Twitter and Facebook– For Educational Uses

Jeremy Jeffery

What exactly is Twitter?

• Twitter is a Web 2.0 tool that allows users to send “Tweets”

• These Tweets are 140 character description about their life, what people are thinking, feeling, expecting, etc.

• Other users can “follow” the Tweets• Following a tweet simply means receiving

updates about the tweets

What exactly is Facebook?

• Facebook is way for people to create profiles and keep in touch with each other

• You can connect with friends from all over the world

• Friends can find out what you are thinking, doing, feeling, etc.

• You can also fill out information such as a biography, interests, hobbies and others

Setting up a Twitter Account: Step 1

•Navigate to www.twitter.com•Click on the “Sign Up” button found on the right side of the page•You will need a valid e-mail address in order to use Twitter•Once you click “Sign Up” you will be then directed to the next part of the procedure

Setting up a Twitter Account: Step 2

•Insert the required information•Be sure to select an appropriate Username and one that you will easily remember•The yellow arrow is pointing to whether or not you want others to find you with your email address•Agee to the Terms of Service and then click “Create my Account” as indicated by blue arrow

Time to Tweet

•You are now ready to send out your first Tweets!•In the box below “What’s happening?” you can send out Twitter updates (red arrow)•As earlier stated, you have up to 140 characters (purple arrow) to use before you must submit it

Project I would use with TwitterI would use it for a Promotions Campaign in a Marketing Unit

Sent Tweet

•This is an example of student work•Students would be graded on spelling and grammar •I, as the teacher, would also grade students on clarity of the message and creativity

Positive Encouragement to Students

•Tweets can be sent to specific students offering support and words of praise:

Setting up a Facebook Account

Setting up a Facebook Account part 2

What to do with Facebook

You as the teacher can have students sent “status updates” (highlighted in the yellow). With a Facebook status update, it becomes public knowledge and friends can see it when published. The teacher will want to make sure that all posts are appropriate, as some students may choose to post un-educational posts.

Here is an example:

I, as the teacher, can post something related to marketing content and ask if any students have any questions about assignments, and use this information for reviewing purposes. Highlighted in the yellow is “J.j. Jeffery” which is my Facebook name. As a future teacher, I would create a fictional Facebook and use the title “Mr. Jeffery” to differentiate which is personal use and which one is for educational use. To keep it easy during this online learning community, I used my personal Facebook since it is already created and established.

Other ways to use Facebook

• Have students create autobiographical information about themselves, grade it for content and spelling/grammar

• Use it to keep track of student progress throughout units

• Can keep in touch with students even outside of school