Twitter Reflections

From LiteracyTentWiki

Subject: [PD 5014] from Nell: (cross-post) my experience as part of the small group on Twitter
From: Jackie A. Taylor
Date: Mon Aug 2 14:00:49 EDT 2010

Hi All,

I'm changing hats briefly from tech list moderator to a member of the Twitter (and Wiggio) small group. I enjoyed working with this group a lot and we have created some great tools together in the form of tweets that included links to important and helpful information about twitter and its uses.

  • What were some successes you encountered learning and using the social media tool of your choice?

We spent most of the last two weeks learning about twitter and the tools that help twitter function better. Our twitter hashtag #TwEd does show a nice amount of activity and a lot of useful links that anyone who searches for #TwEd can access. And on Wiggio-people seemed to like it as a collaboration platform. We even used the chat function and now have two archived chats as well as a wealth of links and documents to come back to.

  • What were some considerations or challenges you faced?

We did not get too far into how twitter could be used with learners. And regarding Wiggio, the work on Wiggio was great but for some this was another learning curve on top of twitter. Also as Wiggio groups are invite only, folks not part of our group would have to ask to join.

  • What are your recommendations for using this tool in teaching or professional development?

I do think twitter is a great way to access links in real time and to find other people interested in the same areas as I am so we can build a great reference of #AdultEd and #EdTech (and now #TechPD) and #SMPD)tools together. I also follow as Spanish new channel and learn lots of vocab that way-so think it could be used that way for ESL.

  • For what purpose(s)-if any-do you plan to use this tool in your practice?

I will continue to send out tweets with links I find useful and make sure to use all the hashtags that are appropriate.

What do other folks from the twitter small group have to say?

Best,

Nell

Subject: [PD 5019] Culminating Discussions - Using Social Media - Twitter
From: Helaine Marshall
Date: Tue Aug 3 10:33:23 EDT 2010

Dear Small Groups,

As a participant in the Twitter group, I was a bit shy! I found it difficult to post to the "world."

  • What were some successes you encountered learning and using this social media tool?

I learned how to retweet, how to use Tweet Deck to immediately see what is an update, mentions of me, retweet of my tweets, new followers, etc. I learned how to shorten my tweets with abbreviations, and with bit.ly urls. I learned how to put twitter on my I-touch with Echofon.

  • What were some considerations or challenges you faced?

I don't like posting to everyone - no separation by audience - with email, you can decide who gets what message and you can customize what you send out. Twitter can be sent to a hashtag, or several, but your "followers" get everything - don't enjoy that notion. Retweets get repetitious if they recycle into your circle of people too many times! Although, I guess that is the idea of seeing trending in twitter - it's really all about the retweets, isn't it!?

  • What are your recommendations for using this tool in teaching or professional development?

It is great to rally the troops I mean to remind folks about an upcoming meeting, deadline, or event. It is great to send a quick URL with a recommendation to go there - such as an article for students/teachers to read before they next see you, etc.

The hashtag or Group Tweet feature will help to build community as folks tweet to each other.

  • For what purpose(s)-if any-do you plan to use this tool in your practice?

Actually, I used it to send the word out about my research on English learners with limited formal schooling. I have a wiki set up with information on my publications, pdf's of my conference presentations, etc. and with Twitter I could "broadcast" the link to it, potentially reaching many more people than my current plan of emailing my colleagues.

I also use it to keep up to date with what's new because I follow some mentors of mine in the technology Interest Section of TESOL. I know they will be tweeting whatever is new - in fact that is how I first heard of twitter two years ago but I neglected to act on it until AALPD set up this gentle nudge and supportive setting for learning about Twitter just for our PD group! :)

To find me use my username anywhere in cyberspace: lainemarsh (Skype, yahoo, twitter, tumblr, flickr) My facebook & picasa are mostly personal stuff that is only for family and close friends - although that seems to be changing daily! :)

Laine

Helaine W. Marshall, Ph.D.

Director of Language Education Programs
Westchester Graduate Campus
Long Island University

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