Twitter

No, in the title of this post I am not calling anyone a "twit." After having a few conversations with my colleagues and suggesting they join the Twitter-verse I thought I would post a bit about Twitter and some ways in which I use it.  First off I will say that I don't like FaceBook and Twitter is not even close to that. By the way, I faithfully check my FaceBook page ever few months or so. Twitter is basically a social network, similar to FaceBook, but is limited to 160 characters or less. I can scan through my time line and take as much or as little time as I want. It is easier to view on a smart phone but may be accessed with ease on any computer with Internet access. Maybe easier is not truthful. It is handier because I can check anytime anyplace in just a few moments. In fact, I started my account before I had a smart phone and you can read, post, and do anything on a computer.

So, you say "Why would I or do I need to look at a social network as an educator?" I am not an avid tweeter but love to read them. After two plus years on Twitter I have only 626 tweets (of this writing), follow 86 people, and have 27 disciples. I mean followers :). A real Twitter Hound has 12,250 tweets in that time. But, I digress. Actually, I do like reading things the people I follow have to say but mostly I enjoy reading about the latest and greatest technology innovations connected to education. After scanning the less than 160 characters or less many times the Tweeter will include a link to a picture, article, or other media source tied into the tweet. You can access their link or just move right on to the next one.

A warning to you all that Twitter is an unfiltered outlet and people let all things fly with no real consequences. Professional people follow a decorum appropriate for their station. Remember, your disciples (followers) are reading. And, any tweet may be re tweeted, copied, emailed, favorit-ed, and somehow resent in many ways.

The bottom line for me is that I can follow my friends, mostly my own children's friends, my own children, and any professional people from Major League Baseball players, news outlets, teacher types, and many more. The teacher types have been my largest source for ideas including Edmodo and other technology themes. 

I don't even come close to being the guru of Twitter in fact a few of our own Discovery progessionals are way better versed and use it more but here is a list of some of my follows in education. I am only listing the professionals outside of Discovery Middle School:

@21st Century Tech
@osxdaily
@edmodo
@thestateoftech
@timbuckteeth
@kylepace
@WeAreTeachers
@rmbyrne
@edutopia
@tomwhitby
@NMHS_Principal
@Larryferlazzo
@web20classroom
@ShellTerrell
@FractustLearning
@flippedclass
@DelilaBush
@HistoryandTech
@edtech
@MacTrast
@BreakingNews
@WSJ

I follow a few more but kept this list to education and a couple of news outlets. I typically find out news events from Twitter way before the TV news carries it. Caution! it may not be true. Check it out first.

Code:
@ - At (Everyone's address starts with this)
# - Hashtag (A way to sort topics)
Arrow - Reply to
Two Arrows in a box - Retweet
Star - Favorite
Three bullet points - more ways to share
I won't even get into Twitter Speak. I hate it as it butchers the English language and you all know the English Language is my specialty.

Ok, enough for now. If you have any questions or even read this rant, give my a holler. And, by the way, Twitter is free for the taking.

Your Discovery Literacy Leaders