ADVENTURES IN TWEETINGLinnea Johnson | Simmons GSLIS | linnea@simmons.edu

Let’s start with a short video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8

Questions I ask my students & my staff What does this mean for libraries? How should we be evolving, if at all? How do you isolate the technology fads? What is here to stay and will make an

impact? How do you ensure that you have a

presence where your patrons (users) are spending time online?

GSLIS Technology Group

Mission: To provide GSLIS students, faculty, and staff

access to current and innovative technological applications, resources, and tools via community spaces, training opportunities, and hands-on learning

Emphasis on non-proprietary software and open source options

Being a central part of the GSLIS curriculum and pedagogy by seeking out community feedback

Community Spaces

Tech Lab http://gslislab.simmons.edu

Media Lab http://gslis.simmons.edu/podcasts

Usability Lab http://gslis.simmons.edu/usability

Hands-on Instruction Opportunities

25-30 free workshops for the GSLIS community: Dreamweaver Advanced Wiki Gardening FileMaker Pro Zotero Usability Testing CSS Debugging Developing Web Applications Second Life ….. And more

http://gslistechlab.eventbrite.com/ (online signup)

Setting the scene

Teach two sections of LIS 488, Technology for Information Professionals in Boston & on our South Hadley campus (1 face-to-face & 1 blended)

1 of 5 required core classes that all GSLIS students are required to take

Topics include: Computer hardware concepts Networking infrastructure concepts Internet protocols & underlying structure

(political & technical) Digital content creation Problem solving with IT Emerging technologies in libraries

Changes to Syllabus

Evaluation

Twitter Back Channel

You will be monitoring library technology and IT blogs every week, only 1 will be needed for your Current Awareness post in Moodle, but many should be shared.

Tweet any interesting finds with the class using a link shortener (www.bit.ly, www.tr.im, www.tinyurl.com) and use our official LIS 488-01 hash tag: #lis48801

Bookmark this page to monitor class tweets or simply save it as a search on your Twitter home page - http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23lis48801

Following me (http://twitter.com/leonnea) is not mandatory as I do tweet things other than tech content but am happy if you choose to follow me!

I will be monitoring (and replying when I can) to the class Twitter Back Channel, which I am hoping creates a unique community outside the classroom.

Have Fun!

How to Begin

Sign up for a free Twitter account. http://twitter.com. Choose public or private account.

Start following people, news outlets, fellow LIS students, faculty, or anyone who interests you!

Twitter is a collaborative platform and works best if you participate. Don’t be shy.

News outlets on Twitter: http://www.newsontwitter.com/top-news-twitters/

Politics on Twitter: http://www.newsontwitter.com/top-political-twitters/

Sports Players on Twitter: http://www.newsontwitter.com/top-sports-twitters/

Foodies on Twitter: http://mashable.com/2009/08/13/twitter-foodies/

Check out my Twitter tagged bookmarks on Delicious - http://delicious.com/leonnea/twitter

Additional Twitter Resources

Mashable’s Twitter Guide- http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/

YouTube Twitter Tutorials - http://mashable.com/2009/05/31/twitter-tutorials-youtube/

Twitter 101 – Tips & Tricks - http://www.switched.com/2009/03/26/twitter-101-tips-and-tricks/

Find your perfect Twitter desktop application - http://mashable.com/2009/06/27/twitter-desktop-apps/

Find your perfect Twitter mobile application - http://www.labnol.org/internet/best-twitter-mobile-apps/12129/

Twitter For Dummies Cheat Sheet - http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/twitter-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.navId-390357.html?print=true

Linnea! Ask me any Twitter quandaries that you might encounter. - @leonnea

Twitter 101

Twitter 101

Twitter 101

Put my twitter self out there!

Student Reactions

Mostly positive, especially for existing tweeters “Am no longer dreading required GSLIS Tech class

due to massive Twitter presence.” All students signed up for a Twitter account (who

didn’t have one already) after our first class Some were reluctant:

But there is some hope…

Community Building Begins

Guest lecture participation

More participation

Blended Class

Blended Class

Blended Class

Concerns

Am not one to force a technology tool on students, so had initial worry about new approach

Twitter works well if you are engaged and involved (not lurking), which should be an organic experience

Would students tweet about quality of class? How do you handle following/following back? Twitter policies? I found that simply trusting my students was

huge and so far, it has worked.

Future Course Plans

Survey students in these 2 class beta groups to seek specific feedback on their Twitter experience

Possible take it a few steps further: Encourage students to tweet during lectures to

deepen our back channel Have class Tweetups outside of normal class time to

discuss topics covered in class in a less formal setting

Start discussions myself on Twitter if a nudge is needed

Designate experienced class tweeters to be mentors

Thank You For Listening!

Any Questions? Slides available here:

http://web.simmons.edu/~johnsol2/ptrc/ Contact Information:

linnea@simmons.edu (617)-521-2834 Office: P-204W http://www.twitter.com/leonnea