I’ve decided that I need to focus on just one, ok…two things after today’s class. For some reason, I was one of those people that just didn’t want to get hooked on Twitter and for many reasons that were mentioned by some of my classmates today. For one, I already feel like I stay super connected with friends, family and people with common interests via Facebook. Did I really need to add another platform to the social media mix? Isn’t Twitter just some ADHD version of Facebook? It seems so short and snappy. Is there any real substance to these tweets? And why do I feel so distracted when I’m trying to listen to and absorb what someone is saying yet there I am trying to tweet out what I’m taking in?
Well, today was only Day 2 of my Twitter life and I’m very slowly beginning to see some of the reasons why I might just one day feel the Twitter love. It started with me wondering what to write on my blog today. Then I thought to myself that a lot of us were actually recording all the goings on of the multiple mini presentations that took place in class today by using this very platform I had been resisting. Twitter was actually kind of useful because I could go back to all the tweets in this course’s hashtag and be reminded of what was talked about, what resources were mentioned and peek at links to articles etc. via my classmates’ tweets. Hey Twitter, you just took notes for me and I didn’t even have to write all of them myself!
Ok, so I said there were two things I was going to focus on for today. Got a little sidetracked with all that Twittering and Tweeting! The presentations in class today were awesome and I thank my colleagues for sharing: for sharing via Twitter, for sharing right up there in front of the class and for sharing via your blogs. You have all made me want to get super organized in an online way for the school year to come and I intend to begin that journey by setting up a classroom website. Michelle Bertrand, I am starting with you. I love that you made yourself transparent and open to suggestions and that you strive to constantly improve on what appears to me to be an amazingly well set up class site/blog. I shall look to you for inspiration and I shall follow you on Twitter. And I hope that I will have the framework for a website that I feel pretty comfy in come the end of this course.
Anne-Marie, I found your ideas and writing style to be very engaging. Your openness and honesty was refreshing. I too, felt the Twitter resistance. I do feel that it puts my multi-tasking skills to the test as I try frantically to listen to the speaker and tweet at the same time. It doesn’t feel natural yet. Michelle’s blog was truly amazing and I think it’s very exciting that you feel inspired to create a website or blog for your classes. That is the whole point of this course – to learn more about how our colleagues are using technology and implement something new ourselves. Your contributions to our class are always thoughtful and thought-provoking and I’m enjoying being a part of this learning community. Good luck with your technological endeavours for the coming year!
PS – I’m trying to remember… do you teach at Churchill? If so, you probably know a bunch of my old grade 7 students from Sexsmith. I’ll only take credit for the smart and charming ones, though!
Hey Julie,
Yes, I do teach at Churchill and the Sexsmith students that have come our way are nothing but adorable! Did I mention smart and charming too and that they had Ms. Mason as their Gr. 7 teacher? Seriously, I am ever so grateful to be a part of this amazing group of people to learn and commiserate with. After my first 3 courses being online, I am so thrilled to connect with all of you face to face and develop/nurture the technology we all need to know, love and embrace as a team!
I had never though about the idea that the class created class notes in the form of tweets. I have to say that when we did this on our blog I did think of this aspect but not with twitter. I can’t remember if you are a middle or high school person but I was wondering if you are going to be using twitter for your own personal growth and connectivity or with your students? I am an elementary school person and think I am still in the twitter resistance movement.
I loved the video that you embedded in you blog the other day. It really does point out how times are changing and how we need to change as well. Since you have only come back to teaching recently, I would be curious to hear your take on how teaching has changed.
You seem to have had a few aha moment along the way and it is great that you are finding inspiration in the work and opinions of others. I truly believe that the more collaborative we are, the more we and our students benefit. This program is a great way to make these connection because often, as teacher librarians, we work in isolation in our school. There is not another teacher librarian to share with and bounce ideas off of. I am appreciative of the dialogue and ideas that we all continue to share.
Anne-Marie, I appreciate how honest your posts are. I’ve also been avoiding Twitter, mainly because I thought it was redundant with Facebook and it seems like just another time-suck. You brought up an excellent point of Twitter being used as a note-system for lectures and class material. I wonder how this could be used in the elementary or classroom setting where students are engaged and making meaningful contributions?
That’s great that you were inspired to create your own blog after Michelle’s excellent presentation. Have you thought about if it will be restricted to your class only, used to supplement in class materials, communicate with parents, etc? Perhaps there is a way to unify what other teachers in your school are doing so all the links are available on your school site, if there isn’t something like that already.
I think it’s wonderful that you’re taking advantage of online resources to address issues we face daily in the classroom. The Ken Robinson video you’ve embedded brings up some interesting points about various issues facing the education system. As TLs, I wonder how we can address some of those issues mentioned? You’re already seeking out how to incorporate some of the resources we’ve discussed in practical ways, and I look forward to your innovations!
Great post and comment thread! A wonderful example of how we learn and develop our understanding through a combination of face to face and online social experiences. I like the idea of inquiring into setting up an online learnt space for your teacher-librarian activities. The inquiry process can serve as a design process, to develop ideas about what you want to accomplish and how you might go about conveying your objectives through an online entity. Remember, twitter is not only 140 character tweets, it is also links to associated topics, examples, and ideas.