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Classroom Technology at West Ranch High School - August 2012
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Classroom Technology at West Ranch High School - August 14, 2012

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With classroom technology, try one new thing at a time. Better to start with one thing and do it right than take on twenty new things, and get overloaded, frustrated, and quit.

TWITTER IN THE CLASSROOM

Creating a classroom Twitter account

Creating more than one Twitter account. If you are creating MORE THAN ONE Twitter account, this is where you have some decision-making to do, because Twitter only allows you to use each e-mail address once. Within your Hart District account, you have a little flexibility. For instance, I am rippolito@hartdistrict.org. I used to be rvi@hartdistrict.org, so this address still works, too. I am also rippolito@mail.hart.k12.ca.us (way back from the old days--the late 90s!) So, within my one hartdistrict.org account, I actually have three different “addresses” that all go to the same place. The goal is to NOT have to create a bunch of separate new e-mail addresses just for Twitter. That’s ridiculous. There is another option--using gmail. They’re called period operators and plus-sign operators. Here’s how they work:

Once you’ve created your multiple Twitter accounts, I recommend you use a Twitter account manager like Tweetdeck or Hootsuite to manage your accounts. I use Tweetdeck (http://www.tweetdeck.com)

How will you tweet?  If this is going to be the only twitter account you use, you can connect your cell phone to your twitter account by going into the mobile settings (after you have your account all set up).  Follow the prompts to connect your cell phone text messaging to your twitter account.  Once connected, you can send out your tweets (which then, of course, will become your text message blasts out to your students) directly from your phone.  This works from ANY phone (not just iPhone or Blackberry).  All you need is text messaging.  If you have a smartphone, there are also twitter apps available for free to download.  The reason I mention tweeting from your phone is because most school districts block direct access to twitter from a school computer.

Get your kids to start following you.  Guide your kids through this process in a group setting if you can.  That way, those who catch on faster can help those who may need a little extra assistance.  Plus it's cool to demonstrate it in a group so everyone's phones light up and buzz at the same time. Have them send a text message to phone number 40404 (this is the universal twitter text messaging number) with TWO words (it's always just two words).  The first word is FOLLOW and the second word is whatever your username is.  For example, FOLLOW PER1IPP to 40404.  Upper case or lower case doesn't matter.  What DOES matter is they need to make sure it's only those two words, and they can't have subject lines or signatures in their text messages (you may not understand what this means, but your students do).  Again, emphasize to them that they do not need a smartphone, but they do need text messaging and standard text messaging rates apply.  Most families nowadays have unlimited texting, but not all, so be aware of that. If they ever want to turn off your tweets, they can reply with OFF PER1IPP or UNFOLLOW PER1IPP. If they text STOP to 40404, they’re going to turn off not only tweets from your class, but from EVERY class they’re following, so warn them of that.

Troubleshooting--

“I started getting your tweets, but then it just stopped!” - On rare occasions, students will start following you, but for some reason during the school year your tweets stop going to their phone. This generally happens to one or two kids of mine each school year. If that does happen, just have them text the word STOP to 40404. Have them follow the prompts (it may ask them to reply with STOP again) and this will completely sever that cell phone’s connection to Twitter. They will then need to re-follow you all over again, plus any other teachers who may be using Fast Follow as well. Again, this rarely happens, but when it does, this is usually the best fix.

“I keep trying to sign up, but it’s just not working!” - Some kids have what’s called a “signature” that gets sent out at the end of each text. It’s usually some pithy message like “BieberForever <3” but it makes it so that the FOLLOW command will not work. When they try to send “FOLLOW PER1IPP” to 40404, what their cell phone is actually sending is “FOLLOW PER1IPP BieberForever <3” and Twitter just isn’t cool with that. Ask them to temporarily disable their signature while they are signing up to follow you, and they can then re-enable it once they have received the confirmation notice that they are getting your tweets.

Start tweeting!  To be effective, you want to find balance in your tweets.  Too few or infrequent tweets or--even worse--you start tweeting and then you stop, and you lose your audience and make it harder for someone else to start this up after you.  You should tweet something meaningful a minimum of once a week.  Too MANY tweets, and your audience will turn you off.  One or two tweets per day is probably the maximum to avoid being annoying.

And finally--tweet the stuff they like so they can get the stuff they need.  If you try and sell this strictly as “Hey! I can give you information so start following me,” there’s really nothing fun or motivating about information. You mention that you’re giving extra credit for following, and now your kids are interested. For the record, if kids DON’T have a cell phone, or simply don’t want to sign up, I simply have them show me their school planner or other form of organization to get the extra credit. They don’t get punished for not participating.

OTHER TECH TIPS

Download YouTube videos for later use

Adding your hartdistrict.org e-mail address to your Google Docs account