AP Lit Digital Learning Day!

Click for poem and questions

 A Brief Guide to Twitter Edu-Chats
 
Yes, Twitter chats are akin to the chat rooms of the 90s. But instead of posing as NSYNCFAN4LIFE and Netscaping your way to “hotties” who, in reality, might be creepy old dudes posing as 13 year old prepubescent boys…
 
You will be yourself, and you will be there to learn, grow, and contribute to a real conversation.
 
If you’re already a Twitter user, you know this cuts both ways. There is some seriously intelligent and meaningful discourse happening in the Twittersphere, but there’s also Kanye.
 
So…what does this mean for you and the national Digital Learning Day? Or as we’ll call it #aplitDLD?
 
First off:

• If you don’t already have a Twitter account, and you’re interested in being the one who controls the keys tomorrow (more on that in a minute), you’ll want to go ahead and sign up and click around. I found Twitter to be a bit cumbersome when I first signed up, but I’m old-ish, so don’t put too much stock in that.

 

• Keep in mind, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SIGN UP, BUT you must either pair up with someone who is willing to have a co-pilot OR be a lurker.

 

• What that means is you’ll follow the chat on Twitter, but you will not be able to add your own thoughts, ideas, and opinions. And, because this is an assignment, you’ll also be required to “tweet” on paper.

• However you decide to handle this is ENTIRELY up to you.

 

• For those of you who ARE ON TWITTER, please know that I know an AP Lit poetry chat might impede on your Twitter persona. That said, feel free to delete your tweets on Thursday. [Insert a preachy little Hilliard soapbox moment where I talk about the control of social media.] J

 
Now…

DO

Be authentic! No one else has your voice and it is important.

Study the text before the chat. Apply your good close-reading, interpretation, and analysis strategies.

Reply to other students or teachers in the chat. This is really important…and fun! This is the best way to “get something out of” the experience.

Make sure you include the hashtag #aplitDLD in this conversation. 

DON’T

• Don’t use this as an opportunity to have a clever-off, an inside joke fest, a roast session, or anything else that is unprofessional. Remember: you will be chatting with students and teachers across the country.

 
*This is VERY important to me because I believe so much in all of you and in your abilities. In other words, you have important insights that are worth sharing.
 

• Don’t be dismissive or expect this to be easy. It may be a little awkward at first, but there should be plenty of intellectual fodder.

 
You can now go here to prepare for our Digital Day of Learning chat!