To wrap all your learning up this week, I want you to post another reflection to your blog. Please post about your first reflections of learning about and using Twitter. Feel free to mention anything from the reading or resources I have given you this week. You can also share other great resources that you have found.
I have been on the bandwagon of using Twitter for the past couple of years. I was never a real strong advocate of Facebook, but for some reason Twitter seemed to meet the needs I have in regards to social media. After using it solely for social networks, it was easy to see how many other ways this tool could be used as a teacher. However, like so many other tools when they are first uncovered, we were told that we shouldn't use Twitter to engage students because of the fear that something "bad" could happen. Of course something bad can happen anytime students and teachers interact, yet there were a few news headlines across the nation that seemed to confirm that social media was a bad idea for the 21st century classroom. As time has passed, I believe the stigma of teachers and students using Twitter has subsided to a degree. Therefore, I have Twitter accounts that are for direct communication with my players/parents as well as an account that is more humorous and inspirational. I am now going to start an account for professional development and classroom research/participation. My accounts are @coachbcissell, @FHCsoftball, and @MrCissell. Each of them have a different purpose and require a different amount of engagement.
My experience is that when you choose to follow an account that is professional in nature such as @edublogs or @internet4classrooms, you will get lots of ideas but many of them are impersonal. I prefer to follow people that I know and respect as educators. They have proven to be more beneficial to me in terms of practical application than professional accounts. I think this is what the "Twitter Handbook for Teachers" was referring to in regards to creating your own "radio stations". The more people that I know as professionals/personally who Tweet their ideas allow me to fine tune my station instead of following a larger, generic "station". For anyone who has ever used Pandora or Spotify Internet radio, the same concept applies to Twitter in that the more you use it and "like" things the more satisfied you will be with your account. The best advice that I can give to anyone who is new to Twitter is use it anyway you wish. Like so many other digital tools that are available, they will be of no use to you if you don't find a practical way to implement it into your personal or professional life. Twitter is one of the few digital tools that can be great for both!
I completely agree with your last paragraph. I think new Twitter users can really benefit from your experience and advice. I started a professional Twitter about a year ago for another class and have never really used it until now, probably because I did not stick with it and find quality accounts to follow. I have also learned I prefer to find educators to follow instead of general education accounts. I think Twitter is great because you can start slow with retweeting and keeping up with your followers and get more involved as you become comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI also made a Twitter account about a year ago, but I made a new one for PLN's recently. You can find me at @katie_rathmell. I think my biggest problem with Twitter was just not remembering to check it and getting tweets from friends but not really caring what they were saying so I found it annoying. Now, that I use it for professional development I am enjoying twitter a lot more. I have found several articles already to read and help me keep up on technology in the classroom. Hey Mr. Cissell your history class was a top favorite of mine!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering when I saw your name of the class roster if this was the Katie Rathmell from "back in the day"! Wow...small world.
DeleteThanks for your great tips. I have been strictly a Facebook user the past few years and have only started using Twitter because of this course. I love reading good articles, so I am following some educational blogs and magazines. However, I have discovered the best stuff is being shared, like you said, by fellow educators. I was very impressed by some of the presenters I have seen each year at METC so I searched for them and am now following a lot of educational technology specialists too. You can find me at @MrsAMolitor.
ReplyDeleteI started a twitter account this past December and I wasn't sure what to do with it to be honest. Since this class started I have to agree with you in your last paragraph;
ReplyDelete" Like so many other digital tools that are available, they will be of no use to you if you don't find a practical way to implement it into your personal or professional life. "
I was also happy to have that verified in our reading and with some edtech friends of mine from work who wondered what took me so long to get on the ball. I think my reluctance was like that of some others; "what can be useful in 140 characters or less." Thank for your post.
@MatthewSelinger
Great reflection! I'm impressed you have multiple Twitter accounts already. Have you been using a Twitter client to keep track of it all (TweetDeck or HooSuite)?
ReplyDeleteNo. I have simply been using my iphone. It is really easy to manage my accounts. I very rarely use anything other than my phone when using Twitter and all you have to do is tap the accounts icon and I can go to whatever account I need. Since each one has a specific purpose, it only has to be checked a couple of times per day.
ReplyDelete