Learning More About Twitter From Angela Maiers

Today was a busy day for this teacher!
My district started its annual summer conference this week. I love this learning time because it's an opportunity for teachers in our district to learn together.  There were many interesting sessions on technology, curriculum, and programs. I presented  a session on QR Codes with a fellow teacher from our district. Even though I was the presenter, I was learning, too! I learned about myself and what I could do. I learned about how to read an audience. I learned more about how to think on my feet, problem-solve, and anticipate the needs of others. I picked up great ideas from the kind people who came to our session, and I met some very dedicated teachers who are doing great things. I loved that part!

But the best presentation of the day was the one I attended with Angela Maiers, author of The Passion Driven Classroom: A Framework for Teaching and Learning. I've been following her on Twitter for a very long time and have always learned from her tweets. Her presentation was called "I'm On Twitter: Now What?" In this session, Maiers described Twitter in a very interesting way. She used the analogy of a barbecue, and how Twitter users were the neighbors who brought in the dishes to share with others. When you're new to the neighborhood, she explained, you're excused from bringing a dish the first time. But after a couple of barbecues, you're expected to offer something, and it should be homemade, special to you, and not store-bought! "Twitter is a community," said Maiers. In a community, you spend time with others. You connect with them by introducing yourself and replying to questions. You care about what you share. "On Twitter, your contribution matters."

So I'm thinking tonight about my contribution----especially to my own communities on Twitter.  I learn so much everyday, and I enjoy the dishes everyone else brings. But it's time for me to share more than I have been. I'm thinking about what I'll bring to the barbecue. I'm going to make sure my next dish is a good one. It will be homemade, and I'm bringing it because I care and because my Twitter PLN has always shared with me.