newcommers

=Newcommers= toc

For educators new to microblogging
Are you an educator who has just discovered Twitter? This wiki will help you get into the conversation. The links in the side bar will point you to the many ways Twitter is being used in the Edublogosphere.

Understanding Twitter
For the uninitiated, Twitter can be confusing and rather overwhelming. To understand it, you will have to dip your fingers into the pool, use it for some time and draw your own conclusions. Here are the posts from edubloggers who have been posting their reflections since 2006.
 * [[image:http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/26558872/twitter_normal.jpg caption="Jeff Utecht" link="http://twitter.com/jutecht"]] || **[|jutecht]** Great e-mail from our librarian who's trying to understand twitter. Don't understand it....just do it! [|07:25 AM October 07, 2007] from web ||

Networking
There are diverse ways of doing this on Twitter:
 * 1) One possible way of finding friends is to click on [|Find and Invite]link on your Twitter homepage and run a people search in Twitter for "education". You will obtain at least [|360 people's profiles].
 * 2) Another way is to let another Twitter member 'introduce' you to their network.
 * 3) You can explore the contacts of another educator.
 * 4) Anyway, you will always have to choose your friends...
 * [[image:http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/33467472/steve-desb_normal.jpg caption="Steve Dembo" link="http://twitter.com/teach42"]] || **[|teach42]** @[|algona81] The key is to look at other people's Twitter Streams (with friends) and then add people that seem to vibe with you. [|06:14 AM October 05, 2007] from web [|in reply to algona81] ||

**Replies**
Use the syntax **@username** to answer tweets. This will make them appear on the user's **replies tab** -only visible by the owner. A person will receive your tweets even if they are not following you. Twitter is a new tool. You cannot rely on getting all messages addressed to you. Remember to check your Replies tab from time to time!
 * [[image:http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/20461582/susy_normal.jpg caption="susan" link="http://twitter.com/susaneb"]] || **[|susaneb]** found it on the sidebar under DIRECT MESSAGES [|07:28 PM October 14, 2007] from web ||
 * [[image:http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/20461582/susy_normal.jpg caption="susan" link="http://twitter.com/susaneb"]] || **[|susaneb]** how do I reply to my replies?????? can't find a way to send messages directy ....what am I missing folks????? [|07:22 PM October 14, 2007] from web ||

Direct Messages (DM)
Occasionally, you may send or receive **Direct Messages**. These are sent from your Twitter homepage clicking on the 'message' link. If you receive one, you will probably be notified in your email (from [|noreply@twitter.com]) with the following signature:
 * [[image:http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/20461582/susy_normal.jpg caption="susan" link="http://twitter.com/susaneb"]] || **[|susaneb]** what about direct messaging???? is that worth my while friends?? [|01:23 PM October 11, 2007] from web ||

follow me at //__twitter.com /username__ reply on the web at// __twitter.com /directmessages/ create/username/__ send me a direct message from your phone or IM: //USERNAME// your message here. turn off these email notifications at: __twitter.com/ account/notifications__

Twitter was not created to email people or to wake them up from sleep. **Nudges** are probably the least preferred option for people taking a break from micro-blogging.


 * [[image:http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/33829702/justjen_normal.jpg caption="Jen Wagner" link="http://twitter.com/JLWagner"]] || **[|JLWagner]** Enjoying Twitter Surfing from my Followers to yours and then to theirs!! Kinda fun!! [|04:57 PM October 19, 2007] from web ||