Twitter: Invaluable tool for Teachers' Professional Development
Each week, teachers and other educators convene on Twitter to discuss pertinent education related topics using an agreed upon #hashtag. Alternate Route course instructor, education tech and social media enthusiast, Robert R. Zywicki, led his class of teachers in a Twitter chat last Saturday. Robert launched Saturday Twitter chats for his class, announcing:
"New teachers need as much support as they can get. Twitter is one of the best forms of professional development for educators. In an instant, teachers can connect with other educators to share resources, develop lessons, and just talk shop. It took years for me to develop my PLN (professional learning network). There were many times early in my career I felt like I was on an island. Prior to Twitter, I only connected with other educators by attending conferences or e-mail distribution lists. Now when educators attend conferences they are meeting up with the folks they connected with on Twitter. We are forming stronger professional relationships. Through my class’s chat, #RUGSEAR, my hope is to connect my students with other new and experienced educators around the world so as to jump-start their PLNs”
Twitter is an invaluable resource for teachers who are invested in building a career as an educator.
Teachers in training can use Twitter to stay abreast on breaking industry news, reports, research or even policy changes impacting their everyday lives and professional development goals. Only on Twitter can teachers interact with educators from across the nation, showcasing their successes, challenges and perspectives on teaching. As with everything, you will only reap returns after investing a bit of time and energy. Those who gain the most value from Twitter and other social networks such as LinkedIn, smartly so, use social media to further their professional goals. By sharing and discussing important topics for teachers and educators, teachers in training can showcase their passion for lifelong learning and improvement—a quality that school and education leaders value.
Now's the time to engage with the world's most passionate educators
We commend the Alternate Route students who showed up, Tweeted and impressed upon the Twitterverse their perspectives on education. We, furthermore, encourage all teachers and educators invested in the future of education to join Twitter's community of educators. #RUGSEAR will be chatting on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
Highlights of Rutgers Alternate Route's Educational chat on Twitter
@ZywickiR I believe all teachers teach literacy in their subjects as for numeracy not as often. #RUGSEAR
— Scott Monfiletto (@SMonfiletto) October 11, 2014
@ZywickiR A3 I believe so. I want my students to apply their new knowledge to the real world not just classroom. #RUGSEAR — Jennifer McKeever (@msjenmckeever) October 11, 2014
1/2 @ZywickiR @robmt79 #RUGSEAR A3: my instinct follows Rob's thinking but as an English teacher I find we need to teach all "reading" -- — Anthony Lodato (@anthonylodato) October 11, 2014
2/2 @ZywickiR @robmt79 #rugsear -- not just literature but reading of everything, reading = thinking. Need to incorporate numeracy in class — Anthony Lodato (@anthonylodato) October 11, 2014
@ZywickiR #RUGSEAR A3: Many veteran teachers may not be as open to literacy and numeracy. However, young people must be taught these skills.
— Heather H (@HeatherHatten) October 11, 2014
Heather Ngoma has over 25 years of experience collaborating with educators across New Jersey to drive education innovation. She currently serves as the Director of the Rutgers-GSE Alternate Route Program in the Department of Learning and Teaching, a program which helps career changers, recent college graduates, and other aspiring education professionals become licensed teachers in New Jersey. Follow her on Twitter @heatherngoma.
