Having an educational Twitter account is like having an educational smorgasbord delivered to your door. Everyday. Although some educators are still skeptical of having a social media presence, twitter is a different platform. Instead of personal postings, tweets by educators generally showcase the work of students and schools districts.
Why Use Twitter?
Simply Stated, Twitter gives you access to other teachers, administrators, experts, researchers, professors, and authors. Want to get some tips for teaching addition? Twitter can help. Want to know who is offering fellowships and grant opportunities? Twitter will tell you, first. Want to implement a maker space in your classroom? Search #geniushour. If you are interested in a new teaching practice or topic, you will be able to seek out other educators also interested in your area of inquiry. In short, Twitter has become a customizable portable professional development hub that will help you grow your craft.
How to Get Started:
1.) Create a profile and username (@bestteacherever)
2.) Select your area of interest (Education)
3.) In the “About you” section, add your interests so others can find you. (Love dogs and kids)
4.) Follow anyone who you think will add value to your “Feed” (@mshoughDVE)
5.)Take part in Twitter chats- A chat is an online discussion designated at certain times and the participants use a hashtag to share thoughts and resources around a central theme.
6.) Follow hashtags by searching topics. For example, #Kindergarten and #STEM will retrieve tweets with those tags and allow you to zoom in on that content. Follow #teacherproblems for self deprecating teacher humor. Follow #phdlife #acwri #phdweekend to see what other doctoral students are tweeting about.
Larry Ferlazzo’s (@LarryFerlazzo) Recommendations for Who to Follow on Twitter:
Social Justice: @ZinnEdProject
ELL Issues: @ValentinaESL, @LarryFerlazzo, @ColorinColorado, @WIDAConsortium
Race &Racism: @ValeriaBrownEdu, @TeachMoore
Journals & Periodicals: @AdvocateforEd, @EdSource, @educationweek, @EdWeekTeacher, @NYTimesLearning, @edutopia, @PoliticsK12
Literacy Experts: @KellyGToGo, @Doug_Lemov, @ILAToday
SEL: MindsetScholars, @Brainology, @pertslab, @caselorg:
EDtech: @edublogs, @coolcatteacher
Engagement: @karen_mapp, @PTHVP, @NAFSCE, @FCEnetwork
Administrators: @fastcranny
Curriculum and Instruction: @Eurekamath, @engageny, @
Policy and Research: @EdPolicyAIR, @BrookingsEcon, @ECE_Research
Articles and Resources:
Scholastic’s Twitter Guide for Educators
References:
L. Ferlazzo (n.d.). Recommendations For Who To Follow On Twitter In 2018 (with tweets) · larryferlazzo. https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2017/11/15/new-updated-recommendations-for-who-to-follow-on-twitter-in-2018/
Miller, E. (2017, April 20). Teachers on Twitter: why you should join and how to get started. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2017/apr/20/teachers-on-twitter-why-join-get-started-social-media
Hi Sarah,
I have always been a little leery of utilizing Twitter. After reading your post, I am realizing it is almost like subscribing to educational magazines. I am also comparing it to having a Pintrest account, only it will fulfill the educator with meaningful information to keep us updated on current events in education. The author of Can Tweeting Help Your Teaching? writes, “By following other educators’ tweets, teachers can keep up with the latest trends, news, and happenings in education, as well as communicate with fellow educators.” I never had a real interest in signing up for Twitter but seeing how it has impacted you as an educator and how you utilize it professionally, I am sold.
Can Tweeting Help Your Teaching? (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2017, from http://www.nea.org/home/32641.htm
Hey Sarah,
Like Laura, I haven’t gotten my head around the whole twitter thing. My administrators all have an account and use it for the platform you described, mainly posting student, teacher, and school achievements. But I still as a personal preference I don’t like that style of social media. I am apart of an educators group on Facebook where good items are shared and I do enjoy that. Maybe with time twitter will grow on me. Thank you for the insight.
Wideline- let me know what group on FB you are a part of if they are accepting members; this may be of interest to me, as well. Always looking for opportunities to collaborate.