Twitter 101

An introduction to Twitter basics and its use to enhance higher education

Objectives

• At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:– Utilize Twitter as a social and educational tool– Engage students and facilitate discussion– Foster communication in and out of the classroom– Promote active learning in a lecture based

atmosphere

Twitter Overview

• Important Terms:– Twitter – An information network made up of 140-

character messages from all over the world. – – Tweet – (noun) A message posted via Twitter

containing 140 characters or fewer. (verb) Tweet, tweeting, tweeted. The act of posting a message, often called a “Tweet”, on Twitter. -

– @- The @ sign is used to call out usernames in Tweets, like this: Hello @Twitter! When a username is preceded by the @ sign, it becomes a link to a Twitter profile. –

Overview Continued

• Hashtag (#) – The # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages. –

• Timeline – A real-time list of Tweets on Twitter. - • Retweet - A Retweet is a re-posting of someone

else's Tweet. Twitter's Retweet feature helps you and others quickly share that Tweet with all of your followers. -

In Classroom Outline

• Establish a Group Tweet account (www.grouptweet.com)

• Have students create a Twitter account (if they don’t already have one.)

• Students will then be added as approved followers and have the ability to tweet to the group account.

• Students can then tweet using the class Twitter name or hashtag and it will appear in the class timeline.

In Classroom Methods• Show the Twitter timeline running on the board– Individual or group exercises

• Communication for outside of the classroom breakout/research sessions

– Lecture• Students can tweet questions, comments, links, or any other

helpful information to the You can respond to students and students can respond to each other.

• Twitter feed running on personal computer– Students will not see the timeline– Use on laptop or tablet– Same principles as the students seeing the timeline on

the board apply

In Classroom Methods

• Ask students open/guided questions– Use some responses in class– Collect all responses for later analysis

• Use tweets as part of the lesson!• Review tweets after class and address any

unanswered questions or incorrect statements in a brief Tegrity recording and/or email

In ClassroomEducational Benefits

• Students take a more active role in their own learning– Especially when applied in lecture

• Encourages all students to actively participate and contribute in class

• Foster a learning community within your course

Out of Classroom Methods

• Engage students out of the classroom with on-going discussions– Practice exam questions– Extra credit questions– Any helpful information or links– Continue class discussion/comments– “Question of the day”

• Allows students to communicate outside of class AND you can monitor it

• Class updates– Efficient way of sending and receiving notices

Out of Classroom Methods

• Have students follow important topics, experts in the field, other instructors, local leaders/representatives– Gain a deeper understand of the field and the

population they are serving• Reflective tweeting– Most difficult part of a lesson/day– Most valuable lesson of the day

Out of ClassroomEducational Benefits

• Students participate in continuous learning when engaged via Twitter outside of the classroom– Link class sessions

• Build rapport with students • Promote critical thinking• Encourage an awareness of their field and the

community they are serving

Questions??

Join us for our next faculty development session!!!

Google+: Engaging and connecting with students

Tuesday, July 1, 10 am, D107