NEWS

Teacher's tweet treat is new Tweechme app

Mackenzie Ryan
FLORIDA TODAY

Susan Bearden has made a name for herself on Twitter.

With more than 8,000 followers, she's gained so much star power that, at a recent conference, some attendants asked to snap pictures with her.

Now Bearden, the director of information technology at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, is starting a business venture aimed at spreading her tweeting enthusiasm.

Her mobile app, Tweechme, is available for download for 99 cents. It's goals: To demystify Twitter for educators and connect teachers with resources on the social media platform.

FLORIDA TODAY asked Bearden what motivated her to create the app — investing $1,200 of her own money to create it — and what advice she has for students and parents on Twitter.

Question: What inspired you to launch Tweechme?

Bearden: It's interesting, it's an outgrowth of the MAD-Learn program (that teaches students at Holy Trinity how to create mobile apps).

I sat down with the girls (who piloted the program) and we told them to brainstorm, to create an app on something that they are passionate about.

I thought: If I was going to create an app, it would be how to create personal learning networks on Twitter, because that's what I'm passionate about. I started sketching ideas.

Q: What is a personal learning network, and what does it have to do with Twitter?

Bearden: That's the reaction most people have (she laughs).

There are thousands of educators who are using Twitter as a way to share lesson plans and best practices and ideas, and basically support one another.

That whole concept of a personal learning network is to connect with other educators — be that around the country or around the world — to improve your professional practice.

Q: How does Tweechme help teachers do that?

Bearden: One of the challenges with using Twitter is that there's no easy entry point for people who are new to the platform.

The intimidation factor is, by and large, one of the biggest factors they face. People just don't get Twitter or understand how they can use it.

My goal with creating Tweechme is to try and create a series of videos and screencasts — screencasts being tutorial videos — that make it less intimidating.

Q: Are there different levels?

Bearden: I have Twitter 101, Twitter 201 and Twitter 301. ... My goal is to keep adding content in response to user input and, as the platform changes, to make it an ongoing learning experience.

Q: Is this a long-term project for you?

Bearden: I see this project growing and developing over time. Honestly, I'm going to see where it goes.

Q: And it's a business venture?

Bearden:It started out as a labor of love, and my goal was if I could break even on my development costs, it would be something that would help improve the profession of education.

But I was pleasantly surprised at the enthusiasm for the app at ISTE (the International Society for Technology in Education conference).

Q: Are there reasons for parents or other non-teachers to use the app?

Bearden: My husband was my guinea pig, and that's what he told me: This app is helpful for anyone who wants to start learning about Twitter.

Obviously, there are certain aspects about it that are geared toward educators.

Q: That's so nice, that your husband was your guinea pig.

Bearden: He was very, very supportive of my project. It pretty much took up my life outside of work for two months.

Q: What do you tell students or parents about Twitter? Any advice for them?

Bearden: I want students and parents to realize that it can be a very powerful tool, but you also have to be aware that everything you post on Twitter, if it's on the Internet, it's not private.

There are kids who have been denied admission to college, they have lost academic scholarships, because of what they've posted on social media.

You can be authentic without being unprofessional.

Ryan is at 242-3664 or mryan@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @Mackenzie_Ryan.

About Tweechme

A new mobile app aimed at teaching educators about Twitter and connecting them with resources on Twitter. Follow app creator Susan Bearden on Twitter at @s_bearden, or the app at @TweechmeApp.

Tweechme is available for download for 99 cents on iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows mobile devices.