Twitter Grade Level Chat Structure

How do we want the monthly chats structured? Who do we want to moderate

the monthly chats?

A script of 5 questions will be given to the moderators of each grade level chat.
The Learner Support Team, MRS Team, Kristin Ellis, & Paige Hanks will
collaborate on scripts for each chat. There will be 2 moderators per chat-pulling
moderators from the MRS team, Kristin Ellis, & Paige Hanks. Learner Support
Team can chat alongside of teachers to provide instructional resources/ideas.

What will the schedule look like for monthly chats?

All grade level chats will take place on Mondays from 8 pm- 9pm.

Nov. 4
th
- #mckkinderchat
Nov. 11
th
- #mck1stchat
Nov. 18
th
- #mck2ndchat
Dec. 2
nd
- #mck3rdchat
Dec. 9
th
- #mck4thchat
Dec. 16
th
- #mck5thchat

How will we promote the monthly chats in the district?

Grade level chats will be promoted through the MRS team at each school. A wiki
will be created to send out to staff (through MRS team) with information, links,
and a place to add topics for future chats.










Grade Level Chat Scripts
The purpose of the script is to drive conversation and ensure a timely and on
topic chat. A script should include a series of topics for discussion during the
chat, along with background info and sub topics to help push conversation for
any topic that might not immediately spark conversation. The script should be
written out in a ready to Tweet format, this way the host can easily copy and
paste Tweets into the chat.
Two important things to keep in mind when constructing your script: 1) The
script is only meant to spark conversation and should by no means encompass
the entirety of your Tweets during the chat. A good host will have around 20%
of his Tweets come from a script; the rest should be live interactions with chat
participants during the chat. 2) Although a script is a good way to control chat
flow and ensure that your chat stays within the time originally scheduled, its
never a good idea to auto-schedule your script. While, based on experience,
each topic usually provides for around 10 min of lively conversation, this can
vary. Your script should allow you the flexibility to give a particularly interesting
topic some extra time to discuss, and cut short any topics that might not spark
as much conversation as originally expected. Continual lively conversation is
essential to a successful Twitter Chat, and a script can be your tool to help make
this happen.









Chat Moderator Instructions
Having many people active and directing the conversation strengthens and defines our
group. Here are a few basic ideas that might help you to organize the chat and keep
the focus on the chosen topic.
Organization
As the moderator you will direct the conversation to address the chosen topic. Choose
an organization suited to the topic.

Using Q1, A1 Q2, A2 formats allows the chat to be followed more easily and is
easier to understand in the archive, especially when people respond using the
same. Start with a general topic question and ask additional questions every ten
to 15 minutes.
o e.g. Q1: How do you use tech in your classroom?
o e.g. Q2: What are the pros and cons of using tech?

Make sure you keep the conversation on topic. All too often people want to go
off on tangents. Try to bring them back with follow up questions.

For crowdsourcing topics, consider beginning by asking for guiding questions or
learning objectives for the topic. Think of different questions to keep the
content ideas going.


It is highly recommended that you have questions ready before the chat begins. You
may want to alter them as the chat progresses.

Content
With so many participants the conversation will move in many different directions. As
moderator you will want to focus and redirect the discussion to keep it on topic.

-Retweet excellent contributions and resources.

Negativity
This is very rare, but it is important that if negative or inappropriate comments occur
they should be dealt with immediately.

Please say something like @___________ twitter etiquette dictates negative comments
and conversations move to a different medium. We welcome differing points of view but
want to keep it positive and productive in our forum!








Planning Guide for Moderators
Twitter Grade Level Chats Script Template


Topic Name: All Grade Level Chats


Introduction- (Moderator) Welcome, please introduce yourself and what you teach.

(Moderator) We will follow a question/answer format for the next hour during our
chat. Question 1 will be displayed as Q1 and you all can answer by using A1 for answer
1.

(Moderator) Also, dont forget to use # (ie #mckkinderchat, #mck1stchat, etc..-
depending on the chat you are moderating) in your tweets during our chat so all
participants can see your comments and ideas.

(Moderator) Lets get started!

Questions: (try to space questions depending on interest and engagement)


Q1:


Q2:


Q3:


Q4:


Q5:

(Moderator) Give about 10 minutes per question for ideas to be shared (unless the
conversation dies down). You can retweet good info shared in the group and put in
your comments/ideas as well. BE FLEXIBLE- it is okay for some sharing to take longer if
the conversation is meaningful. Keep the chat purposeful and meaningful along the
way.

(Moderator) Thank you for all the great sharing! We will be tweeting out our next
chat date in the weeks ahead and hope you can join in with us again- bring along some
friends to join in as well. You can always share info using the # (ie #mckkinderchat,
#mck1stchat, etc..- depending on the chat you are moderating) at any time!

Resources or websites (you want to share to have them ready ahead of time)
Chat Roles

Moderators: Typically there is one main Moderator who shares the responsibilities
listed above. With a fast paced chat it will take two people to keep it on track and
productive. Take turns asking questions and retweeting great ideas and links.

Welcoming New People/Greeter: One of our strengths is acknowledging and
welcoming new participants. We want people to feel good about being in the chat and
excited about coming back.
The main task is to recognize new participants and say hi. With any luck several
people will do this anyway.
Thank people for their comments or resources and invite them back for next the
next months chat.

Archiver: Archiving is a fundamentally important role for the group.
Archiving using Storify is relatively simple and will be completed by one of the
chat leaders.