The IDOE conversation ( http://elearningbookclub.blogspot.com/2014/06/thrive-week-3-join-and-build-networks.html?showComment=1403103819703#c3641124683147233811) this week discussed our networks in school as well as online. If you haven't posted and read there, please take a few minutes to read some posts. I found them pretty interesting.
This week for our group, I want to explore one of the resources discussed in chapter 2. On page 39, Rami talks about "joining scheduled conversations with other teachers...". This week, take a look at the full list of Twitter educational chat groups and choose one or two to join. (Weekly Twitter Chat times ). If you haven't set up a Twitter account, do that now too. You might also investigate an app called TweetDeck as a way to organize Twitter chats (I've used it and it is helpful). This week, report back about your past Twitter experience and tell us about the groups you have chosen to join. Then in the next few weeks, participate in the weekly chats - either just lurk or actually make some comments - keep notes and be prepared to report back on the chats during the week of July 21st.
I really like Twitter and have many interests. I use if for news, weather, sports, learning, keeping in contact and entertainment. Like many, I am frustrated when I want to read posts by specific people. So last year I downloaded Flipboard. I can set up boards specific to what I want. I go directly to Twitter through Flipboard and from there find what/who I am interested. Then I add them to Flipboard. It sets up a board for that handle. Then all I have to do is flip through my board to see what is most recently being posted. For instance, today I set one up on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Fallon cause he makes me laugh. Laughter is medicine for me! Now I can go right to his board and see everything that he has posted. I don't have to search. I also have added my Google+ and LinkedIn accounts. I have searched for INedchat on twitter and setup a board for it. There is also one called inedchat. I have boards for my professional groups as well, Council for Exceptional Children and Council for Children with Behavior Disorders. I love learning!
ReplyDeleteMaryRose. I just downloaded FlipBoard. I'm trying to figure it out, but I might need a lesson too!
DeleteOK, Mary Rose, if I haven't figured out Flipboard when school resumes, I want you to bebop down to 302 and give me a tutorial. ☺ My plan is to mess with it and TweetDeck after I post "this week's homework", which is what I call it when I work on my book/assignment when my nephew is hanging at my house. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI joined several Professional Networks the year Jason Watson challenged us to do so, but honestly as the year progresses...I find myself forgetting all about them. I'm talking forgetting to the point I don't even know the names of them! Ha! They were networks I discovered through SimpleK12 webinars...
I did look at the scheduled chats and found two that really interest me. One would be "third grade" (obviously!) and the other was "STEMgeniushour", as that is something I hear others talking about and would love to learn about. Sadly, they both meet on Wednesdays from 7-8. Can you be in two chats at the same time?
I must confess, I didn't really consider those that meet at nine or later. During the summer, I could visit...but if this is in the hopes of us getting plugged in to a weekly chat...then after 9 won't work during school. I'm "that" teacher...who tries to be ready for bed at 9 in hopes of being sound asleep by 10 since I attempt to wake at 5. The bummer is that both of the ones I found that interest me meet on Wednesday which is my "church night" during the school year, so I'm not sure how this will play out. Don't think our children's pastor would understand if I'm hanging out on Twitter while also attempting to lead children's songs and provide puppeteering skills?
I do visit LinkedIn occasionally, and I've spent time back on that tool this week while reading this chapter. I pondered my way through discussions in my "teacher groups" I've joined. I even was inspired to bring back "old school" pen pals this year, since we won't be leveling classes during language arts' instruction. If we have computer lab time, we may also connect with a class online, but there's just something nice about holding a handwritten letter in your hand and a photograph of your pen pal to show your friends and parents. Just saying...
MaryRose...can you answer this one? If I remember correctly, you can go back to look at past twitter chats if you use something like TweetDeck (not available on iPad) or FlipBoard. You just pull up the app and read the feed that is recorded in the the column that is devoted to the particular feed.
DeleteI have participated in the IDOE Twitter chats and they actually archive them with a little formatting to make them easier to read.
What I'm getting at Miss P is that I think you can participate in 2 chats at the same time. You can even "lurk" in the late night ones without actually being there IRL (in real life:)
Anyone want to add their thoughts?
Ok..I've been trying new things this week. I have been using FlipBoard and I think it will be really handy to put topics together, but to see missed twitter-chats or to follow live chats without all the other junk, I downloaded and used HootSuite. I'm still learning, but I have been able to see a chat that happened when I was out of town. I just had to read from the bottom (oldest) to the top (newest). You all might want to try this for some of the late night twitter chats that you miss due to bedtime
DeleteThis is going to be a real challenge for me. I have tried twitter in the past and just do not enjoy the format and pace. I also do not like how my emails explode with notifications making it difficult to find other emails that are more urgent in nature.
ReplyDeleteI plan to look into LinkedIn as I have been invited a couple times but didn't know what it was about.
I want to find something that works for me that I also enjoy using.
Kim...you might try something like TweetDeck (not available on iPad) or FlipBoard to see if they make your Twitter experience more manageable.
DeleteYou might also check your Twitter preferences. I use twitter all the time and do not get email notifications. I sometimes get pop up notifications on my iPad, but never emails. You may be able to change a preference to get rid of that problem.
I've tried to get involved in Twitter several times without success. Last summer I started following other teachers who do the flipped classroom, but I didn't feel like I gained much from their tweets. Honestly, I didn't spend much time exploring Twitter. I am willing to give it another try this summer since so many teachers say it's an excellent resource for networking. I saw several chats that I might be interested in exploring. Now finding the time to participate will be the challenge. I'll report back later after I have had time to do some more exploring.
ReplyDeleteI have used Twitter for the last year for both classroom and PLN purposes. For the classroom, I follow French news and culture sources to retweet relevant items for my students and other followers. I also follow a few of other teachers through the AATF (Am. Assoc. of French Teachers), including one who is on the Tech Committee. I have found some good information through these AATF contacts.
ReplyDeleteI have not participated in a chat, but I have seen AATF reminders of the Thursday evening #langchat. I did not participate during the school year because it is later in the evening, when I am too busy or too tired to go online for a discussion. I will try it out in the next few weeks, and make an effort to pariticipate in the #langchat and to check out the archived chats.
I did join Twitter but feel like it is not for me. I have joined the Ed Web team and have enjoyed joining in conversations that involve special ed issues. The presentations are live and viewed by educators all over the world. It also allows you to comment or ask questions. The presenters have been great.
ReplyDelete