Twitter workshop for health professionals

Some resources to support the workshop about the use of Twitter by health professionals at the Breathing New Life conference in Melbourne, May 2012. 


Aim of the workshop
This workshop will explore:

• how to set up a Twitter account and ‘follow’ people;
• how to use it effectively to engage with other health professionals and consumers;
• how to pass on information;
• how to use Twitter effectively for professional development 
• how to use it to facilitate professional development events

Program for workshop

1.  Set the scene

• Find out what people already know, and how they use Twitter, if at all.
• Find out what people want to know specifically

2. Presentation

• General introduction to social media and why health professionals cannot ignore it
• Twitter in Plain English
• My story - what Twitter does for me

3. Basic "How to" 

• Set up account 
• Fill in your profile
• Write a tweet or two
  
• Find people to follow - http://lifeinthefastlane.com/resources/anz-medical-blogs/
• How to reply to someone
• How to send a direct message
• How to re-tweet a message
• How to send a url in a tweet

4. Group work

Setting up Twitter accounts and communicating with each other using butchers paper and pens.

 

5. Advanced "How to"

• Hashtags
• Attending Twitter events eg #phdchat, #RNchat, #HCSMANZ
• Managing Twitter with tools such as Echofon or Tweetdeck
• Twitter on your mobile phone

6. Thinking about the professional use of Twitter 
Group discussion about 'dos' and 'donts'.

• Twitter netiquette

7. Conclusion

• Recap of main points
• Check that all questions have been answered
• If time, one-to-one consultations

Resources

• Is blogging and tweeting about research papers worth it? The Verdict: http://melissaterras.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/is-blogging-and-tweeting-about-research.html 
• Why I don't follow you on Twitter: http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.co.nz/2011/04/why-i-dont-follow-you-on-twitter.html
•  How to get a conversation going on Twitter?: http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.co.nz/2010/02/how-to-get-conversation-going-on.html
• Mashable Twitter Guidebook: http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/ 
• Who is watching you on Twitter? http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.co.nz/2010/11/who-is-watching-you-on-twitter.html 
• The "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" sides of Twitter http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.co.nz/2010/10/dr-jekyll-and-mr-hyde-sides-of-twitter.html

Image: 'iPhone 4'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30139965@N05/4734788670