Twitter 101 Jennifer Weaver, Resource Teacher Office of Digital Learning Patti Wit, S.T.A.T. Teacher Deer Park Middle Magnet School

Outcome: Participants will explore the Twitter interface in order to learn how to complete basic Twitter tasks. Indicator: Participants will create a professional, class, or school Twitter account and use it to send tweets and retweets, follow BCPS accounts, and search for professional content.

A fact about yourself Ask all participants to use the same color post-it note to write 2-3 facts about themselves (name, age, school, grade level, hometown, hair color, etc).    They should only write one fact on each post-it and do not need to include their name. As they finish writing, instruct them to put the post-it notes on a common space (table or wall).   After a few minutes, there should be many post-it notes of the same color on the surface. Now ask participants how they could more easily identify which post-its came from which person.  (Possible discussion points- sign their names, include a picture, use different colors, etc.)

A fact about yourself A fact about yourself Ask each participant to choose a different color marker and add a symbol to the post-its that they wrote.   If two or more participants choose the same color marker, they should draw different symbols.  Once this is done, have everyone step back and see how it is easier now to see which notes were posted by the same person.

Anything about the outdoors Anything about sports Anything about food  Now ask the participants to use the remaining post-it notes to write a few more things.   One color should be used to note something about sports (favorite team, sports played, etc.) One color should be used to note something about food (favorite, least favorite, last thing eaten, favorite restaurant, etc.) One color should be used to note something about the outdoors (favorite location, an interesting fact, the weather, a vacation spot, etc.). Same rules apply as before; they must write 2-3 notes but only one thing per post-it. This time they need to include their symbol on the note.   As they finish writing, they should add these new notes to the same surface.

= Tweet = usernames (@) = hashtags (#)

Why Twitter? Danielson Framework: 1d. Demonstrating knowledge of resources resources to extend content knowledge and pedagogy 4c. Communicating with families 4d. Participating in a professional community 4e. Growing and developing professionally enhancement of content knowledge and pedagogical skill 4f. Demonstrating professionalism advocacy Blueprint 2.0 Goal 3: Every stakeholder will experience clear, timely, honest, transparent, and widely available communication about system initiatives and activities that engages them in building a culture of trust through action and establishes BCPS as a world-class school system.

Essential Twitter Vocabulary

Tweet (n.) Tweets are public 140 characters or less Shorthand is appropriate in certain contexts You can delete tweets, but not edit Tweets are saved forever Tweet (n.)

@ Username (n.) Always preceded by “@” No spaces When you send a tweet, your username doesn't appear in the text @ Username (n.)

Log in!

Home stream (n.) Visible when you first open Twitter Populated by tweets from people you follow, not YOUR tweets Includes paid advertisements labeled as “Promoted” Home stream (n.)

Profile Page (n.) Visible when you click on your name Populated by YOUR tweets Customizable description, header image, profile image/avatar, etc. Profile Page (n.)

Upload your avatar image Upload a header image Add your bio TO DO

Follow (v.) Your home stream will show: Tweets and retweets by people you follow Mentions of people you follow Follow someone by clicking on their username and clicking on the follow button Follow (v.)

Following vs Followers You make the choice of who to follow Unless you block someone, anyone can follow you- they are your followers Anyone can see who follows you and who you follow Following vs Followers

TO DO Search for @bcpsodl Choose “People” from the search results Follow @bcpsodl Return to your Profile Page Find out who you are following and who your followers are TO DO

Mention (v.) Putting someone else's username in your tweet People mentioned get a notification Can be seen by their followers and yours Don’t mention someone at the beginning of the tweet (or use a . in front if you do) Mention (v.)

TO DO Compose your first tweet! Mention @bcpsodl “Thanks for the great Twitter 101 DLU workshop @bcpsodl!” TO DO

Retweet (v.) Share someone else’s tweet with your followers Looks exactly like the original with a retweet label on top If you want your followers to retweet you- keep your tweets to 120 characters Quote Tweet option lets you add your own comment Retweet (v.)

Like (v.) Indicate a tweet is important to you A person gets notified if their tweet is liked You can see people’s list of liked tweets Like (v.)

TO DO Search the @bcpsodl profile page Find an interesting tweet and retweet (or quote) it to your followers Find another tweet and like it TO DO

Hashtag (n.) Makes tweets searchable by keywords You make them up, but don’t have to add one If you want certain people to see your tweet, use an established hashtag Etiquette: No more than three Keep them short Hashtag (n.)

TO DO Search for a hashtag of your choice Write a tweet that includes a hashtag “Twitter 101 is a great DLU workshop! #LifelongLearning @bcpsodl” TO DO

Media Can attach up to four photos Pictures are hosted on Twitter’s servers and assigned a short URL that is automatically added to your tweet URLs to websites are also automatically shortened Media

Username Profile Image Reply Retweet Like Mention More: Block Copy Report Short URL Hashtag Direct Message

Twitter4teachers.pbworks.com www.teachthought.com/ twitter-hashtags-for-teacher

Log on to Twitter at least once a week at first to read your Home feed Retweet things you see that are interesting and relevant Slowly begin following more people and asking colleagues to follow you If you are at a school function make a point to send a tweet with a photo Occasionally search Twitter for a hashtag or idea for a lesson Next Steps

Send a tweet or two summarizing what you’ve learned and what next steps you’ll take Monday / Someday

Thank yoU! Bcpsodl.pbworks.com/DLU DLU Reflections are due by 8/2/17 to DLU@bcps.org Email us anytime: jweaver@bcps.org pwit@bcps.org