The Best Twitter Tools and Tips Teachers should Know about My first post here in 2013 is about Twitter. I am not really sure how to start it because there are a lot of things we have written about this social networking platform and the best thing to do is to write a comprehensive e-book which I am expecting to publish next months because for now I am working on two other e-books that I will share with you as soon as they are ready. Speaking about my eBooks, I would like to thank you for uploading and sharing The Best of Teacher's Web Tools. It is really amazing how many of you have already used and embedded it in less than 24 hours since its being published. To keep this post short , I am going to provide you with the most popular content I have published in Twitter for Educators section. The articles below will help you tap into the educational potential of Twitter as a teaching and learning tool and also as a tool for professional development .
Using Twitter for Teachers' Professional Development I am actually engaged in an extensive review of the literature written on the use of Twitter as a Personal Learning Network ( PLN ).Twitter is the core topic of my MAEd thesis and I am trying to approach it from different perspectives : academic, social, and even personal ( for professional development ). Academically speaking, papers investigating the use of Twitter in the world of academia are still scarce and the empirical research done in this field is still very limited. From time to time I feature some of the resources I am actually reading and which I know will be of great interest to my readers here in Educational Technology and Mobile Learning.For instance, today I am sharing with you a treasure trove ( I really mean it ) of Twitter lists to subscribe with and follow to stay updated about the latest news, resources, links, researches, and many more according to your area of interest.
10 Powerful Twitter Tools for Teachers Professional Development There is nothing that beats the power of Twitter when it comes to growing professionally using social media. I have written a lot on this topic and my master thesis is buzzing with all kinds of academic evidence that support my claim. You might be thinking why Twitter is making such a big fanfare in the world of academia. The answer is simple: it works. related : 12 Ways to use Twitter for Professional Development One of the powerful features I like the most about Twitter is the ease with which you can set up a PLN. But Twitter alone can only do so much. 1- Hashtags Though hashtags are not third party tools, still I want to make sure they are featured in this list. 2- WeFollow With WeFollow you can search for people by interest and sort them by their Prominence Score. 3- Twitscoop Twitscoop allows you to receive, send tweets, and find new friends instantly, without ever reloading your page. 4- Nearbytweets Nearby tweets allows you to search local tweets from Twitter by location and keyword.
The Professional Power of Twitter by @Tim_Jumpclarke Selling the benefits of using twitter for professional development purposes to the uninitiated can be a challenge, but in this re-blog post, Tim Clarke points out some of the benefits he has gained from interacting with the platform, as well as guidance and tips to get colleagues started. Tim is a primary head teacher. The professional power of Twitter Key benefits Connect with others involved in education nationally and internationally, which can give you a broader view of current issues and initiatives. How to start This is fairly straightforward. You can set your account up as locked so you can control who has access to your information if you wish. Time issues Undoubtedly time is always going to be a key issue. Before smartphones and tablets I would probably not have used Twitter. Due to it being quick to access, tweets being very short and its interactive nature which allows you to filter out what you don’t need, I find 5-10 minutes once or twice a day is ample time. @HantsPrimSLT
Step 2: Using Twitter to Build Your PLN Welcome to the second step in our free professional learning series on building your PLN. The aim of this step is to: Explain what is Twitter.Explain the benefits of using Twitter as part of your PLN.Helps you set up your Twitter account. This following information on Twitter was co-written by Kathleen Morris, a grade two teacher and blogger from Victoria, Australia. Intro to Twitter Most teachers who are using Twitter would probably agree that it is their number one way they build and connect with their PLN. Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service that allows you to send out short messages called tweets. Twitter is a place that you can just lurk, by reading others’ tweets, or contribute to, by sending out your own tweets. One of the great things about Twitter is that it is accessible on your computer, laptop and mobile devices like iPads, iPhones and other smartphones. Twitter is used by people in nearly every country around the world. Benefits of using Twitter 1. 2. 3. 5.
Using Twitter for Professional Development The term “professional development” conjures up thoughts of travel, conference fees, arranging substitutes, and loss of precious instructional time. But does it have to entail all that? Actually, no. A growing number of educators are using Twitter—yes, the microblogging platform Twitter—as a quick, easy, low-cost alternative. If you aren’t yet familiar with Twitter, it’s a social networking platform where users share everything from what they had for breakfast to professional dilemmas – all in 140 characters or less. Educators on Twitter often discuss what’s working in their classrooms and how they’ve addressed important issues – much like you might with your peers. The Virtual Watercooler Colleagues are a greatly underutilized professional development resource within the school building, and staff often remark about the benefits of setting aside time for collaboration with co-workers. Hesitant to get started? Experts Say… Getting Started
Twitter 101: A 7-Step Guide For Teachers, Newbies, And Everyone If you aren’t using Twitter, chances are that you’re reluctant to adopt new technology. Or maybe you’ve used Twitter for years to keep up with friends but now want to use it in the classroom. Either way, you might be hesitant to ask colleagues for help. Fear not. We’ll guide you through the Twitter landscape and show you how to find the best educational resources for both yourself and your students. Step 1: Get Started First, create your Twitter account. If you have a personal account and want to create a separate account for school, consider making your personal account private. Fill out your bio with keywords — teacher, education, etc. — that can help others with shared interests find you. Step 2: Find Your People If you know who or what you’re looking for, you can use the Twitter search page. Let’s learn the Twitter landscape: Notifications: This is at the top of the page and tells you what is happening with your account. Let’s back up a step to explain hastags. Step 3: Learn the Lingo
A Comprehensive List of Education-related Twitter Chats for Teachers February 28, 2015 Since its introduction a few years ago, hashtag has absolutely transformed the micro-blogging sphere allowing users to create communities around content. Twitter now is teeming with all kinds of hashtags and there is almost a hashtag for every event. The huge potential of hashtags is particularly felt in the education sector. Edchat is one of the early education related hashtags used by teachers from all around the world. Learn more about education chats calendar here.