“Bursts” by Sonny Abesamis is licensed under CC BY 2.0

I have a great fondness for the quick burst of inspiration, so it comes as no surprise to me that I like Twitter as a PD tool.  I especially love Twitter chats. Twitter chats are ones in which a group of people use the same # and discuss series of prepared questions. I follow #Catholicedchat, #leadlap, #hacklearning, and #sunchat.

Twitter chats go fast, and have a lot of side conversations. Be prepared to scroll up and down the chat for the questions, and to get distracted from questions by answers. It can seem a bit confusing in real time, but  the conversations are also “frozen” in Twitter for you to pursue afterward. In real-time, I find I do best answering the Qs when I have something to say, and following the side conversations when they interest me. I have connected with many educators who are doing great things, large and small, that teach me something.

When I say connected, I mean just that – I am interested in what they say, and feel a bond to them. They are colleagues. Their comments cause me to reflect on what I think and believe and practice.  We talk about things I am deeply interested in –  relationships as key to learning, student voice and choice, ditch the textbooks, authenticity, feedback. People share quick and clever ideas, blog posts and their beliefs.  Over the time I have been participating in Tweet chats, I feel I have added to my PLN in a way I never could have otherwise.  I recommend it.

Here are a few of the interesting ideas and inspiration I received this weekend during the two chats I participated in.

You can find me on Twitter @JoanJTracy.