Twitter For TeachersTwitter For Teachers

10 reasons for education 10 reasons for education professionals to use Twitterprofessionals to use Twitter

What is Twitter?What is Twitter?

• Twitter is a “microblogging” site where people Twitter is a “microblogging” site where people share tweetsshare tweets

• Microblogging is a term that means blogging by Microblogging is a term that means blogging by posting small chunks of information posting small chunks of information

• These small chunks of information are called These small chunks of information are called tweetstweets

• Tweets range in content from personal to Tweets range in content from personal to professional, with many posting links to professional, with many posting links to important information found on the webimportant information found on the web

• Increasingly, educators are, “bend(ing) Twitter Increasingly, educators are, “bend(ing) Twitter to the purpose (they) want to use it for!” to the purpose (they) want to use it for!” (O’Connell, 2009)(O’Connell, 2009)

But But why?why?

#1: Collaboration with Peers#1: Collaboration with Peers““With Twitter, educators can actively With Twitter, educators can actively

compare what’s happening in their compare what’s happening in their classrooms with others on different classrooms with others on different continents” (Tech&Learning, 2009). continents” (Tech&Learning, 2009).

In the past, teachers taught in isolation, In the past, teachers taught in isolation, alone in their classrooms. alone in their classrooms. Increasingly, that model has shifted Increasingly, that model has shifted to a collaborative model. Twitter to a collaborative model. Twitter allows teachers to communicate with allows teachers to communicate with each other, whether next door or each other, whether next door or around the world, and come up with around the world, and come up with new and inspiring ways of teaching.new and inspiring ways of teaching.

#2 Sharing of Ideas and #2 Sharing of Ideas and ResourcesResources

Twitter can be like a virtual Twitter can be like a virtual staffroom where teachers can staffroom where teachers can access in seconds a stream of access in seconds a stream of links, ideas, opinions, and links, ideas, opinions, and resources from a hand-picked resources from a hand-picked selection of global professionals selection of global professionals (Tech & Learning, 2009). (Tech & Learning, 2009).

So many times I’ve learned new So many times I’ve learned new ideas and resources from ideas and resources from colleagues just by sitting in the colleagues just by sitting in the same room, having a same room, having a conversation. Twitter takes the conversation. Twitter takes the conversation world-wide.conversation world-wide.

#3 Pro-D opportunities are #3 Pro-D opportunities are open to the world, in real time.open to the world, in real time.

Pro-D activities previously confined to Pro-D activities previously confined to a specific geographical area can be a specific geographical area can be opened to the world. opened to the world.

For example, during the “Hacking For example, during the “Hacking Education” conference, held in Education” conference, held in Manhattan in 2009, participants Manhattan in 2009, participants posted real-time tweets outlining posted real-time tweets outlining the days discussions, which were the days discussions, which were answered by the tweets of others answered by the tweets of others from around the world (Johnson, from around the world (Johnson, 2009).2009).

#4: Breaking News#4: Breaking News

Twitter users can tweet from Twitter users can tweet from mobile devices, which means mobile devices, which means information can be added information can be added instantly from just about instantly from just about anywhere. Breaking news anywhere. Breaking news stories are often posted to stories are often posted to Twitter before mainstream Twitter before mainstream media can broadcast them. media can broadcast them. This makes Twitter This makes Twitter invaluable for keeping invaluable for keeping abreast of new information abreast of new information or when teaching a unit on or when teaching a unit on current events.current events.

#5 Searching for Current #5 Searching for Current Information.Information.

Twitter allows you to search Twitter allows you to search for information. Unlike using for information. Unlike using other search engines, you other search engines, you will see links to sites that will see links to sites that others have found useful. others have found useful. The information is likely to The information is likely to be very current, as Twitter be very current, as Twitter users will only link to what users will only link to what they’ve found during they’ve found during current research.current research.

#6 Finding Experts#6 Finding Experts

Who is an expert? Web 2.0 tools have Who is an expert? Web 2.0 tools have made the internet more interactive. made the internet more interactive. Individuals from all educational Individuals from all educational backgrounds are posting material, backgrounds are posting material, leaving the reader to figure out leaving the reader to figure out what’s relevant, accurate and what’s relevant, accurate and useful. Increasingly, “contribution useful. Increasingly, “contribution counts for more than credentials” counts for more than credentials” (Hamel, 2009), as all materials are (Hamel, 2009), as all materials are considered equally. Experts are considered equally. Experts are those who actively contribute to those who actively contribute to their field and keep abreast of new their field and keep abreast of new information. information.

#7 Self-promotion #7 Self-promotion

Phil Bradley uses Twitter to prompt users to read Phil Bradley uses Twitter to prompt users to read his blog: “his blog: “I have my blog entries posted across I have my blog entries posted across to Twitter, which alerts followers to what I'm to Twitter, which alerts followers to what I'm talking about in more detail. I also feed the talking about in more detail. I also feed the Twitter posts back to the weblogs to point out Twitter posts back to the weblogs to point out to blog readers what I'm doing on Twitter” to blog readers what I'm doing on Twitter” (Bradley, 2009). (Bradley, 2009). This helps solve the problem This helps solve the problem of recruiting readers. Having trouble getting of recruiting readers. Having trouble getting parents to check the class/library blog? Link to parents to check the class/library blog? Link to Twitter, so parents can get notifications when Twitter, so parents can get notifications when new items have been added to the blog.new items have been added to the blog.

#8 Event Promotion#8 Event Promotion

Twitter messages can get Twitter messages can get people excited about people excited about upcoming events: upcoming events:

• start a count down to student start a count down to student led conferences led conferences

• send out excited tweets send out excited tweets about the upcoming book fair about the upcoming book fair

• post a link to your school fun post a link to your school fun fair websitefair website

The possibilities are endless.The possibilities are endless.

#9 Keeping up with the latest #9 Keeping up with the latest technologytechnology

As with Facebook and other social As with Facebook and other social networking technology, Twitter is a networking technology, Twitter is a part of many student’s lives. As part of many student’s lives. As educators, it is important to keep educators, it is important to keep up with technology our student’s up with technology our student’s use in order to keep our use in order to keep our classrooms dynamic and relevant. classrooms dynamic and relevant. In addition, “even if you don’t think In addition, “even if you don’t think Twitter has any applications that Twitter has any applications that will work for you at the moment will work for you at the moment that doesn’t mean it won’t in the that doesn’t mean it won’t in the future” (College@home, 2010). future” (College@home, 2010).

#10 Reflective Practice#10 Reflective Practice

Reflecting on what works well Reflecting on what works well and what needs and what needs improvement is an important improvement is an important part of honing one’s teaching part of honing one’s teaching practice. “practice. “Teachers on Teachers on Twitter share these Twitter share these reflections and both support reflections and both support and challenge each other” and challenge each other” (Tech&Learning, 2009).(Tech&Learning, 2009).

And one And one more more thing…thing…

Re-creationRe-creation

Everyone needs down Everyone needs down time. Posting personal time. Posting personal interests and sharing interests and sharing the events of a day the events of a day remind us that we all remind us that we all need re-creation time. need re-creation time. And who knows? And who knows? Maybe you’ll meet Maybe you’ll meet someone who shares someone who shares your idea of re-your idea of re-creation!creation!

ReferencesReferencesBradley, P. (2009). Using twitter in libraries. Retrieved from Bradley, P. (2009). Using twitter in libraries. Retrieved from

http://www.trailfire.com/joannedegroot/marks/295581http://www.trailfire.com/joannedegroot/marks/295581

College@home. (2010). Twitter for librarians: the ultimate guide. College@home. (2010). Twitter for librarians: the ultimate guide. Retrieved from: http://www.trailfire.com/joannedegroot/marks/295582Retrieved from: http://www.trailfire.com/joannedegroot/marks/295582

Johnson, S. (2009). How twitter will change the way we live. Retrieved Johnson, S. (2009). How twitter will change the way we live. Retrieved from: from: http://www.trailfire.com/joannedegroot/marks/328540http://www.trailfire.com/joannedegroot/marks/328540

O’Connell, J. (2009). Making twitter work for me – and you! Retrieved O’Connell, J. (2009). Making twitter work for me – and you! Retrieved from: http://www.trailfire.com/joannedegroot/marks/916667from: http://www.trailfire.com/joannedegroot/marks/916667

Tech & Learning. (2009). Nine reasons to twitter in schools. Retrieved Tech & Learning. (2009). Nine reasons to twitter in schools. Retrieved from from http://www.trailfire.com/joannedegroot/marks/297714http://www.trailfire.com/joannedegroot/marks/297714