Building your PLN
Finding a Professional Learning Network Online
Why Twitter?!
In the introduction, it will say "Build your Timeline. Start by following 5." In the search box, find the following people. When you find each one, click the follow button beside their name!
- @RSSInformation (Rowan Salisbury Schools)
- @lynn_moody (Dr. Moody)
- @msgregson (Ann)
- @MrsPageTurner (Renee)
- @PrinHairston (Shonda)
Then, it will have you find five more! You can pick what you want and explore. I will suggest the following for those of you who are stuck!
- @edutopia (a MUST!!)
- @Gaggle_K12
- @DiscoveryEd
- @Socrative
- @TeachersApps
- @poppletny
- @posteducation
- @salisburypost
- @21stBioSmith (Andrew Smith)
- @kellyfeimster
- @DrJuneAtkinson
- @Alesia_Burnette
- @JulieMorrow5
- @aerohive
- @WeAreTeachers
- @ReadWrite
- @educationweek
- @rmbyrne (Richard Byrne - author of Free Tech 4 Teachers website)
- @candoteach21 (Kristie Jones) - see how she uses it in her classroom!
Then, it will have you search contacts to find more. You don't have to allow it to have access to your contacts. Just keep searching for things that interest you or your classroom. Check out this wiki to find people around the world in your discipline on Twitter. Or, check out this spreadsheet. Follow them to get ideas and connect!
Upload an image for your picture. (Otherwise you will be an egg and well that's just no fun!) And, be sure to give yourself a short bio! And, then check your email to verify your account!
Step Two: Learn the Lingo!
Here is another great cheat sheet as well!
Mrs. Borgquist found this great resource (on Twitter!!).
http://www.edudemic.com/refreshingly-simple-guide-twitter-teachers/
Remember, you can "tag" people in posts by including @ and their username.
If you see something you like, you can retweet it to your followers!
If you see something you want to "save," favorite the tweet!
Step Three: Tweet!
Example:
Hey @msgregson, @MrsPageTurner and @PrinHairston! Look at me! I'm on Twitter now!!
Look through @edutopia's newsfeed and find an article that is fantastic. Then, retweet it!
Find another tweet (anywhere) and favorite the tweet!
Unsure if you did it right? Ann will respond to the tweet that you tag me in. If you don't hear from Ann, then try again! :)
STEP FOUR: Tweets with Pictures & Hastags!
Hashtags help categorize things and also are a way to search for topics or events. Rowan Salisbury Schools are currently using the hashtag #rssreads to see what students and teachers are reading this summer. (Click the hashtag to see all the #rssreads tweets!)
Take a picture of yourself reading (or have someone take it) and tweet the picture of you reading your book with a comment that includes the #rssreads hashtag!
Step Five: Find People to Follow!
But, it's also important to follow people outside RSS so you can explore the world! Check out the links above or just start searching!
Get the number of people you follow above 50! It will make your Twitter experience so much better!
Step Six: There's an App for That!
On your (brand new!!) laptop, go to the App Store program and search for TweetDeck. It's my favorite application for keeping up with Twitter. Then you have it right on your laptop!
Checklist for Credit
- Create a Twitter account.
- Send a tweet tagging Ann, Renee and Shonda.
- Retweet an Edutopia tweet.
- Favorite a tweet.
- Tweet a picture of you reading with a comment and #rssreads in the tweet.
- Follow atleast 50 people.
- Add the Twitter app to your iPad.
We will check all of these above things on Twitter and check you off for completion! :) How will we know you did it? Tagging us in that first tweet will let us know you started the process! ;)