Twitter for Teachers

Find this page at: DitchThatTextbook.com/twitter

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Set up your Twitter account by going to: twitter.com

  • Remember (or write down) your username and password
  • After you enter your name/e-mail/Twitter username, you can close the tab/window you have open, go back to Twitter and log back in.

STEP 1: LEARN WHY YOU SHOULD USE TWITTER

A quick, 90-second video showing what you might find on Twitter:

A good 12-minute video walking you through the basics of Twitter:

HOW DO PEOPLE USE TWITTER?

  • Some just read other people’s posts and click on links. (They call this “lurking,” but it’s OK!)
  • They have an online conversation (with people all over the world!).
  • They share resources (links to useful websites, etc.).
  • They discuss their opinions and philosophies.
  • They ask questions about practically anything.

STEP 2: LEARN THE BASICS OF A TWEET

 

anatomy of a tweet

 

what can i do with a tweet

STEP 3: FIND SOME USEFUL CONTENT ON TWITTER

 

TWITTER CHATS

 

Each of these is a hashtag (with # in front … a way to tag and find content). By searching for hashtags, you can find ideas, websites and people that can help you most. See this list at: bit.ly/officialchatlist.

 

Some Twitter accounts worth following:

INDIANA

  • @INeLearn — Indiana’s elearning (digital learning) office. Sends tweets about teaching with technology.
  • @micheeaton — Michele Eaton, Wayne Township virtual education specialist
  • @MrBrettClark — Brett Clark, Greater Clark County Schools tech director/former math teacher
  • @DonWettrick — Innovations teacher at Noblesville schools and author of “Pure Genius”
  • @pneid — Paula Neidlinger, humanities/mass media teacher, Lincoln Jr High (Plymouth, Ind.)
  • @mrg_3 — Michelle Green, Indiana DOE Department of eLearning
  • @PrincipalJason— Jason Bodnar, principal, Lincoln Middle/High School, former science teacher
  • @twilhelmus — Tim Wilhelmus, Innovation/Curriculum/Tech Specialist (Evansville, Ind.)
  • @leadlaughlearn — Chantell Manahan, high school English teacher

 GENERAL EDUCATION

  • @spencerideas — John Spencer, edtech professor in Oregon, writes the GREAT “Education Rethink” blog
  • @justintarte — Justin Tarte, Curriculum/Support Services Director (Missouri)
  • @burgessdave — Dave Burgess, social studies teacher, author of “Teach Like a PIRATE”
  • @gcouros — Division Principal of Innovative Teaching and Learning (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
  • @sirkenrobinson — Sir Ken Robinson, creativity expert/education advisor

TECHNOLOGY

  • @web20classroom — Steven Anderson, former Director of Instructional Technology (Winston-Salem, NC)
  • @coolcatteacher — Vicki Davis, science teacher (Camilla, Ga.), writes the GREAT “Cool Cat Teacher” blog
  • @shellterrell — Shelly Terrell, former teacher and educational technology expert
  • @techninjatodd — Todd Nesloney, Principal, Navasota Intermediate School (Navasota, TX)
  • @kylepace — Kyle Pace, Instructional Technology Specialist, Kansas City, Mo., great Google resource
  • @alicekeeler — Alice Keeler, adjunct ed professor, Fresno, Calif., co-author of “50 Things You Can Do With Google Classroom”
  • @shakeuplearning — Kasey Bell, ed tech professional development presenter and blogger

HASHTAGS — Go to these hashtags to find other great people to follow:

Find others to follow here: 50 Educator Twitter Accounts Worth Following

STEP 4: START TWEETING!

While you’re here, this is what you should try to do:

  1. Update your profile. Add a photo of yourself and fill in some details about yourself. If people try to find you or want to follow what you write, they won’t know who you are if you don’t do that. Get rid of the egg!
  2. Follow 10 educators. Find some people on those hashtags — and people here today! Find out what they’re about by clicking on their pictures to see their profiles. If they sound interesting, click “Follow” to see their tweets in your stream.
  3. Write your first tweet. Say something like, “I’m on Twitter!” and include the conference hashtag (if applicable) so we can all see it if we search for that hashtag!
  4. Retweet something good. Search a hashtag that interests you (there’s #edchat for general education and #edtech for educational technology) and find a good tweet. Maybe it has a useful link, a thought-provoking idea or something that makes you chuckle. Retweet it to your followers (even if there aren’t any yet!).

OTHER CONNECTED EDUCATOR RESOURCES

Indiana eLearning Online Communities of Practice: These Google Plus communities are intended to bring educators together within their content areas and grade levels.

INeLearn Pinterest boards: More than 80 boards curating resources regarding digital learning from the Indiana Office of eLearning.

Tagboard: A way to keep up with hashtag content from lots of different social media.

 

 

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