Twitter. Where to start? A mere two weeks ago, I was looking at a syllabus for my grad course that stated that I would have to create a Twitter account. I initially thought to myself that this would be an easy task. I created a private Twitter account as a means to communicate with my students’ parents and share snapshots of our day. I was used to posting what my students did throughout the day, pictures of class events or learning activities, and reminders for parents. My classroom Twitter account could only be viewed by my students’ parents and I knew they WANTED to read what I had to say. My new Twitter account that I had to create for my graduate course wouldn’t be this simple. I didn’t have twenty-one individuals rushing to follow me. I didn’t know what to say. When I tweeted would anyone be there to listen or to care what I had to say?
How could Twitter be used in a professional manner? To be quite honest, I often mocked Twitter before beginning this recent social media adventure. I have uttered the phrase “no one cares that much about your life” as I have seen individuals post countless updates to social media sites, such as Facebook. To me, that is what Twitter was – either a way to over share your every move or to stalk celebrities. This original belief was quickly shattered.
Once I created my new “professional” Twitter account, I began to see its benefits. I have been able to use Twitter to keep up with new trends in education. One of the best features of Twitter is its ability to connect so many individuals. Every Sunday night, the #1stchat group discusses various topics, such as different reading programs. Although I have not yet had an opportunity to participate in one of these chats, I have attempted to follow some of the conversations after the chat has finished. These chats help ensure that answers will come more quickly, which doesn’t always happen if you are not yet “popular” in the Twitter world. Another benefit of Twitter is the ability to get more information about topics you are interested in. I have been interested in a product called SitSpots to use in my classroom (more on that in a later post). I tweeted out a question to find out more about other people’s experiences with SitSpots and another user quickly shared a blog post she found about this product. I didn't know this person, but she didn't hesitate to help me. There is a sense of camaraderie shown in teachers actively supporting one another. You just need to follow the right people.
Although I have found the countless benefits of Twitter, I still struggle with putting myself out there. I find that I do not have much to say. I would rather read other people’s tweets and retweet or reply to interesting topics or ideas I come across. I’m sure I will become more comfortable with this overtime, but for now the idea of tweeting out a new thought everyday is overwhelming to me. #letsseewhatthefuturebrings
So, can tweeting help your teaching? Check out this article to find out more.
Image source:
Evandrodesouza (2010, July 4). Bird mascot [Digital Image]. Retrieved from http://openclipart.org/detail/70159/twitter-bird-mascot-by-evandrodesouza
How could Twitter be used in a professional manner? To be quite honest, I often mocked Twitter before beginning this recent social media adventure. I have uttered the phrase “no one cares that much about your life” as I have seen individuals post countless updates to social media sites, such as Facebook. To me, that is what Twitter was – either a way to over share your every move or to stalk celebrities. This original belief was quickly shattered.
Once I created my new “professional” Twitter account, I began to see its benefits. I have been able to use Twitter to keep up with new trends in education. One of the best features of Twitter is its ability to connect so many individuals. Every Sunday night, the #1stchat group discusses various topics, such as different reading programs. Although I have not yet had an opportunity to participate in one of these chats, I have attempted to follow some of the conversations after the chat has finished. These chats help ensure that answers will come more quickly, which doesn’t always happen if you are not yet “popular” in the Twitter world. Another benefit of Twitter is the ability to get more information about topics you are interested in. I have been interested in a product called SitSpots to use in my classroom (more on that in a later post). I tweeted out a question to find out more about other people’s experiences with SitSpots and another user quickly shared a blog post she found about this product. I didn't know this person, but she didn't hesitate to help me. There is a sense of camaraderie shown in teachers actively supporting one another. You just need to follow the right people.
Although I have found the countless benefits of Twitter, I still struggle with putting myself out there. I find that I do not have much to say. I would rather read other people’s tweets and retweet or reply to interesting topics or ideas I come across. I’m sure I will become more comfortable with this overtime, but for now the idea of tweeting out a new thought everyday is overwhelming to me. #letsseewhatthefuturebrings
So, can tweeting help your teaching? Check out this article to find out more.
Image source:
Evandrodesouza (2010, July 4). Bird mascot [Digital Image]. Retrieved from http://openclipart.org/detail/70159/twitter-bird-mascot-by-evandrodesouza