Information for teachers and administrators on how to set up and use your professional Twitter account.

1. Twitter for
Professional
Educators
NATALIE DRAKE
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE TEACHER – OLATHE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
JANUARY 13, 2013

2. Twitter?
Professional
Development?
What?

3. Why Twitter?

Choice

Brevity

Resources, resources, resources,

Professional networking if desired

One more way to see what your teenagers are up to.

Note: District policy regarding Twitter

4. Twitter vs. Facebook
Facebook – Online version of
“hanging out with your friends.”
Twitter – Online version of
“hanging out with the people that
you WISH were your friends.”

5. Stage 1: Explore
Create a professional Twitter account -easier to do so on the computer.


Profile picture – more credibility

www.twitter.com/DrakeIRT
User Name – should reflect what you
will tweet
Description – relates to user name and
the audience you wish to follow /
reach.

6. Install App on Mobile Devices

7. Stage 1: Explore
Find some other Twitter users to follow. How?

Recommended Twitter users from others (see upcoming
list)

Authors/ Presenters / Publications / Institutions

Look at the folks that OTHERS follow

Use hashtags (categories)
#instructionalstrategies
Example --

8. Stage 1: Explore
Some Suggested Twitter Accounts
 @kathyschrock
 @edutopia
 @teachersnet
 @Ted_Tweets
 @rickwormeli
 @ncte
 @scholasticteach
 @ascd
 @annettebreaux
 @educationweek
 @caroljago

9. Stage 1: Explore
Use this time to learn some of the characteristics of Tweets.
Article: http://edtechsandyk.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-decodetweet.html

10. Stage 1: Explore
Too
overwhelming?
Use lists.
Mark items you really like as Favorites.

11. Stage 2: Share

See something you like?
Retweet It -- this allows the original
author to see that you are interested in their comments.

12. Stage 2: Share
Create your first Tweets of your own. Mine started as kind
of “notes to myself” -- often from a webpage with an
article using the
symbol in the “Share” section.
Keep in simple. Use a URL shortener like bit.ly if needed.

14. Stage 3: Build PLN Hashtags (#)

Get Noticed?

Use hashtags

15. Stage 3: Build PLN – Replies or Mentions

16. Stage 3: Build PLN -- Chats

Usually weekly or every other week for an hour

To view -- Just type in the hashtag name of the chat at the time the
chat is to begin.

Often a discussion with 4-5 questions posed by a moderator.

List of chats: bit.ly/offficialchatlist

17. Stage 3: Build PLN -- Chats
Options:
Follow – read along
Participate – just be sure and type the hashtag at the end of your
comments so everyone will see it.
Some chats are archived.
Example: Flipped Prof Development Chat

18. Sample Chats:

#kinderchat
8-9 PM on Mondays

#5thchat
7-8 PM on Tuesdays

#educoach
9-10 PM on Wednesdays

#ksed
7-8 PM Mondays

#ntchat
7-8 PM Wednesdays

19. Have fun! Learn new things!
Make friends!