My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
Mar
19
Written by:
3/19/2009 1:03 PM
I don't know if it was the basketball player tweeting at halftime, the overnight sensation of Twitter being used by Fox News ALL THE TIME, the Hudson Bay plane crash, or the masthead of the Chicago Tribune that caused me to stop in my tracks, shake my head, and realize that Twitter is mainstream.
Honestly, Twitter is all over these days but an odd feeling still
comes over me when I hear Twitter used in so many spots. After all, it
seems like yesterday Jeff Utecht and I were trying to wrap our brain around a category for it just to better understand how to explain it to people that looked at us as nuts when we said "we're tweeting".
At the same time, people still struggle with the point of it, the
seemingly ridiculous nature of updating what you are doing in 140
characters or less.
Yes, they might sign-up because they are at a conference or
workshop, but there seems to be a number (maybe just what I've seen)
that never really embrace it, never really make it a part of their
learning community/network.
While there are many reasons for this, keeping Twitter as a random,
"stop in when I can" website keeps it foreign and somewhat odd for
many. This makes it is really difficult to experience the power of
connecting, contributing, sharing, and always on learning.
Thus, my challenge to those of you exploring the potential of
Twitter, those of you promoting Twitter (share this approach), or those
of you that have dismissed it in the past is to do the following things
for 30 days and then (re)evaluate the value of Twitter:
- Follow 100 people from the following lists of educators: Twitter4Teachers, Director of Learning Professionals, Top 100 Edu Tweeters
Yes, 100 people sounds like a lot but you need to immerse yourself in a
loud enough crowd. Be sure to be diverse in your selection including a
global focus. - Download and run TweetDeck on your computer as a means of having Twitter always on.
This is the critical step. It allows you to engage synchronously and asynchronously
- Understand and engage with the following Twitter Basics:
@ - when placed in front of a twitter name, it allows the person to see a reply to them under Replies
RT: - you this to retweat a tweet that is worthy of sending again
# - hash tags to track specific conversations (try #ascd in Twitter Search to see what I mean)
DM - Direct Message users for private messages - Post at least 5 Tweets a day: something great (or a struggle) from
your teaching/leading/learning that day, a question for the day,
something that displays your personality and interests, and two replies to Tweets from others
- Optional: Utilize some of the great Twitter Apps that make the experience that much richer: Top 10 Twitter Apps for iPhone, Mr. Tweet, TwitterEarth, Twist, or some of these other great tools.
In the next 30 days, embrace Twitter as something more than just a
random spot to visit on the web. Turn on the network and see what it
can do for you by embracing this 30 Day Challenge! You'll be happy you
did.
Talk to you on Twitter,
@ryanbretag
11 comment(s) so far...
My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
Hi Peter:
That is a great use of Twitter and I was glad to have been able to participate in ASCD virtually especially because of all you were sharing.
Ryan
By Ryan Bretag on
3/24/2009 11:32 AM
|
My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
I've been on Twitter for about 3 months trying to become acculturated and aware of how to use the tools.
Ryan,
Great challenge. You're on!
Recently I felt ready to launch my first Twitter experience - "How to Stay Home and Use Twitter Tools to Network a Major Conference"
I figured out how to network at the ASCD 09 conference remotely with Twitter tools and a live Word Cloud.
See how it's working and how to: http://tinyurl.com/d9qgqg
I've made great contacts and expanded my PLN.
By Peter Pappas on
3/24/2009 8:43 AM
|
My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
Kathy, I think you would find that if you turn off notifications on whatever Twitter app you use, that question is mostly moot regarding Twitter.
"Undivided attention" is too broad, and outdated is a weird way of thinking about it, but I would say that requesting undivided attention has always been somewhat ridiculous. If I don't find what you're saying interesting or valuable enough to hold my attention to begin with, you asking for my attention isn't really going to gain you much.
By Dave on
3/25/2009 1:45 AM
|
My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
Kathy:
I wonder if it was really ever as "in" as some would like to believe.
At the heart of your question, there is much to discuss about the life of continuous partial attention that many of us seem to live.
By Ryan Bretag on
3/24/2009 11:29 AM
|
My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
I have only one question. Do you think the phrase, "Give me your undivided attention." is outdated?
By Kathy Shields on
3/24/2009 8:32 AM
|
My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
I've been on Twitter for about 3 months trying to become acculturated and aware of how to use the tools.
Ryan,
Great challenge. You're on!
Recently I felt ready to launch my first Twitter experience - "How to Stay Home and Use Twitter Tools to Network a Major Conference"
I figured out how to network at the ASCD 09 conference remotely with Twitter tools and a live Word Cloud.
See how it's working and how to: http://tinyurl.com/d9qgqg
I've made great contacts and expanded my PLN.
By Peter Pappas on
3/24/2009 8:42 AM
|
My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
I started a group in Diigo for people to share Twitter related bookmarks. Take a look and add any finds that you have!
http://groups.diigo.com/groups/twitter-freaks
Lucy
By Lucy Gray on
3/27/2009 12:15 PM
|
My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
Kathy, i agree with Dave. Undivided attention is loaded with numerous assumptions. For example, it seems that the burden of responsibility is being shifted, i.e., if you don't (give me your u.a.)i cannot be responsible for my content, message; after all it is being delivered perfectly and is only dependent upon your undivided attention...etc. a very curious construct.
By Harry Grzelewski on
3/27/2009 7:36 AM
|
My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
I really liked the video)))
By Bytes Land on
5/12/2011 10:58 PM
|
My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
It's known that cash can make us autonomous. But how to act when somebody has no money? The only one way is to try to get the credit loans and just short term loan.
By WILKERSONMarquita on
4/30/2010 7:15 AM
|
My 30 Day Twitter Challenge by Ryan Bretag
Make your own life time more easy get the www.lowest-rate-loans.com and everything you want.
By Earnestine35Holt on
5/8/2010 3:27 PM
|