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Twitter is a social networking website that lets people update their friends in short summary in what the Twitter community calls "Tweets". On Twitter people can talk to each other, post links and upload pictures. Twitter is one of the fastest growing websites of 2009.
Here are two popular approaches:
- Use Twitter in class to see what people are tweeting about in real time on a specific topic. Try Twitterfall to search for a topic, see the leading trends, or find tweets from a specific geographical location.
In Class Idea: Display twitterfall.com on the screen at the beginning of class with topic that is relavent to the lecture as a way to start discussion. Watch Video
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Watch Video on Twitterfall |
- With Twitter, you can create a room that works like a “backchannel” in class. Students can add their questions, ideas, comments, suggestions, rants, and praise at any time. If the Twitter room is displayed on the screen in class, everyone can see the comments. After class students can continue to post to the room or read other comments and questions.
In Class Idea: Each participant will need a free Twitter account from http://twitter.com/ Establish a code that everyone will use when posting their comments to the class, which is preceded by a hash tag, like this #Bloustein690. In class, students can tweet from a computer or their phone.
A sample tweet would look like this: #Bloustein690 how would a universal health care plan help single mothers?
Display the tweets on the screen from Twitterfall.com Watch Video
For a private Twitter group, try GroupTweet or TweetWorks
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Watch Video on Backchannel |
Presentation Slides
Recorded Class from 9/25/2009
Introduction to Twitter Video (on Twitter site)
Dr. Rankin, professor of History at UT Dallas uses Twitter in her History Class
High schoolers at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, Minn. Using Twitter in English class
Social Media Video
50 Ways to use Twitter in the Classroom
25 Interesting ways to use Twitter in the Classroom
Some general comments on the “Twitter Experiment” by Monica Rankin (UT Dallas)
Tweet my Paper
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Destroy Twitter (my current favorite)
Windows Apps
Mac Apps
Web Apps
Mobile Apps
Follow me on Twitter
Professors on Twitter
Universities on Twitter
Groups on Twitter (Twibes) |
Learn the Lingo
Tweet - a message on Twitter
@ - reply. directs a twitter at another person, and causes your twitter to save in their "replies" tab.
Example: @peterbilton burning up in the Bloustein building today!
RT - reTweet. Add this into your mesage if you are recycling a tweet from someone else.
Example: RT@peterbilton Special Event from VTC tonight at 8:00
# - hash tag. Use this in your post to tag your message. Students can use this in class so all the messages are tagged the same. Popular tags are listed on the Twitter home page. Try searching for #iranelection to see how this works. Try posting to #BlousteinITS!
Example: putting together material to convince faculty how cool Twitter is! #BlousteinITS
D username - sends a person a private message that only goes to their device, and saves in thier web archive.
Example: D bearclau are you coming to bar night after work?
More on Twitter's help page |
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