Twitter: The New Connection

To begin, I must say that Twitter is something completely new to me, however, think that it has some serious potential for someone dedicated to reaping the rewards of bringing modern technology into the classroom.  It not only can be implemented in teaching, but also can aid in various ways with regard to professional development.

As far as teaching goes, the opportunities are many, and I know there are still multiple ways to use Twitter in the classroom that I haven’t been introduced to yet.  From the article28 Creative Ways Teachers Are Using Twitter  ,using  twitter is looked at as a way to increase teacher interaction and engagement with students.  Having tested blogging out this year, and being a huge success, the idea of story telling strikes me as having some great potential. Also, the idea of paperless teaching is very attractive, at least for a temporary change of pace.  With Twitter,teachers and students can hold discussions with each other informally and instantly- a great way to share information, or use each other as resources.  Another way that Twitter can be used is keeping parents informed of what is going on with their children and the school as a whole, however, this is highly dependent on availability of technology to the parents. 

                From the professional development angle, Twitter is a great place to share articles, links, and resources with other teachers, worldwide.  One can find a very broad range of material, covering everything from Smart Board tricks to the latest teaching techniques.  Twitter can also serve as a great way to maintain contact with former students and employees. If you are interested in how Twitter can aid in your professional development, check out the following article – Teaching Paperless: Seeking Social Solutions toMysteries of 21st Century Teaching and Learning.