I began using Twitter on January 1, 2015 for professional learning and ongoing discourse with educators throughout the world.
Previously, I used my Twitter account for my small business . And by “use” Twitter, I mean all I did was post from Pinterest and Instragram….pretty much just because it was an option, not because I fully embraced Twitter. Needless to say, I’ve come a long way in roughly five months.
So, what exactly does Twitter have to offer educators?
Twitter is a strong community of educators. We lift one another up, collaborate, and celebrate all that is positive in classrooms around the world. For real. We even celebrate Mondays. No, we are not crazy. You should try it sometime! Check out the hashtag #CelebrateMonday and you will find all the positive things going on in our schools!
One of my favorite activities Twitter has to offer is the Twitter chat. I try to participate in 2-3 Twitter chats a week. You can usually find me hanging out with #edchat, #leadupchat (Saturdays at 8:30CT), and I pick something new each week. This week it was #podcastPD because I’m intrigued by the podcasting prospect. I do like to talk so I think I may give it a try down the road….
So, here they are…5 Reasons Twitter Chats offer the BEST Educator PD
1. They are quick, fast paced, and interactive.
Don’t know where to start? Susan Beardan writes a great overview on Twitter chats here and Cybraryman has a full schedule of educational chats and how to guides at his site here.
2. Yes, Twitter chats are fast but most are also archived.
This means you can go back and review the entire chat when you have the opportunity. And not all are hour long chats, some are “slow chats” that take place over a longer course of time. If you “favorite” or “retweet” an item on Twitter you have a bookmark to go back and review it at a time that’s convenient for you.
3. You can truly connect with other educators.
I think bloggers use the term, “find your tribe.” Whatever, beyond the jargon, one thing is for sure, it’s life changing. It doesn’t matter what subject and/or grade you teach or your interests, you can find those people and get some INCREDIBLE ideas. Just try it. It’s risk free and FREE. Plus, it’s a great stress reliever and a place to recharge by getting support from others. I’ve never (seriously never) had a negative experience on Twitter when seeking professional development. I can’t say that about face to face/traditional venues.
4. It’s truly a la carte learning!
You can take what you want and leave the rest on the table! Talk about making learning relevant! YOU decide what information you should explore further. YOU decide what chats to attend, articles to read, and crazy lesson plans to try!
5. The best ideas rise to the top.
Those educators who continuously provide excellent resources, feedback, life lessons, and a genuine sense of camaraderie are noticed- as they should be…they enrich the lives of the people they interact with….and no, it doesn’t have to be someone they know in “real life,” it is more oftentimes a colleague they collaborate with online.
I know there is much, much more for me to learn from the Twitterverse and I hope you join me : )
What do you think? Who in your Twitterverse rises to the top?!