1. Using Twitter Effectively in a 21 st Century
Classroom
Presented By: Alexis Hernandez

2. What is Twitter?
 According to it’s website (www.Twitter.com)
“Twitter is a social networking and micro
blogging service utilizing instant messaging,
SMS, or a web interface.”

3. History of Twitter
Founded in 2006 Today:
 Started by four  200 Million users
programmers – Jack around the globe.
Dorsey, Evan Williams,
and Biz Stone.  Close to 1 billion
 Looked for alternative tweets sent weekly
ways to communicate  Twitter boasts $150
with their cell phones
million annually
 First twitter sent by
Jack: @Jack “just
setting up my twttr” (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/tech-
news/the-history-of-twitter-140-characters-at-a-
time/article1949299/)

4. WHAT IS TWITTER
USED FOR ?

5.  Twitter is used to communicate with others
around the world.
 Twitter provides a live platform in which to
access information such as: news stories,
pictures, links, music, and advertisements.
 Twitter provides an accessible feed in which to
stay in touch with friends, family, and even
your favorite celebrities.

6. 
TWITTER NEED TO KNOW
PRIOR BEFORE USE IN
CLASSROOM

7. Lingo
 ** Posts must be 140 characters or Less!
 @ & username= Used for contacting or replying to another person on
Twitter
# = Hashtag
The Hashtag helps to categorize posts. There are a list of hashtags composed
of the most popular conversations used in real time on Twitter.
RT= Retweet
Use this feature to repost a message from another user. This could be useful
information or a funny post you want to share with others

8. Rules
 Do not use your personal Twitter account with the students. Make
sure each student (including yourself) have an account that is
strictly used for classroom purposes
 Create a list of rules for Twitter use. (Get the students involved!)
Have the students and parents sign off on the sheet
 Avoid using offensive language
 Remind the students they can password protect their accounts.
 Be respectful to others at all. (This includes peers in the classroom
and other people using Twitter)

9. WAYS TO USE TWITTER
IN THE CLASSROOM

10. Making Announcements
 Upcoming Assignments/Deadlines
 Schedule Parent/Teacher conferences
 Let students know if you are going to be late or out for
the day
 Let students/parents know when homework
assignments are listed on the classroom webpage
 Inform parents when progress reports/report cards are
available

11. Create a Learning Community
 Create ice breakers on Twitter for your class.
This is a great way for students to get know each
other (especially for the shy students in the class
who don’t necessarily like talking a lot)
Example: @MsHernandez “What is your favorite
thing to do with your family, and why?
#hernandezclassroomicebreaker1
@SueAnderson “My favorite activity is going to the
shore. We all have fun going to the boardwalk,
because there are lots of things to do.”
#hernandezclassroomicebreaker1

12. Create a Learning Community
(cont.)
Have students follow people on Twitter that are
relevant to what you are teaching.
Example: Many authors can be found on Twitter. Read a
book in the classroom. Have students follow that author
on twitter. If the author is unavailable, have students
follow other people on twitter that may be relevant to
that subject matter. If it is a book set in the civil war era,
there are many historians or museums that the students
can follow and possibly obtain more information.

13. Working Collaboratively
Group Work
Divide the class into groups. The group can tweet
information to each other. Research done on Twitter can
be retweeted, compiled into lists, or saved for quick
reference.
Collaborate
Have the class work together to brain storm and come up
with ideas for projects and assignments

14. Other Great Ways To Use Twitter
Study Drills
Bring up the Twitter homepage on the projector at the front of the class. Tweet
a question to the class. Have the other students tweet their answer back to
you using Twitter. The class will see the answers pop up on the screen in
real time. The first correct answer wins a point (or prize!)
Journaling
Have students tweet 2-5 messages at the beginning of class everyday. This
can be about anything- how their day is going, interesting or wacky news
they saw on Twitter, or who their favorite person is that they are following
on Twitter
Networking
Invite someone from the community who uses Twitter in their profession.
Introduce possible careers that students will need to utilize social networks.
Find another class to tweet with. (This class can be several states away, or
half way around the world; The possibilities are endless!)

15. Famous Last Words….
“Who ever said things have to be useful?”
–Twitter co-founder Evan Williams