The 10 Day Twitter Challenge

Twitter is an incredibly useful tool for teachers. Used properly, Twitter helps you to find the latest and best teaching ideas and resources. Unfortunately, most people fall into the trap of ‘celeb watching’ and think that Twitter is for eavesdropping on famous people’s inane lives. These Twitter hatchlings promptly lose interest before they ever really discover how great Twitter can be.

My aim is to change that…

In this challenge (should you choose to accept it) you will be given a series of short and simple tasks. By the end of the challenge you will begin to realise how wonderful and how useful Twitter can really be.

You can work as quickly or slowly as you’d like. You don't even need to do these over 10 consecutive days. Please bookmark this page so that it’s easier to come back to. You can begin or end at any time!

Please get hold of me via Twitter should you need further assistance at: www.twitter.com/seanhcole

Ready?

(Thanks to jarrod@pegeek.com https://www.smore.com/y4nu-the-14-day-twitter-challenge and @HelenOfTroy01 https://www.smore.com/a6c1-the-14-day-twitter-challenge for the idea)

TASK 1: GET ON IT

Create a Twitter account at www.twitter.com. Keep your user name short and avoid adding a number to the end of it. Consider creating separate professional and personal accounts. You do this by using the same email address you used to sign up, but adding an additional period somewhere in the first part of that address. E.g.: @persnlacc – use the email address: somebody@gmail.com and @profacc – use the address s.omebody@gmail.com

Watch this introduction to Twitter for teachers:

TASK 2: YOUR FIRST TWEET

Compose and send a tweet telling the world a bit about yourself. Perhaps something funny / interesting or otherwise engaging. Add these hashtags: #10STCSA to the end of your post.

If you don’t know what to say, try something like: "Hi I am new to Twitter. I teach ____________ and am looking forward to connecting with other educators".

TASK 3: FOLLOW THE EDHEADS

Go to the search function. Find and follow these educational luminaries: (Remember to add the @ in front of your search term.)

@JeffBradbury

@ShellTerrell

@edutopia

@patrickmlarkin

@cpappas

@iEducator

@edudemic

@jdthomas

@cybraryman

TASK 4: BREAKING THE EGG

Change your profile biography by clicking on the profile icon. Remember that this is a major way people on Twitter get to know you.

Change your profile picture.

TASK 5: HASHTAGS

Search for the following hashtags:

#edtech

#sateachers

#10STCSA

#redhilltech

Favourite and retweet at least one interesting post from the search results you obtained above.

Consider following other people who are taking on this challenge under the hashtag #10STCSA

TASK 6: YOUR SUBJECT

Try to search for your specific subject. Try to follow at least three people who tweet interesting things about it. Please avoid following organisations and companies. (They often use Twitter to promote themselves, and are NOT discerning about content.)

TASK 7: SA EDHEADS

It's time to follow some awesome South African teachers on Twitter. Search for and add the following people:

@SeanHCole (Me of course!)

@jeanetteviljoen

@SchoolNetSA

@ajegbers

@NomsindoEd

@artpreston

@ict4champions

@InspiredTeachSA

@ICT_Integrator

TASK 8: SAY HELLO

Send me a hello. Be sure to add my handle @SeanHCole in your message so that I am notified.

TASK 9: CHECK WHO’S FOLLOWING

Has anyone started following you yet? If so, consider following them back by checking out their bio’s and a few of their tweets. If any unsavoury characters are following you, report them as spam - they’ll soon learn not to mess with you!

(Please only report really nasty characters as spam. If it’s only someone to don’t care to be friends with, or someone trying to sell you something, just block them.)

TASK 10: BE NICE AND REPLY

Respond to a tweet someone had sent you. Be sure to include their Twitter handle in your message. DO NOT OPEN ANY DIRECT MESSAGES ADVERTISING DIETS AND THE LIKE – THESE ARE SPAM!

If no-one has sent you a message, try searching #10STCSA #redhilltech or #sateachers and send a few people on this list a message (remember to include their handle so they’ll see it).

TASK 11

View the video tutorial below to review the basics of Twitter.

TASK 12

Browse through your timeline.

Favourite and Retweet two tweets.

TASK 13: POWER UP

Write a tweet asking the #10STCSA community a question. This could include a request for their ideas, their help, their opinions or anything else. Remember to include #10STCSA in your tweet.

TASK 12: SHARING IS CARING

Find an interesting article on the internet. Copy the url address. Now open a new tweet. Write a short message and then paste the url into your tweet. Twitter should shorten it, so don’t worry if it’s too long or if it looks different!

TASK 13: FAVOURITE

Favourite a few tweets you could use.

TASK 14: SUPPORT A NEW EGG

Respond to someone from the #10STCSA community

TASK 15: GO MOBILE

Install Twitter on your mobile device.

TASK 16: Tweet

Tweet and tweet some more!

And that’s it! You’re now a Twitter fundi!

There are a few more things to learn (like creating lists). But after having completed this 10 Steps programme you’re a hop and a skip away from doing this.

Expand your Professional Learning Network (PLN) by following more people you like.

Please remember: be nice, thank people for retweeting you, and share regularly.

If you need any assistance please don't hesitate to get in touch with @SeanHCole

@KarenWalstra

@ajegbers

@Michelleb2011

@fibeal

@carbru

@nikkeheyman

@hentietom

@Ariellah

@A_Gadfly

@Teacher_in_SA

Have fun!

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/SeanHCole

My Blog

http://seanhamptoncole.wordpress.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/ThinkAgainPage