Social Networking Can Be Exceptional Professional Development
If there is one thing I have learned to do at the start of my career as an Educational Technology Coach, it is to network. I have discovered the sheer power and support of having a strong network of people to assist you in good and bad times. What I find most interesting is that many of these people I have never met in person, nor may ever meet! The cyber environment and social networking has increased my professional development dramatically.
The most significant tool has to be Twitter. It took me a while to believe in Twitter, but as I became a better Twitter user, I started to realize the power 140 characters holds! I have met unselfish people around the world that want to share information and ideas with others. Every time I check the Twitter updates I learn something new and of value. It may be a cool website or an informational article, but each time the people I follow have helped me to learn more.
What are the most powerful are the replies and direct messages. I am amazed at the people who take time out of their busy day to make me feel welcome and to connect. I appreciate the Twitter followers who read my blog and give suggestions. The replies and direct messages make my efforts feel worthwhile.
While this blog is just installment number 1 of a continued theme, I wanted to send a big THANK YOU to my followers what have taught me every time I go online!
Nice article! I agree with a lot of it. I am a Twitter freak!
Voice Over — December 12, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
Laura,
The power of words is amazing. Even in as few as 140 ideas can be exchanged, emotions can be felt and help is only an @ symbol away. Twitter has been one of the most rewarding social networking tools I have used to date. I look forward to more of your useful updates and posts.
Sal — December 12, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
Great article Laura! I couldn’t agree more.
cesar — December 13, 2008 @ 12:16 am
Right on! I have learned more on Twitter in 6 months than I learned in several college courses.
Shawn Kimball — December 16, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
I didn’t have a great network before Twitter. I have a Ning but it’s hard to get people to participate. With Twitter, It is alive 24/7. I can hop on anytime and see a stream of sharing I can tap into when I feel like or not when I don’t. Getting @replies is like getting something in the mailbox. fun to go and check Who in the world may have responded to something I shared.
Alan Lutz — December 16, 2008 @ 7:06 pm
I could not agree more. Twitter is amazing. I feel like I am surrounding by people with similar interests that want to help me learn.
Wayne Basinger — December 27, 2008 @ 12:33 am
1) I am here because of Twitter. I got the e-mail notification of you as a “follower” and, so I did the obligatory scan of your Twitter profile as well as your blog. Other than being a huge Palin fan (wow- seriously?) you seem to be jumping right in and doing a fantastic job. There are many things about your blog as it now stands, and the mission you are on in your school that sound so familiar to me. I am sure we can be valuable additions to one another’s learning networks.
2) I too thought Twitter was a very cool thing immediately… however, it took me a bit before I could really tout it as a learning tool. Now- I agree that it is huge. I see it as a discovery and knowledge management tool. Those topics just aren’t quickly received in a high school setting too often. However, by now, I can tell you that I use Twitter even to tweet in my sub plans directly to students when I am going to be away. The subs haven’t seemed to mind me skipping the “middle man” as of yet. (I still teach one period as an instructional coach => http://mwsu.bio101.ning.com)
3) I look forward to more posts on the topic of social networking from where you sit. As an instructional coach allowed to pursue a mission of tech integration in my school- I chose social networking as the fiber to support the learning of my cohort of 20. (the remainder of the staff -70- comes online with us next year) I chose Ning to create a network to facilitate our learning between F2F meetings. Our network is at http://virtualsouthside.ning.com Our district’s filter automatically blocked Ning, but a quick call to our network administrator got it unblocked once he saw what I was doing with it.
Again- nice work. I wish my blog was as put-together as this one is after only three months. I too have only been doing this for a bit… let’s keep in touch.
Sean
nashworld — December 28, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
Twitter has had pretty exceptional growth lately. Not only has it been great for connecting and keeping in touch, but the ability to find people and open conversations with so many others in your industry that you never would have is fantastic!
Voices.com, Ben — August 28, 2009 @ 12:56 pm