Over a year and a half ago our school district made Twitter a focus and urged administrators to start using it professionally. It was presented to us as a billboard for our school. Who is going to tell your school's story, if you don't? So, I made the transition. I cleaned out my followers/following lists and deleted silly twitter posts I had made years ago with meaningless content such as what I had for dinner that night, etc.
We also created a school Twitter account to give our school a presence on Twitter. We began posting pictures from events and reminders about events coming up. This I totally got from the get go. What took some time for me to understand was how I could use my personal Twitter to help me grow professionally.
I'm not sure how long it was but there was a period of time that I didn't really see the point. For instance, Twitter chats, what's the purpose? Do people really get anything out of these?? My school system started having scheduled Twitter chats. I participated and promoted these with my staff. It was kind of an evolution for me. In addition to these chats, I started exploring others. One of the first outside chats I participated in was #KidsDeserveIt and then #Tlap (Teach Like a Pirate). My eyes began to open to a whole new world educationally. I began making connections with like minded people who were experiencing the same struggles as I. As I put myself out there in these chats, I began following amazing educators, and they followed me as well. Over time my Professional Learning Network grew significantly, and it changed me forever! Does that sound dramatic? Maybe, but it is definitely true! I now meet people in person that I have already engaged with on Twitter. We already have a powerful connection. We are connected by our desire to make a difference.
Presently, I'm constantly encouraging teachers to engage on twitter, with various chats #pesdragonspln, #PepperellPride, #floydpln, etc. Why? Being connected is powerful. If I could sum it all up, that is what Twitter is all about. It's time for us to stop teaching on an island and get connected. You are not alone!
If you are still wondering why and just don't get it, keep exploring and building your PLN. Eventually, you will have an amazing PLN and wonder how you ever taught before without it. We are better together!
