Twitter

media type="youtube" key="ddO9idmax0o" height="385" width="480" align="right"**Twitter Handout: ( ** from Andrew Churches--"Tools for Teachers") >  **"So, what are you doing?"** This is the premise behind Twitter which was the project of three young men. (one was Even Williams from Clarks, Nebraska)
 * [|starter sheet - Twitter.pdf]

**"I really don't get it...."** Don't feel bad, most people don't get it at first. > **"Tell me---How are schools using Twitter?"** Most schools have begun "playing around" with Twitter as a communication tool that networks parents, community members, students, businesses (and the world) with "what's happening" in your district.
 * The strength of Twitter is in those that you follow and those that follow you.
 * It takes a while to build a network of colleagues that share common interests and are interested in common topics. (if using Twitter on a personal basis).
 * For your school...think about the possibilities of making a single entry that is sent out to followers of the district as soon as you press the enter key. (all for FREE)
 * It doesn't work if you don't have followers (a link of a school web page, info in current communication tools, an article in the local paper, etc. help get the word out. You can see who is following you.
 * Schools can follow other organizations or groups (Schools Foundation, Local Business Groups, Colleges, etc.) who often in turn follow the school "tweets"
 * Many call this a microblog (140 character limit on "tweets") so it doesn't take much time.
 * School secretaries are often the ones that put out the "tweets" sending out "instant messages" about what is happening at the school
 * A post a day will keep people following you or your district.

**"Getting Started...."** 1. Set Up an account: @http://twitter.com 2. Make your first "Tweet" 3. Start following others and communicate your Twitter Feed out to others so they can start following you/your district. Here are a few to get you started: 4. Try and post a "Tweet" a day and respond to others "Tweets" @twittername 5. Add a # in front of a word that you want to make searchable to those searching Twitter
 * **ESU Staff members**: Pam ~ Linda ~ Jeff ~
 * **Other Administrators:** Scott McLeod ~
 * **Middle School Administrators:** AdeWitt ~
 * **Elementary Administrators:** Lenoir City, TN ~
 * **High School Administrators:** New Milford, NJ ~ North Carolina ~ Winchester, CAl ~
 * **Teachers:** Science ~
 * **Organizations:** Lead & Learn ~
 * **Blog Post on Twitter Using Administrators:** @http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/any-administrators-using

**School Twitter Feeds:**
 * **Lincoln Public Schools:** []
 * **Forest Grove High School (OR):** []
 * **O’Neill, Nebraska:** []
 * **Lee’s Summit, Mo**: []
 * **Lincoln Lutheran:** []
 * **Louisville Athletics:** []

**Twitter Resources:**
 * Twitter Video Tutorial
 * Twitter Help Portal
 * Twitter Search
 * Public vs. Private: Protect your Twitter

**Twitter FAQ:**
 * 7 Things You Should Know About Twitter (PDF)
 * 25 ways to teach with Twitter
 * Nine great reasons why teachers should use Twitter
 * Why Twitter is useful