Twitter in D123

Posted by on Feb 13, 2012

We’re starting a focused effort in my district to get our teachers connected on Twitter. The effort is more than just getting people to superficially use social media, but rather, it’s to help our staff see how powerful the experience of connected learning can be. This isn’t new, I know. Learning happens largely through connections.

The difference is in the way it scales.

I’ve been on Twitter for almost three years now. Looking back over that time, I simply can’t believe how much I’ve gained from the connections that Twitter helped facilitate. I look over the list of people whom I now connect with regularly on Twitter and easily 98% of those individuals I never knew prior to utilizing the medium. Many of the ideas we are implementing in my district have come from the ideas of those whom I’ve had excellent discussions with on Twitter. Even some of those I’ve had not so excellent discussions with.

I believe our staff can find the great value in the connections found within the medium. Because it’s the people that comprise the tool. That’s the value. The people. The ideas. The connections. The conversations.

So, if you see any of our people stumbling their way through that disorienting first stage of adoption on Twitter, please offer them a hello. A condolence for having to associate with me. And, a thought or two to keep them coming back.

And, hopefully, you can bring along a few of your people as well. Because it’s the testing and interrogating and discussing and negotiating of our ideas that help us all become better at the craft we ply. And for that, the more, the merrier.

Share. Connect. Learn. I wish that on you all.

 

*If you have any resources, links, ideas, etc. that might help us along our way, please feel free to leave them the comments below. Also feel free to add your Twitter name and what you do as that will help us compile a list of people on Twitter outside of our district.

**Special thanks to @pegkeiner and @LFedtech for all the great ideas, input and patience with the project.

16 Comments

  1. Lisa Durff
    February 15, 2012

    Well done explanation – I have to share with my colleagues – thank you!

    Reply
    • Ben Grey
      February 16, 2012

      Thanks, Lisa. I truly appreciate it.

      Reply
  2. Tom Perran
    February 15, 2012

    I have been on Twitter for about the same amount of time. I agree that it is the best thing I have done to improve my skills and practice as a teacher. I have met excellent teachers and administrators from around the world,been exposed to thousands of new resources and been given countless opportunities for professional development through my Professional Learning Network. I highly recommend tweeting to all of my colleagues!

    Reply
    • Ben Grey
      February 16, 2012

      Thanks for the comment, Tom. I agree with you entirely about all the new resources and opportunities for professional development that Twitter offers through the people we get to connect to.

      Reply
  3. Ben (@engaginged)
    February 15, 2012

    The more educators tweeting, the better!

    One thing I can’t live without that I didn’t know about until months into my twitter experience…twitter chats! I love them. They’re useful and brilliant and I’m hooked.

    Here are two posts I wrote about them that might provide some assistance:

    http://www.engagingeducators.com/blog/2011/11/22/theres-a-chat-for-that-how-and-why-to-chat-on-twitter/

    http://www.engagingeducators.com/blog/2011/12/21/im-hooked-on-twitter-chats-and-you-should-be-too/

    Reply
    • Ben Grey
      February 16, 2012

      Thanks for the links, Ben. Both posts are very useful, and I know that our staff will benefit highly from looking at plugging into some of the Twitter chats that take place.

      Reply
  4. Carmen Buchanan
    February 15, 2012

    Twitter Name: MrsB_LMS

    This is exactly what we are doing in my district. In fact, we are doing a PD about Twitter on Twitter tomorrow night with teachers in our district. I LOVE this video! We have compiled a great document that has the basics of Twitter that we will be sharing at the end of the session tomorrow. I would be glad to share that with you after our session. I want to do a video as a “next step”!! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Ben Grey
      February 16, 2012

      Thanks for the kind words, Carmen. I’d love to check out that document if you get the chance to share it. Hope the session went well.

      Reply
  5. @gaillegrand
    February 15, 2012

    Tweeter is like a conference every day. Sometimes giving, sometimes receiving, but always sharing and working together.

    Reply
    • Ben Grey
      February 16, 2012

      That’s a good analogy, Gail. It’s amazing how much we can benefit from being connected to a strong network.

      Reply
  6. Doremigirl
    February 15, 2012

    I’m a music teacher from Philadelphia. I’ve been on twitter for two years. The network has given me opportunities to connect with teachers all over the world.

    I love this video! Well done!
    @Doremigirl

    Reply
    • Ben Grey
      February 16, 2012

      Thanks, Yoon. I think people who teach a specialized subject like music can benefit so much as it’s often tough to be one of the only people in your building teaching a specific subject. Being connected to other staff outside of your building, and district, to collaborate with is very powerful.

      Reply
  7. E.
    February 16, 2012

    Ben,

    What an inspiring (and beautifully produced) video.

    I can tell you with confidence that at least 75% of the free web-based resources I used in my classroom in my last two years of teaching came straight from my Twitter PLC. It was an invaluable resource.

    And though I don’t tweet (at least professionally) as much now that I’m in e-learning, the D123 folks can follow me at twitter/com/comicsteacher.

    Good luck!

    E

    Reply
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  10. Tim Lauer
    March 8, 2012

    Great job Ben. Thanks for sharing this. I would like to share this with my staff, but for some reason my district blocks Vimeo. Any chance you could post this to YouTube… That we can get to.. 🙂

    Tim

    Reply

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