1. Twitter for Educators
Eric Sheninger
http://ericsheninger.com

4. Web 2.0 Defined
 The term Web 2.0 is associated with web
applications that facilitate participatory
information sharing, user-generated content,
and collaboration on the World Wide Web.
 A Web 2.0 site allows users to interact and
collaborate with each other in social media
spaces as creators of content in a virtual
community, in contrast to websites where users
(consumers) are limited to the passive viewing
of content that was created for them.

5. How the Web Has Changed

6. How the Web Has Changed

7. Web 2.0 Tools Help You:

8. Web 2.0 as a Multi-Dimensional
Tool
Involve
Discuss
Create
Measure
Promote

9. Specific Examples of Web 2.0
Sites
Blogs Wikis Videos Photos
Bookmarking Voice Networks

10. Twitter
 Free Web 2.0 social networking service
 Commonly referred to as “micro-blogging”
 Send and receive short messages called
tweets
 Motto – “Follow your interests”

11. Why Twitter?

12. Why Twitter?

13. Getting Started with Twitter
 Sign up for a free account at twitter.com

14. Getting Started With Twitter
 Your profile is extremely important! Make sure
you:
1. Add a real photo for your avatar
2. Link to a website (i.e. personal, blog,
LinkedIn profile, school, etc.)
3. Include your interests in your Bio, some of
which should be professional
This video will guide you through creating a
free account
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DroKl2o-

15. Profile/Bio Followers
Username
Avatar
Tweet
Following

16. Getting Started With Twitter
My Bio:
Principal of New Milford HS (NJ): NASSP National Digital
Principal Award Winner (2012), Google Certified Teacher,
Adobe Education Leader, Author, Speaker
New Milford, NJ/S.Y., NY http://ericsheninger.com

17. Twitter.com/NMHS_Principal

19. Twitter Basics
 Messages you send on Twitter are called
“TWEETS”
 A tweet can only be 140 characters or less
 Tweets can be links to resources, status
updates, asking for help or feedback,
questions/answers, topics for discussion,
articles, pictures, videos, announcements, etc.

20. Twitter Basics

21. Some Useful Definitions

22. The Language of Twitter
@ Reply sent to a specific person, but visible
to everyone.
RT Re-Tweet or resending another persons
tweet (similar to forwarding an email).
Retweets are a very important aspect of
Twitter as they allow interesting ideas,
news, and resources to spread quickly.

23. The Language of Twitter
D Direct message sent in private to a
specific person. You can only direct
message (DM) a person who is following
you.
# Hashtags allow users to designate a
topic and track specific conversations.
Can click on # to open up a separate
window with tweets specific to a certain
topic

24. Example of a Reply and/or
Mention (@)
Reply: @NMHS_Principal Hope you are doing well sir

25. Example of a Retweet (RT)
Retweet: RT @GaryM: STEM Resources for Teachers &
Students: thinkfinity.org/stem #science

26. Sending a Direct Message
(DM)
Direct message: Click here at
twitter.com

27. Sending a Direct Message (DM)
Select to send a DM
Enter username
message

28. Hashtags (#)

29. Hashtags (#)
There are #hash tagged days, events, and conversations
that pertain to educators. Conferences will also use a # so
that participants can follow virtually.
Examples:
#teachertuesday: recommendations of teachers
to follow
#edchat: global conversation on a specific
education issue voted and decided by all of us
(occurs every Tuesday at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM
EST)

30. Hashtags (#)
#followfriday: recommendations of all
stakeholders in education and beyond to
follow
#edtech: conversations, resources, and news
related to educational technology
#cpchat: conversations, resources, and news
related to principals and leadership

31. Examples of Tweets with
Hashtags
Use of case studies as a student-centered approach to
learning bit.ly/tK9vnD #edchat #cpchat
The Best Good, Inexpensive & Simple Classroom Tech
Tools bit.ly/nRoeV6 #edtech

32. Click on the # to open up a separate tab

33. Twitter Help Center
 Visit the Twitter Help Center for detailed support
https://support.twitter.com/
 For the basics of Twitter
visithttps://support.twitter.com/groups/31-twitter-basics

34. Why Should Educators Use
Twitter
 Improve Instruction
 Professional Growth (PLN)
 Free
 Accessible 24/7 from anywhere with an Internet of 3G
connection
 Can use a variety of devices to access
(computer, tablet, smart phone)
 Numerous 3rd party applications to enhance your experience

36. Why Use Twitter
 Improve instruction
1. Global collaboration
2. Sharing and acquiring resources (websites, research,
current events, images, videos, lesson plans, etc.)
3. Knowledge acquisition: People are eager to answer
questions because they can learn from the shared
experience. Quick way to find a URL to an activity,
strategy, or information.
4. Professional growth through the formation of a Personal
Learning Network (PLN)

37. Why Use Twitter
5. Quick networking: One question asked may draw
responses from a host of people from all over the world.
If you have a solid number of followers in your PLN,
some are bound to check their Twitter feed when a query
is posed
6. Track conferences: Twitter can help you stay abreast of
what’s going on at conferences if you can’t attend in
person. If you are at a conference with numerous great
sessions a twittering educator can fill you in. To avoid
multitasking during an exceptional presentation you can
review conference feeds later.

38. Reasons to Create a PLN With
Twitter
 Search for information
 Reflective practice
 Global and local perspectives
 Instant feedback
 Showcase
 Newsroom
 Professional development
 Together we are better

39. Ask a Question on Twitter

40. Who Should You Follow?
 Authors (twitter.com/robertjmarzano)
 Professional Groups (twitter.com/ascd)
 Organizations (twitter.com/edutopia)
 Interests (twitter.com/nasa)
 Educational leaders (twitter.com/NMHS_Principal)
Look at who they follow and their follows to build your PLN!
Best way to begin is to “lurk and learn”

41. Educators Around the World are
Using Twitter
 Check out this wiki http://twitter4teachers.pbworks.com
 Google Doc of teachers who use Twitter
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArEWin
LIvaYEdDlyTnVTV3JyX3d3QzhrRkJKd0tnc0E&hl=en#gi
d=0
 Twitter-Using Educators group on LinkedIn
 See who is using popular hashtags (#edchat, #cpchat,
#edtech, #edreform)

42. Schools Are Using Twitter
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArEWin
LIvaYEcFdxOUVRVWNkVGZJZmUxcUJwTlp6RGc&hl=
en#gid=0

43. Access to Twitter
 Twitter.com
 Application on computer: allow you to establish
categories, shorten URL’s
 Tweetdeck (www.tweetdeck.com)
 Hootsuite (hootsuite.com)
 Seesmic (seesmic.com)
 Mobile phone application
 SMS text message via cell phone

44. Access to Twitter

45. Twitter Best Practices
 As with any social networking tool, remember your role
within the school community when tweeting.
 Use common sense and think before posting to the
Internet. Anything you tweet can be accessed,
adapted, and archived.
 Keep your personal and professional life separate

46. Twitter is a Powerful Web 2.0
Tool
“A whole new Web is emerging from the wilds of
cyberspace. It’s no longer all about idly surfing and
passively reading, listening, or watching. It’s about doing,
sharing, socializing, collaborating, and, most of all
creating.”
- Business Week (September 26, 2005)

47. Use Twitter as your gateway to the
world of Web 2.0

48. Resources
 Communicating and Connecting with Social Media
(Solution Tree) http://www.solution-
tree.com/products/communicating-connecting-with-
social-media.html

49.  Twitter for Educators: A Beginners Guide
http://images.pcmac.org/Uploads/MCPSS/MobileCounty/
Departments/Forms/Twitter%20for%20Educators.pdf