An introductory workshop on the concept of Twalk: walk, talk, tweet, think

1. Walk this way... reflections on a #Twalk
Andrew Middleton, Chris Rowell, Alex Spiers, Santanu Vasant, Claire Moscop, Jeff Waldock
@andrewmid @Chri5rowell @alexgspiers @santanuvasant @Tigmoscrop @jeffwaldock

2. https://goo.gl/fLro59

3. Introduction
• What is a Twalk?
• #Twalk Stories and Reflections
• Activity 1 - Let’s #Twalk again (15:20 precisely!)
• Activity 2 – Brainstorm: Benefits, Issues, Social Media, and Disciplines
• Conclusion

4. What is a Twalk?
Is there a #Twalker in the house?
“What is a twalk?”

5. Definition
Simply – walking, talking,
tweeting, thinking
A #twalk is a,
• structured
• multi-site
• generative
• learning walk
• and tweetchat

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Graphic definition of a Twalk
Walk, Talk, Tweet, Think
Usually, a #twalk combines a one hour learning walk with a
tweetchat made up of about 5 landmark-based discussions, with
a new discussion prompt about every ten minutes being given to
redirect the walk and its focus.
Groups in different locations follow the same walking plan at the
same time, sharing their responses to the same topics or
questions.

7. Summary of the first Twalk
• May 2017 we ran a MELSIG event at Edgehill University
• Focus: Digital Placemaking
• About: learner’s relationship with blended learning
space
• e.g. its effect on their sense of belonging, and their
agency to shape the spaces they use.
• In the middle of the day we conducted a #twalk at
Edgehill and were joined by twalking groups at 15
locations worldwide.

8. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1dMnMDu0xEj5Ji5p4UsZdkj9hnEt_3KPZ&usp=sharing

9. #Twalk Stories and Reflections
Santanu
• A natural way to introduce staff to learning
spaces, but in a staged way, makes for an
active academic staff development activity,
which extends before those you are
immediately with.
• Tip: Make sure you have someone tweeting
and others passing comments to them or if
you don’t have enough people, it’s better
you stop and tweet - better for the group
and for health and safety reasons too!
Walk location: City University, London
@santanuvasant
Santanu Vasant

10. #Twalk Stories and Reflections
Chris
• A Twalk gets staff to meet and discuss how
learning happens in their different
disciplines.
• Gets them to think about the informal
spaces students use to complete the
collaborative tasks set by the lecturers.
@Chri5rowell
Walk location: Regent’s University, London
Chris Rowell

11. #Twalk Stories and Reflections
Jeff
• A Twalk creates an opportunity to make
comparisons between different learning
environments
• Talking, walking and tweeting - multitasking
- is difficult
• The act of walking and talking breaks down
formality between participants resulting in
lightbulb moments that can be clarified
through the conversation and spread virally
through the group. @jeffwaldock
Walk location: Sheffield Hallam University
Jeff Waldock

12. #Twalk Stories and Reflections
Alex
• A focussed opportunity to connect people from
different academic disciplines and teams across an
institution. The Twalk tends to generate excitement
among participants as it’s different and new
• A valuable reflection opportunity for attendees to
have a fresh look at spaces that have become
overlooked or overfamiliar.
• Twalking is challenging. Common sense health and
safety advice should be shared with the group. Also
have a “twalking point” built into each area you
visit. This acts as a cue for discussion as well as a call
for action - tweet, pic, tag & share.
@alexgspiers
Walk location: Edge Hill University
Alex Spiers

13. #Twalk Stories and Reflections
Andrew:
• Walking creates a natural learning space -
people flowed between small group
conversations passing on comments from
one conversation to the next
• Walking and tweeting is challenging
cognitively and practically
@andrewmid
Walk location: Edge Hill University
Andrew Middleton

15. It's 15:20 Time to Twalk
You will be given a badge with,
• your group name and role
• 2 destination numbers
• A set of instructions
• Use the #minitwalk hashtag to
communicate with other groups
during the task
Like, reply, retweet, etc
• You have 20 minutes
Activity 1 - Let’s Twalk again
Team Roles
Chief Twelf – look after the map,
read instructions, act important
Twime keeper - keep the tweam
on twack
Chief Tweeter
Take the photos, send the tweets,
follow the hashtag and respond to
other teams

16. Activity 2 - Parallel Discussion Groups
Short link: https://goo.gl/j31pzk
• Discussion 1 - Benefits of the #Twalk as a learning space
• Discussion 2 - Emerging issues
• Discussion 3 - Incorporating other social media
• Discussion 4 - Ideas for using #Twalks in any discipline

17. Twalks…
exemplify blended
learning space
1
develop graduate
agility and lifelong
learning habits
2
demonstrate how
Personal Learning
Networks are a
blended
phenomenon
3

18. Keep on twalking…
The Aussie Twalk in October
Warwick University in
September
TEL Edvisers, NZ,
September