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I find Twitter to be a version of AP/UPI for the digital age; yet, it delivers more as my own personalized wire service comprised of the best beat reporters who keep me up-to-date and connected with the latest and greatest ideas, info and news.

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@KatharineGadwah Twitter helps me connect with my worldwide PLN everyday: sometimes with a new idea, tool, or just a laugh!

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Twitter allows me to collect snapshots of educational trends which gives me the opportunity to delve further into topics of interest. It also connects me with other educators enhancing my understanding of global learning.

Jill Canillas Daley

Library Media Specialist

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Social media tools allow anyone to break free of the silos of information and isolated islands that embody many schools. You can now learn anytime, anywhere, and with anyone you chose 24/7 by following your passions and interests all for free.

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http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2011/06/if-you-were-on-twitter.html

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Dear educator, if you were on Twitter yesterday, you might have found:

1. this awesome reflection about working with a teacher on technology integration; or

2. these resources about 'learning styles' and whether they're a myth; or

3. this list of ideas about how to rethink awards ceremonies; or

4. this list of 100 free apps to check out for that new iPad you just bought; or

5. this update about the thousands of new online resources that PBS will provide you starting this fall; or

6. these fabulous summer reads from The Atlantic; or

7. these tips for using students' interests in online video to make 'book trailers'; or

8. this story on how student gardens change attitudes and teach nutrition; or

9. these suggestions for integrating iPads into your teaching; or

10. this post about self-evident assessment; or

11. these resources for reworking your acceptable use policies; or

12. this list of useful web sites for creating outlines; or

13. these award-winning chemistry videos; or

14. these instructions on how to make self-grading quizzes; or

15. this video about students developing their own learning paths; or

16. these great ideas for doing Webquests in your classroom; or

17. these tips for effective team teaching; or

18. these 10 simple cooking tips that you wish someone had told you earlier; or

19. this story about how teachers are accommodating students' mobile phones for learning; or

20. these incredible photos from the space shuttle Endeavor's final mission.

But you weren't on Twitter yesterday, so it's likely that you saw none of this. And, yes, you probably also would have seen someone posting a picture of some strawberries or talking about how they just went to their kid's Little League game. Or some friendly banter between friends. Or even someone chatting about walking their dog or the great sandwich that they just ate. Good grief, who posts that stuff? Don't they have anything better to do with their lives?

Instead of being on Twitter yesterday, perhaps you were talking with your neighbors over the back fence. That's a real relationship, isn't it? Not like those so-called online 'friendships' where people 'like' each other. That back fence relationship is great, isn't it? Almost every day you share little tidbits with each other. Much of it is banal or just friendly chatter, but much of it also is useful: where's the best place to get this, how can I find that, do you have any suggestions for how best to accomplish this other thing, by the way I saw this thing today that might interest you, and so on. At some point you also realized that those small day-to-day interactions over the back fence about each others' strawberries and Little League games and dog walks and sandwiches have somehow added up to something more enduring: lasting friendships and a positive interdependency that you never would have anticipated at the beginning.

Because you're not on Twitter, what you don't realize is that Twitter is the back fence you share with your neighbors. Except your neighbors are people all over the world who share your interests and passions and can help you accomplish your personal and professional goals. Every day you have a chance to learn from these online neighbors. Every day you have a chance to receive resources that you otherwise never would have found. Every day you have a chance to intersect with people who care about what you care about and are willing to help you be more productive and save time. And much of it is banal or just friendly chatter, but much of it also is useful.

What's that? You don't want to be part of a community that shares your interests? You don't have time to learn? You'd rather not receive helpful resources? Oh, okay. Good for you, I guess.
Why, again, dear educator, aren't you on Twitter?

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Dear educator, if you were on Twitter yesterday, you might have found: this awesome reflection about working with a teacher on technology integration; or these resources about 'learning styles' and whether they're a myth; or this list of ideas about how to rethink awards ceremonies; or this list of 100

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Connecting with professionals via social media has helped me grow tremendously and pushed me to be a better educator.

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Twitter is good for sharing links, but serious discussions?

It's like debating with bumper stickers.

Doug Johnson, Blue Skunk blog

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To quickly share best practices and learn new ones!

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Being a connected educator has changed my life. I'm a better teacher, more collaborative professional and more inspired learner/leader because of it. My PLN connects me with the smartest, most talented and generous educators in the world and my students win as a result.

Jennifer LaGarde

Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist/Lead Library Media Coordinator in Wilmington, NC

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Getting outside of my "school box" has benefitted me and my students - we now learn from teachers and students around the world - my ways are challenged, and my only focus now is on what is best for the children - their well-being. I now focus on PEOPLE instead of CONTENT. My thinking is pushed daily, and (sadly) I collaborate with others on Twitter better than I can at my own school. Teachers who use Twitter seem to be able to be more open and ready to fail than those that are not connected.

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Thanks to social media, students can connect and collaborate with anyone around the world to learn anything, at anytime, from anywhere to push their thinking deeper.

Rachel Small

Library Media Specialist

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By utilizing tools such as Twitter both students and educators can share their innovation and experiences through a cooperative learning process by instantaneously collaborating around the world! This form of communication has the potential to teach flexibility,develop social skills, entice creativity, support curiosity and promote global communication.
-Emelia Fleck
PRHS Library Media Specialist

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Expand your world from the comfort of your own pajamas. 

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Expand your world from the comfort of your own pajamas. 

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Deborah B Ford @jlgdeborahford

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Don Wettrick ‏@DonWettrick  Ghana

@KatharineGadwah I'm having some trouble w/ internet. (I'm in Ghana, and the ISP isn't reliable) So,what about this?

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Using Twitter and other social media tools frees us from the tyranny of having to figure things out alone. The idea of a global, connected network of educators using free tools to share ideas and exchange thoughts was beyond our imagination not so long ago.

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Sheri Edwards ‏@grammasheri    @KatharineGadwah 

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Sheri Edwards ‏@grammasheri    @KatharineGadwah 

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Twitter connects people around the world sharing resources, reciprocating ideas, building PLN, starting collaborations

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Using social media, educators can develop phenomenal professional networks which enable them to collaborate globally!

~Katie Gadwah, Library Media Specialist