Twitter Adventure

History with Twitter~

The world of Twitter was introduced to me a few years ago.  However, it took some time for me to actually start using it.  I decided back then that it would be a platform I used primarily for educational purposes.  It has truly been my personal learning network!  Although my journey in ‘tweeting’ has been slow, I do frequent the platform looking for new ideas and resources.

One of the many resources I learned with using Twitter was Skype.  It’s been a wonderful resource that connected me with other teachers, field experts, and published authors across America.  We connected with other classes studying the same learning concepts, introduced students to their penpals they wrote to all year, and a geologist during our study of rocks.  Our learners also had the privilege of meeting author Kate Messner via Skype. For the upcoming school year, I’ve already arranged a Skype session with the author of the Minecraft novels, Mark Cheverton.    

Apps Used with Twitter~

I’m overwhelmed with the number of valuable resources that were shared during this week’s adventure in Twitter.  There are so many tools, yet so little time.  A few apps explored and added to my device this week are Edmodo, Ditty, EdPuzzle, and Stop Motion.  

Edmodo is a tool that offers many affordances.  It offers formative assessments to gauge your learners, apps and other resources to reinforce learning concepts, and the ability to communicate information with students and parents.  

Ditty is used for communication, too. However, when using Ditty, a message resembles more of a text on steroids.  You can make any message, even “Don’t forget your homework is due tomorrow,” come to life by using a combination of text, images, and music.  

EdPuzzle was shared by a classmate this week and it gives meaning to using video with instruction.  In essence, it’s learning that's self-paced where students can watch an assigned video (one borrowed or using your own), and the teacher assesses knowledge learned.

Stop Motion is an animation tool for creating a video using a collection of frozen framed photos.  I know this will be engaging for learners with many uses for the tool.  

Other Websites~

Until this week, I never paid much attention to the Twitter symbol on other sites.  It’s everywhere!  I use Amazon almost daily (guilty shopper), and who knew I could be tweeting about my savings of those fantastic purchases?!  YouTube is another website I visit often, and with the push of a little button, you can easily share your playlist.  Did you know you can link your Twitter account to your Facebook page?  Yes, another something new to me.  

Its Power~

I never realized the power Twitter could have with its integration.  With multiple links to ideas for use in the classroom, I marked a few of the following as my favorites that I must try this school year (DeLoatch, 2015).

~backchannel for conversation between students during our journey of learning

~create a classroom multimedia newspaper composed of tweets

~create a joint story through a building of tweets

~create a Twitter scavenger hunt  

The possibilities seem to be endless with Twitter.  Not only do I find this tool to be useful to me as an educator but I can now see the benefits it offers my students in connecting their learning.  As with any piece of technology, if it’s incorporated correctly then the results are influential.   Also, I now feel more comfortable when tweeting about the amazing resources I find.  Look out PLN, I’m excited to share more tools.  I hope not to inundate you with too much.          

References

DeLoatch, Pamela (April 11, 2015). 30 Innovative ways to use twitter in the classroom.   Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/the-30-newest-ways-to-use-twitter-in-the-classroom/.