Hello Again, Little Birdie
It feels great to be back on Twitter! When Twitter was first “a thing,” I was in late high school and early college. I had an account I really only used socially, and my friends and I would just tweet each other silly things throughout the day. As other forms of social media evolved, I no longer used it frequently, deleted it, and hadn’t even touched the signature blue bird App - until recently.
Over the past month, I’ve been on Twitter often and am seeing it in a whole new light. I love the education community that exists on Twitter! I feel like I’ve been missing out. My Twitter handle is @heyitsmsschuler - come say hello! I’ve enjoyed following a variety of accounts, from book accounts like @Scholastic , to my favorite professional texts authors like @JSerravallo, to keeping up with things in CPS through @CTULocal1 . I plan on keeping my Twitter following and feed education related only, and have decided I really like it that way. Now that I’m using it again and consistently, it’s such an incredible resource to stay informed and gain information but in a quick, fun, and easy way. It’s awesome for building connections and networking.
Live Twitter Chats
One of the things I’ve done on Twitter is participate in a live #edchat. A live Twitter chat is when an account “hosts” a conversation about a specific topic at a predetermined date and time. Anyone can join in from anywhere and participate in the conversation and ask and answer questions, using the hashtag and responding to the host and others. It reminds me a bit of a press conference, but through Twitter, of course. I participated in this #FormativeChat, shown below.
Although this particular live Twitter chat was not necessarily engaging or life changing for me, I really liked the experience in general and it was great practice, because there are others I definitely want to seek out and join in the future, and now I know how to do so.
#StopTheBan
One of the experiences that I’ve enjoyed most on Twitter lately is the #StopTheBan conversation and resources that it’s led me to. Although “banned books” has been a hot topic for decades, there’s been a recent massive response to a school district and parents attempting to ban author Kelly Yang’s bestselling book, Front Desk. This is an incredible middle grade novel I personally have read in the classroom and would passionately promote to teachers. I’d recommend people check out Kelly Yang’s Twitter account at @kellyyanghk as a great resource. She’s been actively discussing her current situation, but also banned books in general, and sharing other great resources, accounts, and has powerful words and exchanges with others all over her feed. It’s a discussion thread that I’ve been very engaged in and will continue to follow.
Chirp Back Soon
Not only has my experience on Twitter allowed me to expand my Professional Learning Network, I’ve simply just enjoyed it. Even checking Twitter a few minutes a day can lead to some powerful “bite sized” Professional Development, or connecting with others in the world of education. The only change I see happening with my Twitter account is expansion!
I'm so happy to hear you are enjoying Twitter again! You are correct- the education community that uses this platform is amazing. Keep looking for people to follow that can enhance your PLN. You are correct in that not all Twitter chats will be out of this world but it is another tool in the toolbox when it comes to learning.
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