As Twitter’s popularity has increased, teachers are frequently asking how to use Twitter. There are several good web tutorials that detail teacher’s experiences and if you are looking for projects these could be just right for you. That is beyond the scope of this post, perhaps in another article. Today, I will keep it simple and share five general tips that I have found very effective.
- Take time to fill out your profile and add a picture. People like to see who they are communicating with and knowing some information about you will help them identify with you.
- Share the items that are capturing your attention. Be sure to add links (use URL shorteners) so that people can learn more.
- Don’t be shy about sharing information about your institution and your student’s successes. Be sensitive to privacy and how your post will reflect upon you and your school.
- Use hashtags to keep up with what other’s are doing. Twitter can provide a virtual classroom for your professional development, as well as identifying tools and techniques other teachers are using.
- Remember that like email, not every tweet needs to be read. There are just too many.
If you implement even two or three of these ideas, you will be ahead in the game. Most people don’t realize that twitter is much more than a Facebook status update. The ability to scan trends and search for hashtags is very powerful. Additionally, people get stuck tweeting in either work mode or personal mode, but don’t really balance the two. Strive for a strategy of balance.
In my next Twitter article, I will look at ways to connect via Twitter. Feel free to share your comments and ideas.
