Image credit: Jillian Reed I recommend joining Twitter if you're in the education field (or my family) so we can stay in touch easier. I recently read that only a small number of educators are actually tweeting these days and I hope that changes. Some educators have been happily using Twitter for years. I love reading about those experiences because I'm pretty new and don't really feel I've learned everything I need to about it yet. I love using the Twitter app on the iPad or the Hootsuite app during Twitter chats. I enjoy using Twitter lists, private and public ones, that help me catch up and follow people or topics that interest me. I don't have a zillion followers like some of these amazing educators that I follow:
Lisa Johnson, @TechChef4U
Jon Samuelson, @iPadSammy
Tony Vincent, @TonyVincent
Kathy Schrock, @KathySchrock
Wes Fryer, @wfryer
Jerry Blumengarten, @cybraryman1
I follow many people on Twitter and I'm not done meeting new people either. I'm just getting started. There are a few Twitter chats I enjoy #21stedchat, #caedchat and #TLAP. I'm sure I'll explore more when I get a chance. It's a torrential amount of information in an hour where it gives new meaning to the phrase, time flies when you're having fun.
Follow or don't follow people and companies on Twitter. Be true to yourself and enjoy your time online. You'll find what suits you after a short period of time. Do follow a few #hashtags for meaningful learning experiences. A post by Rafranz Davis, Not Easily Offended on Twitter, is a comforting read if you're concerned about how you might react to tweets or how others might react to your tweets. It may not be a worry at all and that's not a bad thing. Another blog by Miguel Guhlin, Follow Me, is worth checking out. He has an interesting perspective.
I am enjoying the Twitter stream and my experience is very similar to the graph pictured below. Thank you Dean Shareski, @shareski, for sharing that at ISTE 2013. It makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it. I'm at the "WOW" stage of Twitter and looking for friends to follow and connect with.
Lisa Johnson, @TechChef4U
Jon Samuelson, @iPadSammy
Tony Vincent, @TonyVincent
Kathy Schrock, @KathySchrock
Wes Fryer, @wfryer
Jerry Blumengarten, @cybraryman1
I follow many people on Twitter and I'm not done meeting new people either. I'm just getting started. There are a few Twitter chats I enjoy #21stedchat, #caedchat and #TLAP. I'm sure I'll explore more when I get a chance. It's a torrential amount of information in an hour where it gives new meaning to the phrase, time flies when you're having fun.
Follow or don't follow people and companies on Twitter. Be true to yourself and enjoy your time online. You'll find what suits you after a short period of time. Do follow a few #hashtags for meaningful learning experiences. A post by Rafranz Davis, Not Easily Offended on Twitter, is a comforting read if you're concerned about how you might react to tweets or how others might react to your tweets. It may not be a worry at all and that's not a bad thing. Another blog by Miguel Guhlin, Follow Me, is worth checking out. He has an interesting perspective.
I am enjoying the Twitter stream and my experience is very similar to the graph pictured below. Thank you Dean Shareski, @shareski, for sharing that at ISTE 2013. It makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it. I'm at the "WOW" stage of Twitter and looking for friends to follow and connect with.
Source: http://cogdogblog.com/2008/03/20/twitter-life-cycle/
Here are my top 10 reasons I think you should want to join Twitter:
1. Celebrate someone or something that interests you by sharing it with the world.
2. Give help. I know you know something that is valuable to share. Yes, that's advice I need to take especially since I am dishing it out.
3. Get help. Actually there can be a pretty quick turn around time for an answer depending on your personal learning network (PLN).
4. Learn something new. This can be so energizing, especially if you like technology. There is always something new or improved that you can research and learn about.
5. Branch out and make new friends that may or may not have the same exact views as you do. The personal growth and journey of learning beyond the classroom walls, down the block, and finally globally is extraordinary.
6. Share your kindness. Sometimes feelings of "being the only one" vanish when you reach out and tweet. It's worth a try if you're feeling any which way because there are so many caring people, it's truly astounding.
7. Follow #hashtags that have meaning for you.
8. Be inspired (ever hear of #TLAP - if not, you need to search that hashtag now).
9. Join a community and invite a friend. It feels good to be part of the bigger picture, beyond your local community.
10. Have fun and laugh! There are some funny people out in the Twitterverse. My niece is one of them.
1. Celebrate someone or something that interests you by sharing it with the world.
2. Give help. I know you know something that is valuable to share. Yes, that's advice I need to take especially since I am dishing it out.
3. Get help. Actually there can be a pretty quick turn around time for an answer depending on your personal learning network (PLN).
4. Learn something new. This can be so energizing, especially if you like technology. There is always something new or improved that you can research and learn about.
5. Branch out and make new friends that may or may not have the same exact views as you do. The personal growth and journey of learning beyond the classroom walls, down the block, and finally globally is extraordinary.
6. Share your kindness. Sometimes feelings of "being the only one" vanish when you reach out and tweet. It's worth a try if you're feeling any which way because there are so many caring people, it's truly astounding.
7. Follow #hashtags that have meaning for you.
8. Be inspired (ever hear of #TLAP - if not, you need to search that hashtag now).
9. Join a community and invite a friend. It feels good to be part of the bigger picture, beyond your local community.
10. Have fun and laugh! There are some funny people out in the Twitterverse. My niece is one of them.
I feel very fortunate that I will have an opportunity to talk with educators face-to-face and persuade them regarding the virtues of using social media for learning, during the upcoming MBUSD TechCon 2013 event. I am leading a session with Christina Lee called Social Butterfly. I can't wait for August 20th. I am over-the-top ecstatic because we are planning to have a special guest appear during a live Google Hangout. I'm recording a backup and having a local copy on my Macbook just in case any tech issues arise. Thank you to Bill Selak, @BillSelak, and Miguel Guhlin for sharing their social media resources.
RSS Feed
