND Send

First, login to your Twitteraccount on the webThen go to Settings

Click Mobile

Follow the directions…you’ll need to send a series of text messages from your

phone to Twitter at 40404

40404

START

Once your phone has been ‘verified’you’ll get this configuration. Fill in your

cell number and indicate when you wanttweets. Note that since I have a life,

I don’t receive tweets between midnight and6 am

After your phone has been verified, go backto your Home Page and click those who you are following

Among those who you follow, youcan configure whether you wanttweets sent to your cell phone by

configuring the phone…

By clicking, you ‘undo’ the mobileconnection

40404

Hey folks, look, I’m tweeting from

my phone

Health Education Applications

TeachingRequire Students to Register with Twitter.comDirect them to follow you Use it to:

Send out assignmentsCreate a discussionBring books to classBring permission slips for field trip

Teaching (con’t)Opportunities to ask questions for helpStudents in group projects can follow each other

Public HealthCreate a local twitter for your countyRelease updates health information, clinic hoursWays to communicate with employeesIdeal for emergency preparedness/emergencies

Group communicationEmployeesParentsMedical Personnel

Back

Assignment1. Register with Twitter2. Follow Kittleson and 4 health-related

groups1. After one week of following summarize the

major points of these five groups

3. Configure your Twitter to do one of the following:

Cell PhoneEchofonADA