Twitter for Teachers
For this article on Personal Learning Networks (PLNs), we will be exploring one of the more popular online social media available for your PLN. We will look at a still-to-be-tapped medium for many teachers: Twitter. Let’s look at how you can use it to build and expand your online personal learning network. Read on to know more. Then try it afterwards!
Twitter is a microblogging site — 140 characters and that is it! — which means there isn’t really much space for long lectures or long exchanges. People have been using it to update each other about what they’re doing or thinking in a matter of seconds. For something that seems to be made for temporary outbursts or, in social networking site terms, shoutouts or status updates, Twitter has actually gained popularity as a venue for meaningful interaction.
First off, you need to register at www.twitter.com. Once you have a Twitter account, customize your profile by adding your name, location and a brief description. Of course, you have to mention that you are an educator!
Your Twitter homepage will have three main parts. The first one is marked “What’s happening?” That is where you type in your thoughts, questions, activities, and so on, a.k.a. your Tweet. The second part is the feed, which is constantly updating. It will display the most recent Tweets from your connections or people you are following. Then you have a sidebar which displays your info, including who you are following and who are following you, what are the latest hot topics, and the Search bar.
There’s so much more to learn about Twitter. Click here to read Twitter tips for teachers.
