Activity 5: Sharing resources by inserting a link into your tweet

[Maggie Verster]

Activity 5:

Twitter is mainly about sharing. We share resources, links, photos, files, news, events, conversations...the list is endless!! So in this activity we will first look at how we can pass on resource urls (web pages on the internet)

If you have been alerted to the new resource via your twitter network, it is not a problem, you can just
RETWEET by....

• highlighting (left-click and drag) the whole tweet,

• pressing Ctrl-C (shortcut for copying)on your keyboard and

• Click on the Home link (top right)

• clicking in the twitter update window

• press Ctrl-V (shortcut for pasting) on your keyboard.

• Then add RT @sign in front of the person's  name (who you are re-tweeting) and

• a space (between the person name and the tweet) and update your post.
  

Creating an actual link and sharing it:
Say you find a great resource on the web and have to share it with your followers (fellow teachers) who would benefit from using the resource as well. Share it quickly
by:

• Shortening the resource URL (web address)  as you only have 140 characters and need to keep it short and sweet. You can use any of the Url shorteners but first check with your school's technology administrator which url shortener they allow (eg
  SITA does not allow tinyurl).

• Copy and paste the url of the site that you want to share (right-click - copy or ctrl-C)

• Open up the url shortener (pick one and click):

  • Tinyurl (www.tinyurl.com)

  • http://ow.ly

  • http://tr.im

• Paste the link into the relevant space (ctrl-v)

• Copy the new short url given (Ctrl-C)

• Paste it into your tweet update window (ctrl-v)

• Add text to explain your resource link

• Update your tweet

• Your followers will now be able to click on the link, which will open in a new window and use it. (or re-tweet it!)
   

Activity:

1. Find a web resource in your subject area and Tweet it

2. Look for a worthwhile resource shared by one of the people you are following and re-tweet it.

3. Come back to this thread and discuss how you would practically go about using this with your learners.