Exploring Curricular and Pedagogical Innovation Using Twitter
Twitter is often associated with social media and the constant connection to friends, family, and celebrities. However, it can also be used as a tool for exploring innovative curriculum and pedagogy in schools around the world.
5 Ways That Twitter Moves Professional Learning Forward
1. Twitter as a social media platform
Using Twitter to share information and communicate is a simple, efficient, and effective way for educators to connect with colleagues from around the world. Using multiple platforms within Twitter provides educators with the opportunity to share resources across departments and schools as well as provides a common space where members of a school or district can discuss ideas in real-time.
2. Sharing resources within your professional network
Because of its public nature, sharing curriculum-related items (such as images, videos, links) on Twitter allows you to engage with other teachers around the world by providing them an opportunity to view your material. This sharing may lead teachers who have established connections through Twitter to participate in more formal collaborations which will benefit students through innovative curricula or programs offered at their institutions.
3. Engaging in professional conversations with other educators
By following a variety of users who have common interests, such as curriculum development, students can gain knowledge and access to resources that may be unavailable at their own institution. Similarly, if teachers share resources from their own institution on Twitter they provide colleagues and other members of the education community an opportunity to engage in conversation about the material which may lead to further innovation on curriculum-based projects or programs.
4. Identifying and connecting with individuals who share common interests
Through following teachers within the education community on Twitter, teachers have the opportunity to connect with individuals who have similar passions, teaching styles, or interests in a way that transcends geographical boundaries. The connections made online allow for opportunities to collaborate or develop professional relationships through direct messaging, emails, or in-person meet-ups.
5. Discovering new and innovative strategies for teaching students effectively
By exploring topics of interest through hashtags relevant to curriculum development on Twitter educators are able to learn from others around the world about different methods and approaches used within their subject area which can be applied at their own institutions to improve student outcomes.
Twitter’s potential to connect educators from around the world and share resources may surprise you. It is a simple way for professionals in education to connect with each other, collaborate, share content, promote themselves or their programs, or even find jobs. If you’re not already on Twitter for personal use as an educator — it might be time to consider it! Show us how your work has benefited by connecting with others through this social media tool and sharing what matters most to you. What are three professional benefits of using Twitter?
Alfonso Mendoza Jr., M.Ed. is an Instructional Technologist, Podcaster, and Google Innovator that is passionate about education.
Visit www.myedtech.life connect with me on Twitter @MyEdTechLife
