Sixty Minutes on Twitter

The secret to making progress is to get started. --Mark Twain

Back when I was designing my inquiry proposal, I came across some research that shows educators are using Twitter for three main purposes: 1) to stay current, 2) to network and 3) to participate in conference backchannel (Gerstein, 2011). For the past six weeks, I've jumped into the Twitter stream to try it out and I've blogged about what I've learned here and here.

This morning I did a little experiment. I loaded up Tweetdeck and gave an hour of my undivided attention to it. I organized Tweetdeck into 6 columns (all that would fit onto my screen): #tldl, #edtech, #sschat, #engchat, #bced, #edchat. What evolved in 60 minutes on Twitter?

To stay current (press the EASY button):

• connected to exciting developments at the Khan Academy
• found a link to an excellent resource on teaching digital citizenship
• discovered a new Web 2.0 tool to create personal magazines
• read an article about how to encourage technophobic teachers
  
• was reminded to get out and vote in the Civic elections today
  

To network (press the MORE DIFFICULT button)

• responded to a science teacher in Texas who blogged about Diigo
• tweeted about a post at Culture of Yes about meaningful integration of technology
  
• retweeted four posts I found useful
  

To backchannel at conferences (press the IMPOSSIBLE AT THE MOMENT button)

I have noticed in the past that traffic to my blog has increased when I tweet about it; however, creating a dialogue / collaborative niche in Twitter has proven somewhat elusive to me. I have chatted back and forth with a few people, but establishing an ongoing network is a work-in-progress.

Curiously, just as I was writing this blog, "timbuckteeth" (a.k.a Steve Wheeler) tweeted out a post to a new model for developing a PLN. This post discusses Joyce Seitzinger's idea that Twitter will not be successful if the "user does not follow or is not followed by enough other subscribers to enable the benefits of the network effect." Bingo! Clearly, the challenge (or opportunity) ahead is to build a broader network of like-minded teachers/PLNers who are ready to jump into the fray with their ideas and questions.

Are you on Twitter? Who do you follow?

References

Barseghian, T. (2011, November 18). The Khan Academy opens its virtual doors - carefully [web log post]. Retrieved from http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/11/the-khan-academy-opens-its-virtual-doors-carefully/

Common Sense Media. (2011). Digital literacy and citizenship curriculum for grades 9-12. Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/curriculum/9-12

Gerstein, J. (2011). The use of twitter for professional growth and development. International Journal on ELearning, 10(3), 273-276. Retrieved October 1, 2011, from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 2431456601).

Kennedy, C. (2011, November 18). Preparing and supporting teachers to integrate technology in the classroom [web log post]. Retrieved from http://cultureofyes.ca/2011/11/18/preparing-and-supporting-teachers-to-integrate-technology-in-the-classroom/

Kesler, C. (2011, November 19). Diigo is a great tool for teachers [web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.teachersneedtech.com/2011/11/19/diigo-is-a-great-tool-for-teachers/

Stansbury, M. (2011, November 18). Ten way to change the minds of tech-reluctant staff [web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/11/18/10-ways-to-change-the-minds-of-tech-reluctant-staff/

Wheeler, S. (2011, November 19) Tools of the trade [web log post]. Retrieved from http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com/2011/11/tools-of-trade.html