Twitter

Session Objectives:

 * Discuss what micro-blogging is and how it can benefit you as an educator and learner
 * Discuss the different purposes for using Twitter
 * Share how Twitter can be used by you and your students
 * Share guidelines for using Twitter as an educator
 * Suggest people/groups to follow

Twitter website

 Twiducate - Classroom Twitter accounts

 Edmodo - Classroom microblogging accounts

Resources
 9 Reasons to Twitter in School - Tech & Learning (**a must read!**)

 Can Twitter Help Your Teaching? - NEA

How to Use Twitter to Grow Your PLN (Personal Learning Network) - Edutopia

Getting the most out of Twitter

 * Like Facebook, there is not a requirement to post what you had for supper. In fact, most people don't care.
 * Don't be afraid to unfollow someone if you change your mind. Most people don't know how many people are following them. And if they do know, and care that you quit following them, they probably aren't worth following anyway.
 * If you find one person you really like, check out who they are following. It's like finding new blogs - generally the lists they develop are similar thinking sites or individuals
 * Find ways to meet those people in person, especially at conferences. Many conferences have Twitter accounts to follow (see yourNETA), "tweet ups," or other online means to find new people to follow (or see where the cool people are hanging out...example for ISTE 10).

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Finding people to follow:
 Use TweepML to quickly follow groups of people:

Nebraska Educators
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Beth Still's Instant PLN
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Josh's Twitter Account <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Nebraska Educator Posse (Twitter list) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> EdTech (created by Scott McCleod, director of CASTLE at Iowa State; great list to follow for national "tweeps")