A short pro-d workshop I did for colleagues in district on use of Twitter in the field of education.

1. Tweet Ms E. Gregory School District #74 (Gold Trail) April 2011

2. Learning Intentions To learn how social media can be used: As a communication tool For professional development To learn about social media in the context of digital citizenship To explore Twitter To ask questions! The Shape of the Workshop…

3. Start with a shout out A good way to illustrate Twitter as a communication tool Can show the power of the personal learning network (PLN) and the reach of a simple tweet A shout out is when you ask others to say hi and tell where they’re from Sometimes a simple question is asked too

4. What is Twitter? A social networking and microblogging service Allows users to send and read messages called ‘tweets’ 140 characters Based in San Francisco Started in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey as a way to communicate within a company Users worldwide (~200 million) 65 million tweets a day 800 000 searches per day Replacing (?) Google as a way to search

5. Why sign up? Practical, efficient communication tool A major way to find out what’s happening Death of Bin Laden Canadian Election #elxn41 Practical, powerful professional development Learn anytime Good way to find resources Follow conference tweets #edtechbc, #iste, #itsummit Great way to connect with like-minded people

6. What about teachers/administrators? Role modeling to other staff and students Show people you’re a learner More and more educators, in particular, administrators, who are very active social media users Become part of the conversation!

7. How does it work? Sign up Fill out your profile with purpose (the world can see!) Important if you want people to follow you, it’s the start of the trust building Link to your blog or website Add a photo or avatar (think personal branding) Start by sending out some tweets! Find some people you’d like to follow Choose with purpose

8. Some basics Think before you tweet anyone can see it! To send a tweet to someone specific, put @ in front of their twitter name or click reply To send a message only to someone who follows you, use D and a space or click direct message These are private You or the other person can delete them

9. More basics To retweet is to send out someone else’s tweet crediting them by the RT: in front (or click retweet) A form of flattery and a way to spread information Can block and report spammers or people you don’t want to have access to you on twitter (they can still see your tweets)

10. Who to Follow? Cybraryman'sPLN Stars Wefollow.com Start with a purpose, that will determine who you follow Professional? Personal? You can start by following a few people you know/trust Then see who they follow Use others lists to help you too

11. Twitter Clients Much easier to use than the Twitter site itself Real time updates Designed to manage your feeds Tweetdeck Seismic Hootsuite Twhirl

12. Hashtags Popular Education Hashtags Type a # and then a word to create used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet created as a way to categorize messages to filter your twitter feed (#edchat) to search for information (#canucks) Good way to follow pro-d events #bcssa, #edtechbc Great way to find people to follow on ‘Follow Fridays #FF

13. Helpful sites: A Twitteraholic’s Guide to tweets, hashtags, and all things Twitter twitter4teachers Why Educators Should Be Using Twitter Twitter Handbook for Teachers Twitter for Teachers

14. From my viewpoint Transformed recent conference experience Blown my professional mindset wide open I don’t feel isolated anymore Enhancing personal/professional relationships Helps me be a better teacher & a better mom It takes time, try to get following 100 people or send 100 tweets

15. Thank yous & References My PLN, especially @gcouros & @remi_collins M. Munroe for organizing Wikipedia http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfilej/2397881577/ One on One with Jack Dorsey accessed May 10 http://www.flickr.com/photos/democonference/4991585134/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/4247757731/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/keiya/3255575238/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jahw/3629299364/