Twitter in the Classroom

What is Twitter?
Twitter is an online social networking service that enables users to send and view messages, called "Tweets", of 140 characters or less. This website can be used for many different types of communication needs. Twitter allows you to connect with people around the world with one "follow" or one "Tweet". You can upload statuses, pictures, links, and even videos to your Twitter page for others to view, while being able to easily access these same media types of people you follow.

How does Twitter work?

At first Twitter can be a bit overwhelming. Twitter is a very simplified networking site once you understand all the necessary beginning steps, and then like anything else once you get the hang of it it will become second nature to you. Once you sign up and create a username you will be brought to your twitter page where you can begin writing your "Tweets" and following other people who are also signed up on Twitter. A Tweet is essentially a status that is put onto your Twitter page for your followers to see, something that is either on your mind, or an article that you want everyone who follows you to read, that would be visible as a link. A tweet must be short, as I said before it only allows 140 characters in order to keep your audience engaged and from skipping over a lengthy tweet. Once your tweet is posted to page, your followers are able to read it and can decide if they want to "favorite" it, "retweet it," or reply to it. When someone favorites your tweets it means that your tweet is now saved in a folder on their Twitter page that they have access to if they ever wanted to go back and look at that tweet. You are notified when one of your followers favorites your tweets and you can also go to that followers page and view their favorites folder. Next is when someone retweets your tweet, it puts your tweet on their page for all of their followers to see as well, and as with your favorites you are also notified when this happens. Last, you are able to reply to the people you are followings tweets. Your tweet will appear on your page and the page of your followers but it will have the person you are replying to tagged in the tweet and others will be able to view the tweet you are replying to.

On the other side of Twitter, your tweets are also crucial in creative a professional learning network. By posting you thoughts, views, and links to educational articles/videos, those who follow you are given the opportunity to reply. Their replies could have information relating to the subject of your tweet that you did not know about. They can also reply with articles and videos in order to enlighten you on an educational subject. Another way to gain a good following base it to use and search hashtags. Hashtags are clickable words in a tweet that are attached to the "#" symbol. "Following hashtags will often lead you to people who share your interests. If there is a specific hashtag that you follow, #Edchat, #Edtech, #SSchat, #CPchat,etc... you may find tweeters frequenting those tweets" (Whitby,2013). This can lead you to great accounts with useful knowledge that you may not have even known existed, expanding your professional learning network.

How can I create a Professional Learning network using my Twitter?

A professional learning network is a place where educators can connect and receive and share notable information amongst one another. "Building a professional learning network consisting of quality educators, who responsibly share quality information and sources, takes time and requires a plan" (Trust, 2012). It is very important to gain accounts to follow as well as a following for yourself. The people you follow is what appears on your newsfeed and what information you surround yourself with. Twitter in the classroom is a great way to incorporate social media in the classroom.

Twitter is a big discussion point when it comes to social media and if it acceptable in the classrooms. In this article it is for teachers to use twitter in 50 different ways so that it can be beneficial to the students. With the students going on their social media sites every few seconds the new feeds would be beneficial to high school students so if there is a test tomorrow the teacher can tweet or post on Facebook that there is a test tomorrow and maybe add a pic of a study guide or a "quizzlet" that the student can take while they are looking at what happened on social media while they ate dinner, or just got back from practice. This would be beneficial to those students in the secondary range, because the little kids in the elementary range are not going to be whipping out their iPhones to check what happened on social media when they got back from from Kindergarden.

Using social media in the classroom with the WEB 2.0 it is all about creating and publishing our own work for others to see, and that is what the teachers are doing now to help out their students not only in the classroom, but online as well. If the social media is used correctly there should be no reason why it would cause a negative perpective. Students on their off time are usually on some piece of technology, which in fact could be beneficial if that teacher decides to take a different approach and incorporate social media in his/her classroom. Two key factors when using technology are problem solving and encouraging independence when using social media. This is not bad letting the students use social media to help with homework, as long as answers will not be posted, and copying will not occur.The student will get to learn how everything works, and that will even come at a price of exploring that website and making mistakes to get it right. This is a way to expand the minds of the students for their good. Using technology and social media in the schools should be looked at as a positive and a way that is going to further the education of the children because the world is forever changing and the newer generations needs to keep up with the world.

Here are some examples where you can use twitter in a professional learning network: 

• TeacherToolKit (@TeacherToolkit) 
• This account is run by a Deputy Headteacher who writes the most influential blog on education.
• • This account is a great resource for teachers because it constantly is tweeting links to other accounts and other web pages to help educate teachers. 
  • This is also a good way to get more information on new lessons or to generate ideas for your own classroom. 

• Teaching & Learning (@TeachLearnConf)
• A compilation of what is popular at the teaching & learning conference each year. This is a twitter account is based off of the Teaching and Learning website. 
• This twitter is a great resource because you can sign up to receive notifications or direct messages from them when conferences or new learning events are coming up. 

• U.S. News Education (@USNewsEducation)
• A compilation of all current events in the Education field around the world. 
• This is a great learning tool because it helps to keep you up to dat on current events in the education world. You can subscribe to their tweets to be constantly in the loop about what is going on. 
• US Department of Education (@usedgov) 

• This is a great tool to use to see what is happening around the country and how we can improve in our classrooms. 

Following real educational accounts like these keep me up to date on new information that is going on in the world of education which is always changing. It also allows me direct contact with these companies and organizations to ask questions or communicate any concerns I may have. I also think that it is important to follow accounts of real teachers such as Tonya.Following other teachers is a great way to get ideas for your own classroom and hear what has worked and what doesn't work.

References 

Promo teto perform. (2015). Retrieved September 6 2015 

http://promotetoperform.com/top-tips-on-how-to-make-the-most-of-twitter/

The false promise of classroom technology .(2013). Retrieved September 9 2015

http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2013-11-11/the-false-promise-of-classroom-technology

Social media marketing .(2014). Retrieved September 7 2015

http://ryonswebdesign.com/services/social-media-marketing-smm/

Trust, T. (2012). Professional learning networks designed for teacher learning. Journal of Digital Learning in Teach Education 28(4), 133–138.

Spelling City

Vocabulary Spelling City is a application that is great for teachers, students and parents. This is a new application that can be incorporated with lessons, homework, extra credit, or something as simple as extra practice for the students while they are not in the classroom. Vocabulary Spelling City is a fun way to learn spelling and vocabulary words by playing engaging games using any word list. The most popular activities are Spelling TestMe, HangMouse, and our vocabulary and phonics games, available to Premium Members. The most popular word lists are Sound Alikes, Compound Words, Hunger Games and SAT Words. The free app includes ten of our most popular learning activities and ten of our most popular word lists.

Spelling TestMe is a spelling test that reads each word aloud, uses it in a sentence, and repeats the word. Students can work at their own pace and receive instant feedback upon submitting the completed test.HangMouse is a VocabularySpellingCity favorite that lets children decode each word in a friendly version of traditional Hangman. Kids love trying to figure out the word before the cat catches the mouse.Missing Letter is a fun game for kids of all ages. Even the youngest learners can practice letter recognition by trying to find the missing letter that completes each spelling or vocabulary word.Alphabetize is an activity that can be used to practice putting words in alphabetical order, a vital early literacy skill. Students love to play ABC order activities and games. There are so many more options for the students to engage in this this application and starting it in class with the teacher will make them get into a habit, and then it will be like second nature to them to want to learn.

Something that I noticed about this application is that it is for all ages and that I feel should have been separated into two different applications one for the younger students using it and then another for the high school students/parents that may be using it for learning the SAT words and possibly just trying to expand their vocabulary with a few words per day. Another aspect of the application that I noticed myself was all the glitches that were visible when clicking to play some of the games. I noticed there were many updates for the application that was said to fix it, but it was clear they were still visible when playing the games. While looking at the reviews for Spelling City many of the comments seem to have a negative side on how for younger students it was frustrating using the application because it is geared towards older participants.

I found a way that I would incorporate into my classroom by having the students get the application on a device that is available in their home and have them do at least 10 minutes a night going over words. This will also get the parents more involved with eh student and their learning. This is very similar to those parents who read to their kids every night now they can add 10 minutes on a technology devices getting some spelling words in, to widen their vocabulary. The students would then get credit towards their participations and possibly be homework hours if they screen shot that will show the levels and how they had progressed in the game.

This Spelling City Application may seem to have many bad reviews and then some to love the application. Depending on who you are and what you are looking to get ot of this application is going to determine if you give it a good review or a bad review,expect the reviews that in tail the creator needs to fix all the glitches and games that do not work for many of its customers.

References

"Teacher References." Teaching Resources. Vocabulary Spelling City, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.

"A Learning Journey." : Schoolhouse Review: Vocabulary Spelling City. N.p., 15 Aug. 2012. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.

Quizlet

An application that I found helpful is Quizlet that is beneficial for students and teachers. This is an application that can also be accessed on mobile devices and also online through your user name and your password. This is an application that makes studying easier and can help all the students do well on the upcoming tests and classes for the future. Quizlet is a way that you can make study cards that have all the information that you will need to study for the test that is upcoming. It is also a good way for the students to learn all the information by looking at it and then typing it, then they can use the study cards for 10 minutes a day which can help with knowing the information. Also the teacher can share theirs if they chose, or have the students make their own and possibly make it a grade as a great way in almost forcing your students to make a study tool.

Features to the Application can help students get excited for learning and getting good grades.  Even though this may look and sound like just writing note cards, the upcoming generations are all about technology and incorporating it into the education system, and this is the same way to have the great study technique of memorizing with flash cards.

One thing that is really great about Quizlet is you can share it with a friend and you both can edit and then have a way of studying. This allows the student’s to work with someone else whom is also creating note card and adding to the information that need to be learned. Once you have made the note cards there are so many options that can be done after that. Such as take multiple quizzes from all the information you put into the system, print out cards, play a matching game, the studying tools and techniques after putting all the information in is endless.

This video is a great way to get started if this is a new application that you are not familiar with that can help you get started. 

For the use in my classroom I would be thinking for a middle school type of classroom where Quizlet would be mandatory and a way for the students to get all the information for the upcoming tests/quizzes or in general to study on a daily basis. For my students they would have assignments that could include take a quiz on quizlet for chapter six vocabulary, or make flashcards on quizlet and either print them or show them on your mobile device and the first five min of each class we would review with our note cards. 

This application is one that may seem simple and not useful, but that is incorrect. Thinking outside the box as a teacher in different uses for this app is amazing. This could be an amazing tool for the students who are going to use it to learn and actually know the information instead of studying the night before a test while cramming. This is all for the students and if I were the teacher I would want my students to be studying for at least five minutes a day learning for a future test. 

References
Enge, Kendra. "Quizlet Tutorial." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.

"Quizlet Misson." Sign Up. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.

Quizlet." About Quizlet. Quizlet Team, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.

Class Dojo

A piece of technology that I found would be beneficial to the teachers is an application call Class Dojo. Attending a teacher panel provided by the School of Education I noticed that two out of the four teachers are using Class Dojo in the classroom right now and they had many good example on why it is beneficial for everyone when teaching. One of the teachers had stated that her behavior system in the beginning of the year was not working and that is when she found class Dojo and how much it has helped her classroom behavior in the past 3 months. This is an application that is free in the iTunes and android store and can be beneficial for the teachers, students, as well as the parents.  Class Dojo  can be accessed on the computer as well as an Ipad, phone, or tablet as long as you have a log in you can give positive and negative feedback during your class time as a teacher. This also allows the parent to see how their child is acting in the class. Once logging into class dojo the teacher can print out an access code that can be given to the parents and child to see their process during the year.

Some of the features of the app include, giving positive and negative remarks such as bringing in homework, preparedness, also Class Dojo gives negative behavior such as not having materials, or that the students show signs of bullying, or off task. This allows the teacher to have the application open on her desk and when something either positive or negative happens she can click on each student individually or together and see how the class goes for the time allotted with what would happen negatively or positively. There is also an undo bottom, or award multiple students that will give them a working hard star, or click on all students for being disrespectful or not doing their homework with a running total. All of these aspects of the app allow the teacher to go back and see how the class is doing from the past week or since the beginning of the year, the parents can also see how positive or negative the class is behaving during the school day.

Other features include personalization of the student Dojo, attendance, time keeper/timer, also progression through the year. Once the teacher gives the students the log in they can see all the negative and positive points that they are getting in the class which can be competitive and make the students work harder and watch how much they can grow and participate in the classroom. Once the teacher gets going the class dojo this can help the teacher stay on task and know where the problem areas after a period of time.

This can also be a way for the teachers to have communication with the parents by either sending them a direct email or putting down a concern for their child. If the teacher puts in a concern the parent is emailed or notified by the application and that will allow the parent and teachers to say connected and always know what is going on in the classroom with their child and the percentage of growth or behavior tracking system.

I would use this in my future classroom as a beginning resource to see how it would work with the class that I would be currently working with. Being a new teacher I know it would be a good idea to let me the parents in on what I am doing with their children and know how they are progressing in my class. Also showing my students that technology will be incorporated into the class can hopefully give them a better understanding on how to use it and hopefully appropriate way to use it in the school.

Out there in the technology world there are going to be people who dislike technology, and would like it not to be in the classroom. I feel differently and think incorporating it into the schools would benefit in ways that has not been done before. This application can not only help out all the teachers and their behavioral systems, but also let the parents as well know what’s going on in the classroom on a day-to-day bias. This is defiantly an application that will help me in my future classroom, as well as other applications that will not only benefit myself but all my students as well.

References

Bishop, Alesha. "A Parent's Review of ClassDojo." Getting Smart A Parents Review of ClassDojo Comments. Getting Smart, 22 Aug. 2014. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.

"Learn All about ClassDojo." ClassDojo. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.

Grodex, Thomas. "Class Dojo Set Up and Tutorial." YouTube. YouTube, 29 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.