This page will be updated periodically with Twitter Tips that emerge from our discussions. Please feel free to submit your own tips to adreier@edc.org, and we'll post them here, too!
Tip #1: Different types of tweets
As you've begun to explore the tool, you might have noticed that your colleagues' tweets might begin with an "@" or contain "#edcmdata" at the end. If you're unsure when to use these characters, please read on!
There are four primary ways of tweeting that are likely useful to you in our learning experience. While some might have some variations, they generally fall along a continuum from most private to least:
1. A direct message to a person is the most private. Only the two of you will ever see the tweet. Note that this is not done in the main window for tweeting, but you are still limited to Twitter's number of characters (click on the "Messages" link in order to send a direct message to someone).
When to use: You want to share something personal that you would like to stay between the recipient and yourself.
Example: Direct Message to @janesmith: Not sure I agree with Jim there, but also not sure how to respond. Thoughts?
2. A tweet beginning with @username without the hashtag is the second most private. Only people who are following both you and the recipient will see the tweet.
When to use: You have something that you want to say to a colleague that isn’t related to the course. You wouldn’t care if others happened to read it, but you wouldn’t use the hashtag to tweet about a movie, restaurant, etc.
Example: @janesmith I just saw a great movie last night!
3. A tweet beginning with @username with the hashtag is less private. It will be seen by anyone who is following both you and the recipient, along with anyone who searches the hashtag
When to use: You have something that you want to say to a colleague that was related directly to the course. You don’t know that all of your followers would want to read it, so you would want to ensure that only people who followed both of us (or used the hashtag) would be able to see it.
Example: @janesmith Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all of the data I receive! #edcmdata
4. A tweet that does not start with @username but contains it will be seen by all of your followers — it doesn’t matter who is following the recipient.
When to use: You feel that all of your followers would benefit from reading it, irrespective of whether they follow the recipient or not.
Example: Great ideas from @janesmith about using data efficiently and effectively! #edcmdata
