To tweet or not to tweet? Twitter is a fabulous social media application and platform that enables teachers to connect with each other all over the world. It provides a simple way to find exactly what you’re looking for and is a useful application to discover new things like activities that can be practical in the classroom, resources and sharing your own efficient teaching methods.
Like any other social media outlet, understanding how changes in technology impact on the way humans communicate, and the ethical issues that surround these changes is essential, considering that whatever you write and share on your page will add to your digital footprint, there is truly no permanent recall. Thinking of the consequences before tweeting is crucial. Using Twitter for one purpose (teaching) I know that it is unlikely to tweet something I will later regret but I will always think to myself, ‘will the principle at the school I work at approve of this?’ or ‘would I still tweet this if my students were following me?’, before tweeting.
Another essential thing to keep in mind when writing or retweeting tweets on Twitter is just like when referencing an essay, you’re giving the person you’ve used for ideas or inspiration credit. When retweeting you’re making a connection and appreciating another person’s work also you can discover new ways to improve someone’s original idea and letting them know, creating a positive learning sharing experience.
Twitter is a brilliant tool for professional development. It enables to teachers to communicate, seek advice and to share ideas. I’m grateful to be able to have this tool as I go into my teaching career.
References:
eLearning Industry. (2018). 15 Ways To Use Twitter In Education (For Students And Teachers Alike) - eLearning Industry. [online] Available at: https://elearningindustry.com/15-ways-twitter-in-education-students-teachers
Psychology Today. (2018). To Tweet or Not to Tweet, That Is the Question Part 1 of 2. [online] Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-first-impression/201109/tweet-or-not-tweet-is-the-question-part-1-2