To Twitter or not to Twitter: That is NOT the Question.

[Bob Sprankle]

Ernie Easter asked that I repost my blog entry about Twitter here on Ning to start some conversation. Thanks for the suggestion, Ernie! Here it is:


(cross-posted at TechLearning)

There's a discussion going on at Educational Discource about Twitter. Some of the focus is on whether teachers actually have time to Twitter throughout their day, and since not everyone does, then we're missing out on part of the conversation: those that aren't getting their voices posted in 140 characters. I've seen this argument attributed to other tools as well (blogs, wikis, etc) and it's a valid argument. Fortunately, Twitter is not the only platform to share and exchange.

In the discussion, missprofe admits to "still trying to wrap [her] mind around what [Twitter] can do for [her] personally and professionally." I've heard this from many people, and said it myself before I actually tried Twitter. Personally, I don't think Twitter is the vehicle for everyone, and even for myself who is an enthusiast, I use the tool sporadically. It depends on whether I remember to turn on my Twitterific, or whether I feel like being interrupted or not, or a hundred other variables and I am even more inconsistent in the "Tweets" that I publish. In short, I am "Twitter-fickle."

I don't think we need to "take sides" over Twitter any more than we do over our favorite television shows, or our favorite movies (though I've seen good friends get into heated arguments over movie likes/dislikes). I don't think any of the Web 2.0 tools are absolute staples, but rather, add to the banquet of choices to connect with other professionals, including those that are traditional and non-technological (conferences, staff rooms, at the copier, etc.). Even though we don't need to take sides, I'm sure that we probably often do, and that some might even agree with "missprofe" who writes in the discussion that "there seems to be what I call a 'Twitter Clique'; the same people talking with each other, and not seemingly interested to allow others to join in. Unless of course, one is “down” with the conversation." I'm sure Twitter can feel this way as inside jokes and messages are often in the Twitter feed. But I guess any school's staff room could feel this way as well.

The thing is, Twitter might not even be a tool in existence in 5 years, so it is perhaps pointless singing its praises or arguing that it's pointless. In his comment, Frank clearly articulates what is essential in the discussion:

I’m not so worried about teachers not tweeting. However, having said that. I am VERY concerned about their ability and desire to maintain currency in their professional networks. I have always said as a teacher trainer that your best resource is not me (the trainer), it is another teacher out “there” teaching just as you are. So tweet if you can because twitter offers “just-in-time” professional development and finger-tip resources, but if you can’t then somehow a teacher MUST find those vehicles to keep current and sharing, yes every week… not at just the quarterly or monthly scheduled teacher training program or annual pedagogical roundup. So, how about popping into http://classroom20.ning.com, or http://metamexico.ning.com, or getting your google reader set to capture all the RSS “goodies” or setting up a del.cio.us network, and so on and so on. With a little setting up, all the information is waiting for you at the touch of a button, with or without twitter.

At least once a week, please…
Frank

I think Frank "nails it" when he talks about an "ability and desire to maintain currency in their professional networks." I love that term "currency" in this context. Having the means to "share" and engage professionally with other colleagues is essential for any profession (and not just at the "monthly scheduled" times as Frank points out). There have always been tools to allow for teachers to do this, but with many of the Web 2.0 tools that now exist, it's become so much easier and more... well, constant. The great thing about these tools is they don't have to require a large commitment. Meaning that, because the conversation is being maintained by so many, it continues whether I'm online with it or not. Like a faucet, I can turn it on and off at my choosing. I can take a small sip or a bath in its constant flow. Like Frank, I believe it doesn't matter which tool you use or even the quantity to which one partakes ( (I think Frank's suggestion of at least once a week sounds fair). What is important is that we do in fact find some "vehicle to keep current and sharing". And since the world is evolving to use these digital tools to collaborate and our students are becoming well versed in these tools on their own, shouldn't we as educators be a part of this "real world" experience?

It doesn't have to be Twitter. It just has to be something.

[Ernie Easter]

I want my Polling Activity that I use in StudyWiz with my students. Just a quick response, how many of us use Twitter? I don't and its more that I haven't really explored using it yet, one more thing. I agree that we all (the education community) needs to "keep current and sharing." Everyone on Seedlings has taken a step and I would expect many of us read a number of blogs. I know some of us use del.icio.us (I'm always checking bookmarks when Seedlings update theirs - thank you.) But as educators how do we keep up with the changing nature of technology and how to use it to its greatest advantage both in and outside the classroom? And maybe the more import question is, how do we stay abreast of our students (I'm not even suggesting ahead of them.)?

I agree with Bob, "It doesn't have to be Twitter. It just has to be something." going forward engaging and sharing.

[Kathy Epps]

I can't even answer the question! Do I have a Twitter name? yes (k_eepps) Do I use Twitter? Not really. I look in from time to time. I'm in Switzerland, so using my phone is out of the question due to cost of an sms. Most of the day at school I'm not sitting in front of my computer. I count myself fortunate if I get to read everything that has arrived in Google Reader, and added to some of my own blogs (besides keeping up with the planning and record keeping for school). With the arrival of ning I have a few more things to contribute to and follow.

I guess the answer is really, yes, I think it's and interesting tool, but no, I don't "use" it, and won't on a regular basis - it just doesn't fit into my day!

[Ernie Easter]

OK, I'm now on board and have joined the Twitter world for better or worse. I'm taking the pbWiki 6 week Summer Camp course and Twitter was extra credit. Go figure, I have always fallen for extra credit.

For any who are interested my twitter name is nsteacher

I won't guarantee how often I'll post there, but maybe .......

Counting down the days before summer ends and school begins and feeling glad I'm not a HS teacher who begins next Monday!

[Ernie Easter]

I recently updated my twitter. Mine is now http://twitter.com/ernieeaster

[DaveC]

I used twitter for a while, but have to admit I fell out of touch with twitter; which somehow seems ironic as it is meant to keep you in touch. In June I even set up a new twitter account, made a single post, and found I was using it about as much as the treadmill that makes a wonderful laundry hanger in the bedroom.

After reading the article, I did begin doing some thinking about twitter and the ways to stay current with friends and peers. I think that, because things have changed over the years, and particularly now with people holding down more than one job, it is important to keep that sense of the "friend relationship". I from a period when remember my father coming home and our family sitting down to eat supper together every night! With my own family, we're lucky to all be in the same room together, meals are grabbed on the way out the door and many people have turned to online friendships. Whether it is my kids through their XBOX gaming, my wife checking her facebook page for messages, or me reading blog posts. In a way, it seems like a natural shift towards merging the day-to-day mundane activities that we all do but take for granted, and share them with people we know. IM-like tools have let me stay in touch with college friends from 20 years ago, I don't always have time to sit down and write a long email, making a phone call is something I have to reserve time for. However, posting a tweet and getting an update makes me feel that I am still in touch with their lives -- at least digitally anyhow.

[Jenifer]

Part of me doesn't want to miss anything. It's the main thing I fear about death! (except for the actual dying part which might involve pain). So I log into the Twitbin from time to time to see what's up. So far I have read some blog posts I might otherwise not have read, seen some interesting tools about which I wouldn't have known and observed some mundane facts about others' lives that help me to see that my own life is not as dull as I had thought. At work I use it sparingly as I am not being paid to tweet (altho I did find the work around that allows me to drop in on the qt). I do like being able to see what my friends afar are up to! keep the faith....

[Ernie Easter]

And if we want to follow you, what is your twitter?

[Jenifer]

Follow away! I am whitestwave...and you?

[Terry Smith]

To Twitter or not? It has been useful and not useful. It is there and each user has the choice of what he or she wants to post, right? So.. might be what you're cooking on the grill or a great blog url or a new video posted somewhere or a news feature or whatever...then there are the conversations that Bob mentioned, sort of closed...we might wonder why they don't just get on the cell phone, eh? But I like that Twitter is there. I have to say it has been most useful .. in small sips, once a week, or several times in any given day. When we remember that a lot of people might be looking at our tweets, it seems that it would follow that we would make twitters worthwhile in some way, somehow connected to a thread that just might be useful or interesting to just more than one person generally. But then there are times when we want to comment specifically and use the @ sign to target a user. My take is that teachers would expose themselves to a lot of really interesting information (along with the negligible small talk) checking in with Twitter now and then.

[coakes]

I like twitter , cheryloakes50, mostly for the great blog post recommendations I get, or to check in with Carla during Hurricane Ike, just a quick way to get a pulse on the neighborhood, and it is a huge neighborhood. When I am really busy at work, at life, I use www.summize.com to catch up with certain friends or to see if anyone has tweeted me. Just plug in a twitter name, and wait, in moments you have it all.
Yes, I use it, Yes I like it.
Cheryl

[Barbara Cohen]

I'm an occasional to moderate twitter user. I've had a few "urgent" questions answered, answered a few myself, been led to some great links and blog postings, etc. But the best use of Twitter I've experienced so far was at the BLC08 conference this summer when everyone used the same tag in their tweets. I was able to use www.summize.com to see what others were thinking about the presentations while they were happening and to hear about sessions I had missed. That really captured the potential power of Twitter for me and made me think about how we might use it with students.

My twitter name is barblcohen -- thanks for the great thread!

[Alice Barr]

I have probably learned more form Twitter than any other source. I don't read it constantly but people are constantly posting links and from that information, I have been able to access some things I never would have learned otherwise. Often someone will throw out a link to an online session or workshop and I can drop in for a bit. With new tools such as TweetDeck, I am able to organize my followers in to groups which help me quickly go back over a time period and see what people have posted. Like Cheryl, I also use Summize to collect items on a topic. I think I would feel very cut off if I didn't use it. My Twitter name is alicebarr.