Twitter (and other backchannels)

What is Twitter? Why use Twitter? * Share quick, short bursts of information to your followers (and the Twitterverse) * "Ambient Awareness" http://www.twitip.com/twitter-is-a-tool-for-ambient-awareness/ * Take notes alone or collaboratively at events or classes * Participate in conferences by adding a conference hash tag (eg. #fdw2010) * Use as a real time formative feedback/engagement tool in class, much as one might use a personal response system (clicker) * Use as an advance organizer before an event or class * Keep the conversation going after the event or class ends * 140 character limited microblogging * Glossary: o Tweet (to make a post) o Twitterverse (the whole of Twitter) o Tweeple (people who Tweet) o Follow (to subscribe to someone's Twitter account) o Retweet (to copy a Tweet to your own followers) * "Less gated" communication * Can use # (hash tag) to help group Tweets Why NOT use Twitter? * The Twitterverse contains content from people all over the world. Uh oh.... * "The Backchannel Blues", or Beware the Trolls * Twitter is meant to be used as a "right around now" tool, not a six months later tool. * Twitter is not suited for the creation of more thoughtful and reflective writing, though entire novels have been written and published via the Twitterverse. Example: Hearts, Keys, and Puppetry Neil Gaiman, The Twitterverse http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/entry/offers/partnerPromotions.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&productID=BK_BBCA_000499 Other Backchannels Specific to the classroom Direct Tweet. Get acquainted. Collaborate on projects. http://tweetworks.com/pages/about Make announcements. Brainstorm. Take a poll. Ask student their opinions or get feedback on future projects or topics by using an app like Polldaddy or SurveyMonkey. Share interesting websites. Blogs Google Wave Wikis Buzz