Communicating+Tools

== =**Twitter**=
 * Twitter is a platform for microblogging that is limited to 140 characters.It is a simple way to share links and ideas,ask questions and connect with friends and colleagues.Many teachers are starting to use Twitter as an important part of their professional life.**

**" Twitter is a community you build like any other community. Follow people you know on Twitter, people who share your professional interests.Then have a look at who they’re following; follow some of those people, and start joining in the conversation, sharing what you think/write/know/want to know. You will come across other people in these conversations, and you will want to follow them too. Before you know it, you will have a sizeable Twitter community." ** (Tania Sheko June 2011, [|www.tsheko.wordpress.com])

HowCast ** Below is an excellent video that shows you how to set up an account and use Twitter. **

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[|How Twitter Works] [|An Educator's Guide to Twitter][|50 ideas on Using Twitter] [|Why Twitter Matters]**and [|100 Top Tools for the Twittering Teacher]are also worth reading.**
 * Wanting more followers? Go to [|Top 10 Ways to Get More Followers on Twitter]**
 * For those of you interested in using social media in the classroom you might like to read this article [|T for Teaching]which was in the Age in December 2012**

=**Delicious**=
 * Delicious is a social bookmarking tool which allows you to store and share your favourite websites on the web inside of your browser.**
 * The [|Tech Tools for Teachers]Newsletter has easy to follow instructions on how to set up a Delicious account.**

=**Diigo**=
 * Diigo is the big brother of Delicious.It stands for "Digest of Internet Information,Groups and Other Stuff".For good reasons, [|Diigo] has become one of the most popular social bookmarking services used by educators. [|Diigo] offers good tools for highlighting, annotating, bookmarking, and sharing a wide range of resources that you find on the Internet.To keep up to date with educational web resources join [|Diigo For Education]If you're considering using [|Diigo] with your students Jose Picardo's video could be very useful for you . The video is embedded below.**

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 * Also refer to [|12 Reasons Teachers Should Use Diigo]**
 * Here is another worthwhile video produced by School Libraries Association Victoria**

=**Skype**=
 * Skype is the tool best known for voice-over-IP (VOIP) phone calls and video chatting. VOIP calls are phone calls that are carried over the internet rather than down a phone line.MAny features are free, including instant messaging calls between skype users and one to one video chat.**
 * Joining skype requires a username,password and email address.** **Using Skype on your computer requires microphone and speakers but ideally headphones. With the addition of a webcam, a phone conversation can become a video chat. Skype has an Education page linking you directly to projects around the world.**

=**Podcasting**=
 * A podcast is an audio or video file that you can download and listen to at anytime. (Video podcasts are called vodcasts)**
 * [|The ABC Technology Explained]website is an excellent site for finding out about podcasts.**
 * This is also an excellent[| link] to loads of resources and teaching ideas.**