Getting Started With Twitter

I am one of the "Young Teachers" at my school, which seems to mean I am automatically good at using technology. During one of our first inservice days, the presenter explained how Twitter is an amazing tool for educators. I was skeptical at first, but I decided to give Twitter a chance and it has paid huge dividends. 

How to Make Twitter Work for You

1. Create a Twitter Handle (your username). Make sure you include a real picture of yourself. Including a short list of what you teach or words that describe you also helps you connect with people who have similar interests. 

2. Search for people who follow. Start with people who teach similar levels/subjects or teach using techniques you support. I started my twitter search by looking for people who teach music and coaches. 

3. Get familiar with a few Twitter Hashtags. They are simply a keyword that helps other users see your Tweets.  Jerry Blumengarten has a great website with lots of Twitter information, which also includes a list of Educational Hashtags. Find a hashtag that relates to what you talk about and include it on your Tweet. 

http://www.cybraryman.com/edhashtags.html

4. Find a Twitter Chat. There are a ton of Twitter Chats that happen everyday. Find one that is interesting to you. I started with the Music Ed Chat (#musedchat on Monday nights at 7 PM). 

Here is the Official Twitter Education Chat Schedule

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AiftIdjCeWSXdDRLRzNsVktUUGJpRWJhdUlWLS1Genc

5. Lurk around during chats. During the chat, search for the chat hashtag and just follow along with the conversation. Don't worry about contributing, just sit back and learn from the conversation. Twitter Chats are also a great place to find people with similar ideas to follow. When you feel comfortable, feel free to start sharing your ideas and answers questions. 

6. Be patient: it may seem pointless at first, but with time and effort you will build relationships with other educators thru Twitter. These relationships will lead to conversations, sharing information and learning. It is easy to get caught up with how many people you follow or how many you follow. Don't worry about the numbers, worry about the number of conversations you are having and the information you are sharing. It takes time to build, but the time is well worth the effort.