Twitter in Education

Questions to the Audience How many of us own a cell phone? How many of us use texting as a means of communication? How many of us have a Twitter account?

Table of Contents A How to Guide Twitter in Primary Education Twitter in Secondary Education Twitter in Higher Education

A How to Guide What is Twitter? Create a Twitter Account How do we use Twitter?

What is Twitter? “Twitter is a rich source of instant information. Stay updated. Keep others updated. It's a whole thing. Customize Twitter by choosing who to follow. Then see tweets from those folks as soon as they're posted.” - twitter.com

Create a Twitter Account It is simple to create a Twitter account. Just by answering four questions, a new user can be up and TWEETING in a few minutes. address - user name - full name - password

How do we use Twitter? Twitter is a simple to use social networking tool that can be used from Mobile Devices, Desktop Computers and Laptops. Limited to 140 characters

How do we use Twitter? Tweets (user messages) are entered into a Twitter program and sent to the Tweeters’ Followers (those who are following a particular twitter user). Tweets can include web site links to pictures and other information for your students.

How do we use Twitter? Messages received by other users can be retweeted (forwarded to other twitter users) and users can also direct message (private message) a twitter user that they are following or are a follower of.

How do we use Twitter? Tweets are also remembered on the users account, and are searchable so students could go back and check on due dates, a certain conversation, find other users talking about the same thing, and more.

How do we use Twitter? Teachers can remind the class about the upcoming quiz or assignment(s) Students can: Tell their friends where they are studying and plan to meet. (tweetup) Ask their teacher a question about something The possibilities are almost endless….

Twitter in Primary Education. Why You Should be using Twitter in the Elementary Classroom.

Elementary teachers should use Twitter to... Teach: Drafting, Revising and Editing sentences.

Some Examples To group write a sentence describing their learning activity To revise the sentence in a group revision activity

Some Other Examples Students singing, speaking, or oral reading can be published on Chirbit.

You can take digital pictures of their work or activities and post it on Twitpic. Some Other Examples

Family Involvement Parents would be able to check Twitter often to be updated on their child’s day. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and divorced parents could also be kept informed.

Monitoring Twitter To ensure the safety and privacy of the students. Privacy settings should be enabled on the twitter account. Students should be taught internet safety.

Twitter in Secondary Education Integration Benefits: Teach Responsibility to Students Build a Community Allow for a stronger connection

Twitter in Secondary Education Examples of Current Use Newsletter to Parents From Administration Two-Way Communication in the Classroom

Twitter in Higher Education Students of Higher Education Higher Education Uses Twitter Benefits

Students of Higher Education 2008: approximately 96% of American college students were Internet users. Nearly 90% of college students were cell phone owners.

Higher Education Uses Online Discussions Communicate efficiently Reflect and Respond Continue outside of class Questions for Instructor Viewed be all users at once Expedient Communication Schedule Changes Corrections to Syllabus. Can be done through wireless device

Higher Education Uses Track Keywords Specific Topics Conferences Meetings Track Users Investigative Reporters Political Figures

Twitter Benefits Alleviates fears of larger audience Instructors get to know learners Design approach Group similar learners Students can find peers with similar views Group projects Study groups

Conclusion Twitter should be used in classrooms from Primary School to Higher Education. Why?

Conclusion To promote student and parent involvement To promote student learning To keep costs down Our Website

Research Sources Kurtz, Jeff (2009). Twittering about Learning: Using Twitter in an Elementary School Classroom Retrieved March 4, 2010 from 8.pdf 8.pdf Waller, Martin (2009). Multiliteracies and Meaningful Learning Contexts in the Primary Classroom. Retrieved March 28, 2010 from content/uploads/2009/07/uklapaper09.pdfhttp:// content/uploads/2009/07/uklapaper09.pdf Campbell, Nick (2009). Twitter for Education. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from Parry, David (2008). Twitter for Academia. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from Williamson, Debra (2008). College Students Online: Driving Change in Internet and Mobile Usage. Retrieved March 28, 2010 from utm_medium=TextReportCollegeStudent&utm_campaign=AdWeek0908&aff=Adweek utm_medium=TextReportCollegeStudent&utm_campaign=AdWeek0908&aff=Adweek

Image Sources Creator Unknown, (n. d.) Twitter Icon Atop Books Image, Retrieved from: Riley, Karl, (2010) Screenshot of Twitter.com located at: Creator Unknown, (n. d.), Children Around Computer Image, Retrieved from: Etheridge, Jennifer, (2010) Screenshot of Room 302’s Twitter page located at: Creator Unknown, (n. d.) Students Around Whiteboard Image, Retrieved from: Creator Unknown, (n. d.) Parents and Child at Computer Image, Retrieved from: cache.net/xc/ jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=8A33AE939F2E01FFB74986AD8 A40981C79B37EAC821AEEAD BAC2 cache.net/xc/ jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=8A33AE939F2E01FFB74986AD8 A40981C79B37EAC821AEEAD BAC2

Etheridge, Jennifer (2010) Screenshot of Room 302’s Chirbit page located at: Etheridge, Jennifer (2010) Screenshot of Room 302’s TwitPic page located at: Creator Unknown (n. d.) WIRED Image, Retrieved from: Creator Unknown (n. d.) Twitter Thought Bubble Image, Retrieved from: Creator Unknown (n. d.) Magnifying Glass on Book Image, Retrieved from: Creator Unknown, (n. d.) Twitter Icon Image, Retrieved from: icon.jpg icon.jpg Image Sources