I have just attended two days at the #edchatnz Conference at Hobsonville Point Secondary School.
For a great many at this conference it is all about twitter. I have had a twitter account for a number of years but I have never really understood the power of twitter until I saw the power of it here at this conference. When I first used it (2009), I thought of it as a way of staying connected to my favourite bands. Like finding out about gigs and album releases. But it is so much more than this. It is a way to stay current, a way to connect with professionals across Auckland, NZ and the world. It is a way to be part of the conversation. I still progress forward nervously in the twittersphere , and a little unsure about whether I am using it correctly but I shall progress forward nonetheless. I move forward with the understanding that twitter is a powerful tool. I am beginning to be part of the conversation.
What I have started doing on twitter:
1. I am starting to follow people, gotta get them numbers up!
2. Resources! Oh the resources! Rather than just isolating yourself with a google search and going through the fist five results, people put things out there that they recommend. The person that tweets new content is (I assume) putting it out there because it is good, thought-provoking, interesting, all of the above. I am already discovering things, great things: articles, resources - so much content, so little time.
3. Connecting with people you admire:
As I continue to explore and develop Modern Learning Pedagogies (MLPs) that are relevant for the context of my school. I thought what more could I learn from HPPS? A school that has developed some great MLPs. I decided to get out there, I tweeted @AmyMMcCauley about what HPPS are doing with PBL (project based learning). Not only did she respond but she sent me a link to her BLOG which now gives me a wealth of information to help develop me thoughts and ideas on modern learning. Like I said twitter is good, thought-provoking, interesting, all of the above.
I hope to set the twitter fire at my school so that teachers and professionals I work with can start to see what all the fuss is about.
Thanks #edchatnz
Thomas.