See your tweets dissected by topic. Here's my twylah page for my Twitter account. You can see common topics and it is organized nicely. I set this up sometime back.

Tweetcaster is receiving some notice for the ability to drill through search results. While hootsuite and bufferapp remain some power tools for me on my ipad, this cute little app is free and is worth a try.

I am floored to find 617 lesson plans using Twitter on the TES site. Some talk about social networks and society, advertising, etc. and others are recommendations for teachers, however, Twitter is increasingly becoming PART Of lessons and what we do. I think that eventually we'll have to make friends with social media in education just as we did with email.

The new Twitter iOS app and Android app works on the discover feature and search. Discover is supposed to show you more about what retweets you've gotten,etc. I've found it easier to see this information in hootsuite and for scheduling I use buffer. Twitter is amazing, but I rarely go to the site itself on my phone or computer. I have a feeling this is strategic for Twitter as they look to monetize. Update and check it out.

Excellent article about the research from several researchers about Tweets that are compelling and those that are turn-offs. This and the original research are both great reads. I thought it funny that people particularly hate foursquare check ins mentioned through Twitter, so unlink that account or lose followers! "One piece of advice: Nix the "sandwich tweets." People do not care what you are eating for lunch. (Specifically: "Sorry, but I don't care what people are eating," "too much personal info," "He moans about this ALL THE TIME. Seriously.") Twitter, as a communications platform, has evolved beyond nascent Twttr's charmingly mundane updates ("cleaning my apartment"; "hungry") and into something more crowd-conscious and curatorial. Though Twitter won't necessarily replace traditional news, it increasingly functions as a real-time newswire, disseminating and amplifying information gathered from the world and the web.

His UK generated list of most influential non celebrity tweeters includes NPR's Andy Carvin. It is interesting how many personalities cross time zones and national lines to influence us all. Andy is a great tweeter. Sadly, this list doesn't seem to link. Kind of misses the point but worth a read anyway.

There is a new site I'm seeing called Buffer. It lets you find things and put them into your "buffer" - another autotweeting type service. You can use with facebook but beware that often Facebook makes things not typed "live" into facebook have a lower priority and not put them on homestreams.

Twelve most popular teacher hashtags. From a little while back but I think this analysis is interesting ahd helpful.

Great post about the power of Twitter. It is almost so commonplace as to be trite. But it isn't trite. It is a very real part of a good teacher's PLN. Better than a search engine, the people engine of a giving, helpful group of twitters. But remember that in order to Tweet and receive, you also have to share and receive. You get back far more than you give but you should give not just ask. In short, be there for your tweeps and your tweeps will be there for you.

This report "Tweeting for Teachers" says social media should be part of teacher PD. as much as I agree with that, if you just unblock social media, it doesn't mean teachers WILL use it for PD. Teach them how. Plus, expect pushback from teachers who don't want to mix personal and business. Although Facebook won't allow 2 profiles for a person, Twitter will and some teachers may want to take that route.

This site lets you find and create events on twitter.

the homepage for Twitoaster conversation service - I'm taking a look at this. Still loving hootsuite but sometimes conversations can be hard to follow there.

Educational Foundations, Associations and Think Tanks on Twitter.

Instant screencaster from Twitter - cool tool that lets you easily create and share screencasts from twitter. (from @langwitches)

Instant Screencaster from Twitter

So, I guess some people are OK with twittering their labor and delivery - however, as the Mom of a 9 lb pounder, 10 lb 3 oz, and 8 lb 12 oz babies - I didn't have time nor inclination to tweet these private moments. To each his own.

Great visual showing what twitter would look like if it was 100 people! Great visual.

Those who have panicked that their Twitter followers have dropped - don't be paranoid! The twitter spammers have again taken the axe. Twitter self corrects about every 90 days and you'll get used to it. The fact is that Twitter is for meaningful, authentic communication - albeit short and if you do that, it can be a fun, and useful part of your personal learning network. It is unique to you and how you want to do it! Remember that it is not about the followers although you'll have people direct message you that you can somehow buy 200 or even 500 followers a day -- like that will enrich your life! Come on -- twitter is great and it is not about how many people follow YOU anyway - if you get tied up in that too much then you're probably really there for just selfish reasons anyway. Enjoy and have fun!

Uploading photos to your Ning profile from your cell phone.

Always verify what you see on twitter.

How to make your twitter account private, which is very appropriate for students and your classroom twitter account.