Definition

Microblogging Services

Twitter

Build a community of learners with like-minded individuals who publicly share updates of their thoughts, ideas, and URLs.

From www.twitter.com:

• People are eager to connect with other people and Twitter makes that simple. Twitter asks one question, "What are you doing?" Answers must be under 140 characters in length and can be sent via mobile texting, instant message, or the web.

From the Educause 7 things you should know series

• 7 Things You Should Know About Twitter (PDF) 

From Doug Belshaw's blog: teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk

• Using Twitter with your students

Fifteen Interesting Ways* to use Twitter in the Classroom

• http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dhn2vcv5_118cfb8msf8

From The Chronicle of Higher Education

• A Professor's Tips for Using Twitter in the Classroom

Twitter in Plain English from leelefever on Vimeo.

Twitter Applications

The are a large number of applications designed to integrate with Twitter and provide extended functionality. Check out this great resource, Twitter Fan Wiki, to learn more. 

twitpic

• Share photos directly from your phone or from your computer on Twitter.
• http://twitpic.com/photos/brueckj23

MobyPicture

• Another way to share photos in Twitter.

Twitlet

Now there is an easier way of posting webpages with Twitlet. Simply use words #link or #this to include current page’s URL in your tweet.

Plurk

From Plurk.com

• Plurk is an easy way to chronicle and share the things you do, the way you feel, and all the other things in between that make up your life, with the people close to you. It's instant gratification, instant self-indulgence, instant celebrity, instantly YOU. Share your life stream, live your life….Plurk!

From Teach42

• Why I *heart* Plurk

• Conversations are threaded together. When you reply to someone, it STAYS with the original post.

Benefits of using Plurk

• Ask questions and get feedback (EXAMPLE)
• Live blog conference session and events (EXAMPLE)
• Share important thoughts and ideas (EXAMPLE)

Other Plurk Resources

• plurk4educators wiki

ShoutEm

From Teach42

• ShoutEm is to Twitter as Ning is to Facebook

• ShoutEm is a create-your-own-Twitter platform.
• It means that we finally have the ability to create our own Twitters for niche purposes.
• Teachers can use it for any classroom project, with full privacy or publicity as needed.

Brueckei Microblogging Site

Twingr

From Twingr.com:

With Twingr, you can create a microblogging community and communicate with friends and other people that share your same interests.

• Keep up with everyone in your circle
• Share your thoughts and get feedback from your colleagues
• Start the conversation on what makes you tick
• Learn about what you really care about
• Your interests. Your needs. Your group