TwHistory at AECT 2010
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This document describes a project called TwHistory that uses Twitter to collaboratively recreate historical events through roleplaying as historical figures. Students research figures and write tweets in character that are scheduled to go out over time to simulate the unfolding of events. Recent projects included recreations of the leadup to Gettysburg and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The goals are for followers to experience history unfolding in real time and for student participants to gain experience evaluating sources and representing historical perspectives through social media. The document outlines the process and shares lessons learned from past projects, and seeks funding to further develop the approach into an online platform and curriculum.
TwHistory at AECT 2010
- 1. TwHistory Tom Caswell @tom4cam Rob Barton @robmba Marion Jensen @marionjensen Carla Federman @crfederman @twhistory Students Creating Collaborative Historical Narratives with Social Media
- 2. What is Twitter? Free status update tool. What's happening? in 140 characters. Messages are called tweets. 19% of American internet users are on Twitter.
- 4. The Big Idea Attending conference remotely Hundreds of people in the Twitter channel Idea: Real-time, virtual, historical reenactments using Twitter
- 5. Learning Objectives It is the unique bias of each source that helps us understand the range of viewpoints people held at the time (Barton, K.C., 2005)
- 6. Learning Objectives Followers/spectators ◦ Experience history in small chunks ◦ Gain a sense for the actual timing of events
- 7. Learning Objectives Participants/content creators ◦ Evaluate primary sources from historical figures ◦ Represent historical personae using social media tools ◦ Collaboratively simulate historical events through individual characters
- 9. From Gettysburg to the Cuban Missile Crisis 3 months leading up to Gettysburg High School teacher followed Used in Cold War History course Boo-yah!
- 10. Process Establish Community & Communication ◦ Google Groups ◦ Find/share historical figures ◦ Collaborators select historical figures
- 11. Process Research & Write Tweets ◦ Google Docs spreadsheet ◦ One historical character per spreadsheet ◦ Estimate timing of events ◦ Shorten to tweet length =LEN(C1)
- 12. Process Combine All Characters ◦ Create a Master spreadsheet in Google Docs ◦ Combine, sort, and check timing and sequences
- 13. Process Schedule & Send Tweets ◦ Pre-schedule tweets at appropriate dates and times ◦ 1-5 tweets per day per character ◦ Follow with a Twitter list, all characters in one place ◦ Enjoy the Show
- 15. Recent Projects Gettysburg 1847 Pioneer Trek Cuban Missile Crisis Tweet The Exodus Titanic concept piece
- 16. Future Projects Lewis & Clark expedition Apollo Missions 40th anniversaries Titanic 100th anniversary
- 17. Future Directions TwHistory.org website with all tools in one place to collaborate and schedule tweets Archives that allow reuse: modification, compressed timelines Integrate geolocation data
- 18. Top 10 Things Learned from TwHistory There was a girl who really would stand at the bow of the Titanic after her nightly escapades. Fort Bridger was just a couple small log cabins. No one really won the Battle of Gettysburg. Never leave the percussion cap on the hammer of your rifle. If you don't burn towns as you march through them, the ladies treat you nicely. Don't tie up the president's horse within rope's distance of a sinkhole. If you're considering deserting the army, be prepared to dig your own grave and then be shot in it. Only 3 of the 4 smokestacks on the Titanic were real; the last one was decoration. The best time to raid the enemy's camp is just when they're sitting down to dinner. History can be fun and interesting.
- 19. Please Vote refresheverything.com/twhistory text 102066 to 73774 $25k in funding to develop curriculum