So, I'm blogging...whaaat?! I'm also reading about teaching like a PIRATE, reading blogs, lurking in chats, pondering flipped classrooms and lessons, contemplating the uses of Augmented Reality in education, building my Personal Learning Network, and looking forward to my first EduCamp. Twelve days ago, this wasn't me. Twelve days ago I didn't have a clue what a PLN or EduCamp was. Flipped classrooms brought to mind the upside down Christmas trees that were once popular. I thought AR was accelerated reading. And I've always associated lurking with something that people did in long trench coats and birthday suits.
What exactly was it that happened twelve days ago to foster such a change? I was introduced to the vast amount of knowledge, sharing and support known as Twitter. One taste of the information available, and I was hooked. To say that I have been overwhelmed by the amount of information out there is an understatement. I've gone to bed the past twelve days feeling like I'll never be able to read and absorb the vast amount of information available. But I believe it is like all other workshops and information that is new; take what will be helpful to you and leave the rest. And why not? It has zero calories and it's good for your brain....and career.
Let's reminisce.
Day One- I attended a Twitter training at my school. I set up my account during training and spent most of the afternoon looking around. I learned what a PLN was and that lurking on Twitter was considered observing and not creepy at all! The trainer suggested a couple of individuals for us to "follow", or watch their profile and messages (a.k.a. tweets). One of those people is @cybraryman1. I was amazed to see how many resources he has available on his website. The other person is @TechNinjaTodd. After reading his class blogs and tweets, I can say that his success is inspirational and quite enviable!
Days Two through Five- I finally changed my profile picture. I was no longer an "egg head"! I also spent some time every day checking my Twitter page and looking at the great information people had to offer. I often refer to this as "rabbit holing". I think that is most likely just a Tisha term, but it makes me think of Bugs Bunny and the holes he would jump in and out of trying to get away from Elmer Fudd. I would go to one page to see what they had to offer, then off to a page connected to their page and so on. At this stage, I was also wondering how to chat.
Days Six to Current- I finally figured out how to chat. I'll admit though, that I had to enlist help from the mighty Google. Come to find out, you have to go to an external site to chat within Twitter. Who knew? I tried to use tweetchat.com, but it was being worked on. I ended up with twubs.com. I was sold with them when they had Star Wars humor in their instructions! Ok, so I was all set up to chat, but then I realized that I didn't know when or how to do it. @cybraryman1 to the rescue! He had tweeted a link during days two through five and I favorited it. I think this is similar to "liking" something on Facebook, but I'm still figuring that out. Anywho, he posted this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiftIdjCeWSXdDRLRzNsVktUUGJpRWJhdUlWLS1Genc#gid=0 It is the playbook of Twitter chats! Awesome! So I picked #txed chat. Upon entering and introducing myself, I was given a warm welcome by the hostess @MsRossEnglish and after I admitted that I was a newcomer (of orange and white- Shark Bait..Ooh-ha-ha) there were a few other people who also confessed that they were lurking as well, so I didn't feel like such an outcast. During the chat, I tried to contribute a little bit, but I was blown away at the speed of the chat. When they say "Punch it Chewie!", they mean it! There is a way to slow down the chat though, so I need to try that. The chat was good, but what I find a little weird is that you have to go to an external site to chat, but everything that you tweet shows up in your news feed (not sure of the twitter term). While this is definitely different, it does allow you to see who is tweeting in what chats.
While I haven't seen or experienced very much in my short twelve days on Twitter, I do recognize the immense potential that creating a PLN can have. I look forward to building a massive empire of educational peers and knowledge, and then take over the world! Mwahaahaa!! Ok...maybe not, but I do hope to expand my knowledge base and grow as an educator and maybe, just maybe be "that" teacher that students successfully learn from and remember.
No comments:
Post a Comment