Here is the skinny on hashtags for Tech Tuesday (or should I say #techtuesday?):
- Though the use of hashtags date back to 1988, the popularity of hashtags started with an innovator, Chris Messina, on Twitter in 2007. He proposed using hashtags to corral a group of people he was communicating with; If everyone used the same hashtag, they could easily find each other's tweets.
- Hashtags work best on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Google+. Facebook just announced it will support hashtags and Pinterest has said "perhaps, in the future" - which is why I require my students to add hashtags to their pinning projects. We will be ready!
- Hashtags are actual metadata tags that use keywords and phrases to summarize a main idea.
- Hashtags make searching for information easier. With the size of the Internet and the World Wide Web, I say three cheers for easier searching. Hip, Hip, Hurray!
- Hashtagging is a test of creative thinking, in my opinion. Say a baby is born....you could hashtag #newbaby or #birth or #firstborn. OR to be abstractly creative, you could hashtag that same experience with #life or #bestday or #theregoessleep - see what I mean? Hashtags creatively summarize an experience.
Which is exactly why we need a hashtag stamp for educators. Students could summarize what they know or learned using a clever hashtag stamp.
#whatdoyouthink?
Jen
PS - If you want to see what's trending in the world of hashtags, click here. I would just keel over if I saw #upcyclededucation listed. I don't know about you, but spelling out that hashtag takes too much time. #lazyme
#ithinkyouarethecoolestblogreaderever
