Twitter is a complex social space that can be overwhelming and confusing to navigate at times. The hope of this course is to provide you direction in how you can navigate and utilize Twitter effectively for professional purposes. In order to help you do this, here are some general guide lines for communicating through Twitter:
- Use the appropriate hashtag (for this course #GetStartedTwitterEdu). This will ensure that your tweet becomes part of the larger discussion around whatever topic you are focused. Failing to utilize an appropriate hashtag will likely leave your tweet unread.
- Re-read your tweets. This seems like a no brainer, but auto-correct can be a sly beast. Quickly tapping out a tweet on your smartphone can leave small errors that unless you double-check your work can go unnoticed. Re-reading and checking for spelling and grammar mistakes will ensure that each tweet conveys that you are a professional, and should be taken seriously.
- Keep posts cordial and professional. Everything on Twitter is public, and out there for anyone to see. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and rip out 140 characters of opinionated passion, but for an account that you want to be associated with you as a professional educator, it’s better to air on the side of caution. Remember, even if you change your mind later and decide to delete that over-zealous tweet, someone can easily screenshot anything you put up. Another way to think about it, is don’t tweet anything out that you wouldn’t say at a staff meeting.
- As for my part in our communication on Twitter, I will be monitoring the #GetStartedTwitterEdu hashtag closely. When I see that someone has made a post using that hashtag, I will know that the correspondence is related to this course, and will acknowledge it by either replying to the tweet, or simply liking the tweet. Using that hashtag will signal to me that you are participating in this learning experience, and I will also begin following you on Twitter. This way I can follow your activities, and offer support as you begin to navigate Twitter. When posing questions, be sure to include #GetStartedTwitterEdu in your tweet, and I will respond within 24 hours. If you need to get in touch with me privately, you can send me a direct message @drewayrit, or an email: drewayrit@gmail.com.