Hashtags, Retweets, and 140 Characters: Finding Meaning in Twitter

Nell Eckersley

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Agenda

• What is Twitter? • Why Tweet?• Basics of Twitter• Finding People to Follow• Sending and Receiving Tweets• Helpful tools

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https://twitter.com/

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Why Tweet?How do you get information?

Sent to You• Magazines/Newspapers• Email• Google Alerts• RSS Feed• Saved searches• Facebook• LINCS Group

You Search for it• Magazines/Newspapers• Books• Google• Google Image• YouTube• Wikipedia• Amazon

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Why Tweet?

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Why Tweet?• Information is sent to

me• I decide who to follow

and un-follow• Twitter is a one way

street• Constant feed of the

tweets from the people I follow waiting for me

• Search by hashtag, keyword, list

• Follow organizations

What Can You Say in 140 Characters?

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Basics of Twitter

• Retweeting• Hashtags • Shortening Links for Tweets (and

other purposes)

Basics of Twitter

• Retweeting: RT @Twittername• Hashtags: #word #AdultEd

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Shortened Links

• http://ipadeducators.ning.com/profiles/blogs/preparing-your-school-for-an (73 characters)

• Bit.ly/3FjhpX (13 characters)

Anatomy of a Good Tweet

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Tips• Include hashtags in content of tweet• Include shortened links to more

information• Write a headline, leave out unnecessary

words, but try not to use texting shorthand• Use common abbreviations

Shortening Links for Your Tweets

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You can use BitLy to shorten URL’s without creating an account

Customizing Your Shortened URL

But if you create an account on BitLy.com, you can customize your shortened URLS

Go from http://bit.ly/vJrH91 to http://bit.ly/wiggiotips

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Analytics

With an account you can also track how many times the URL you created has been clicked.

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http://bitly.com/16KMHab+

QR Code

And with or without an account you can make any of the shortened URLS into a QR Code by adding .qr at the end

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Finding People to Follow

• Search on https://twitter.com/search-home for people, keywords or hashtags even if you don’t have a Twitter account

Once you have a Twitter Account

• Search hashtags and words #AdultEd• See who follows the people you follow

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People to Follow

• @LACNYCnell • @otan • @flatechgirl• @Edudemic • @Larryferlazzo • @JoyceHinkson  • @ChipCarlin • @DrSarahEaton

 

• @LINCS_ED • @usedgov • @Education_AIR• @WorldEdUS  • @web20classroom • @ShellTerrell • @mcleod @

ReadWriteAct• @NCLAdvocacy

Sending and Receiving Tweets

• Twitter.com• Texts via your cell phone• Applications on computers, tablets

& smart phoneso HootSuite

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HootSuite

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http://tweetchat.com/

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http://paper.li/LACNYCnell/1320940472

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https://support.twitter.com/articles/64986-how-to-report-spam-on-twitter#

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What to Do Right Now?

Before you create a Twitter account on twitter.com

• Think of a good Twitter handle (short, easy)

• Find five people to follow and write down their Twitter handles o Search for people using #AdultEd

#EdTecho Search for your favorite hobby, writer,

singer, actor

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What to Do in the Next Few Weeks

• Create your Twitter accoutn or log into your exitsing twitter account

• Retweet one tweet and create one of your own tweets. Remember to use hashtags

• Spend 15 minutes on Twitter every morningo reading o retweetingo following new people

• Try HootSuite or receiving tweets as sms text messages

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Nell Eckersley• @LACNYCNell• NellE@LACNYC.org• http://www.scoop.it/t/twitter-in-adult-educatio

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Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS)

LINCS provides you with the information, resources, professional development activities, and online network you need to enhance your practice and ensure your adult students receive high-quality learning opportunities.

http://lincs.ed.gov/

LINCS is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education. It is comprised of the Resource Collection, managed by Kratos Learning, the Regional Professional Development Centers, and the Technical Contractor, Quotient, Inc.

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LINCS Makes a Difference

How can LINCS help you with your work? It offers: A Resource Collection containing high-quality, evidence-

based materials in 16 topic areas; An online Community of Practice where you can share and

collaborate with your peers; A Learning Portal where you can engage in self-paced and

facilitated professional development courses; and Four Regional Professional Development Centers

(RPDCs) that deploy evidenced-based PD trainings to states.

For a video overview of LINCS, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3bq6Mdn2Qg

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LINCS Technology Online Course

Title: Integrating Technology in the Adult Education Classroom

Free, self-paced online course Completion time: ~ 4 hours Certificate received upon completion Course accessible through the LINCS Learning

Portal: http://lincs.ed.gov/courses

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Don’t Miss a Beat; Connect with LINCS

Join the Community: https

://community.lincs.ed.gov Access the Learning Portal:

http://lincs.ed.gov/courses Search the Resource Collection:

http://lincs.ed.gov/collections

Follow the latest updates: @LINCS_ED

Join our professional group: LINCS_ED

Watch webinar archives and more: LincsEd29