I read an inspiring blog post recently (this morning) from my Twitter friend and professional colleague, @Carlameyrink. She was sharing, in this blog post, how her instructional coach created a buzz of engagement with their staff. After reflecting, I decided that I needed to create a buzz with my students and bring back our faux Twitter chat.
Earlier in the year, we created faux Twitter handles. Many of the students are gamers, have youtube channels, or have other social media. Their Twitter handles are variations of names they already use.
In class, we’ve been deeply immersed in a social awareness inquiry. We’ve developed questions, researched, wrote, created logos, and will be presenting group presentations tomorrow. This was the perfect time for a Twitter chat. Twitter chats generally get the participants to reflect on their practices, set future goals, and will often have an opportunity for shout outs. I use this same model for our faux chats.
Here’s the slide deck of questions we used.
Just like a real chat, we use the Q1 and A1 format, talk to each other using handles, and even incorporate hashtags. I post each question one at a time onto our Google classroom. Students first answer the question then they respond to classmates. I generally use three questions and post them about 5 minutes apart.
Take a look at some of the responses for our Social Awareness Chat.
Earlier in the year, we created faux Twitter handles. Many of the students are gamers, have youtube channels, or have other social media. Their Twitter handles are variations of names they already use.
In class, we’ve been deeply immersed in a social awareness inquiry. We’ve developed questions, researched, wrote, created logos, and will be presenting group presentations tomorrow. This was the perfect time for a Twitter chat. Twitter chats generally get the participants to reflect on their practices, set future goals, and will often have an opportunity for shout outs. I use this same model for our faux chats.
Here’s the slide deck of questions we used.
Just like a real chat, we use the Q1 and A1 format, talk to each other using handles, and even incorporate hashtags. I post each question one at a time onto our Google classroom. Students first answer the question then they respond to classmates. I generally use three questions and post them about 5 minutes apart.
Take a look at some of the responses for our Social Awareness Chat.
Question 1: Our Social Awareness Seminar is tomorrow. How are you feeling about it?
- I feel confident, like we'll do good, but I also feel anxious. What if a major problem begins? Even minor problems can be hard to solve. I just hope we don't have any major problems on the day of presentations. #FeelingConfident @RobloxDragon
- I feel nervous, yet excited, about the presentation. I hope I don't forget what I'm going to say out of nervousness. @lookatallthosechickens
- I am feeling a little nervous, but at the same time I feel really confident about tomorrow. The part that I am most scared about is the parents. I know that they aren't going to say anything, but I am still a little scared. The kids I feel fine about because I’ll just have fun and do my part. #OhNoParents @Dominguez0323
Question 2: You’ve worked really hard. What are you the most proud of?
- I'm happy that although this is my first year with Passionate Kids Project, I've been doing great. I thought I wasn't going to do good on my demo slams, but got good scores. I'm very proud of myself. #Noob @Alfredokm57
- I am proud of my whole group and everything we have been through. We have accomplished and overcame a lot. I am also proud of how our presentation is turning out. We have everything planned out and we are prepared. #Overcomers @cassidy3041
- I'm proud of a few things. I'll just number them here.
1. Memorization of lines:
My group has a lot to say, and we really memorized it quickly. I can't believe I was able to do a classmates slide on demo-slams the day he was gone. Success!
2. Design of presentation:
I haven't really seen myself use my designing skills on something actually educational, but I guess I did now.
3. No overuse of words:
Words! Words! Words! Digitally are not good on our presentations in this case!
I'm proud of a few more minor things, but I don't want this to turn into an essay so there we go. @RobloxDragon
Question 3: We’re a community of learners. Give a shout out to a classmate.
After we’ve cycled through the questions, we do a dramatic reading of the chat. I read the initial question, then students read what they wrote in chronological order. It’s actually a lot of fun! Everyone gets to participate and share with the group in a fast paced manner.
I love watching the students during a chat. They are very serious yet enjoy themselves at the same time. As their teacher, I know that this is really a reflection piece. Part of my lesson design is always reflection. The faux Twitter chat is a fun and engaging way to get students reflecting while having fun with their friends. As @Markbarnes19 would say, that’s one way to #HackLearning.
Give the faux Twitter chat a try. Your students will love it!
#MuchLove . . . Marilyn 🖤
- I know were supposed to shout out to a classmate but I'm going to be shouting out my whole group. Shout out to DV about how he was kind of in control but not bossy to the point where he stepped up and became a leader. Shout out to GCC on how she was a cooperative and engaging person when helping mostly the whole group get the information, pictures, and ideas. And finally shout out to MV. He did an excellent job even though he came to our group really late but he still pulled it together. He was able to gather information from his resources and remember his lines, finish his article review, and have a good time doing the project even when it was late! So pretty much just shout out to my whole group for working their hardest and successfully accomplishing a good team and a bond between how we can feel empathy for this dreadful topic. @BonelessFriesOrder4 (Their social awareness topic is “depression”.)
- I'm going to give a shout out to CS because she is literally the one who always brought the group back together and always made us have a good time WHILE being on task. #Havefunandlearn @diaz7127
- I'm giving a shout out to two groups. The Children with Disabilities group for working so hard on the video and hands on and giving a lot of thought i to their work And another shout out to the Drugs and Alcohol group. They are a great example of teamwork and being hard workers. #Teamwork @SparklestheUnicorn
After we’ve cycled through the questions, we do a dramatic reading of the chat. I read the initial question, then students read what they wrote in chronological order. It’s actually a lot of fun! Everyone gets to participate and share with the group in a fast paced manner.
I love watching the students during a chat. They are very serious yet enjoy themselves at the same time. As their teacher, I know that this is really a reflection piece. Part of my lesson design is always reflection. The faux Twitter chat is a fun and engaging way to get students reflecting while having fun with their friends. As @Markbarnes19 would say, that’s one way to #HackLearning.
Give the faux Twitter chat a try. Your students will love it!
#MuchLove . . . Marilyn 🖤
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