Twitter for Beginners

Social media can inspire or intimidate. And based on conversations I've had with teachers dipping their toes into this resource, intimidation can quickly and easily lead to someone throwing their hands into the air and walking away. But it would be a shame for teachers to give up on a valuable resource because they feel pressure to dive in to a pool they know little about or if they haven't been taught to swim.

So here are a few pointers I would give to teachers looking into utilizing Twitter for professional purposes. If you have any questions, leave me a comment, or better yet, give me a shout-out in a tweet (@MrsEMusic)!

1. Keep your personal life personal
If you are going to distribute your Twitter handle (your username; my professional handle is @MrsEMusic), it is best to have one that is personal and one that is professional. Keeping your "worlds" separate can protect you and your personal privacy. Remember that it is not airtight and anyone can follow your personal Twitter handle if they find it. You can request that those users be blocked, but again, its not airtight.

2. Lurk & Learn
I can't take credit for this turn of phrase, nor can I remember where I first heard it. However, this has been a guiding principle for me while integrating technology into my teaching. If you're just starting out on Twitter, find a few people to follow based on recommendations from colleagues. (At the bottom of the post you will find a list of my own recommendations.) From there, watch what happens - observe how people tag one another, use hashtags, retweet, etc... Don't worry about doing it yourself yet. Follow links, look at pictures, and read the tweets, but just enjoy taking in the wide world of information.

3. Make Connections
Retweet - share to your followers something that you read, found interesting, and want to pass along
Hashtags - search for hashtags to find Tweets using that same label (#edtech and #musicedtech might be good places to start), and then use one of your own to join or start a conversation.

4. Expand your PLC! 
Ask questions, answer questions, pass along information, share helpful websites and resources. Connect with educators from around the world and join with them in growing and learning to continue developing in your profession!

5. People to Follow
Other teachers in your school
Apps, websites, and software brands you use in your classroom
Music industry professionals and companies

Educational Technology & Apps

@ICE_IL     @elemenous     @Web20Classroom
@TeachersApps     @friEdTechnology     @WFryer     @TechNinjaStacey
@TechNinjaTodd     @Classroom_Tech     @iPadSammy     @Socrative
@GoogleApps     @SlideShark     @TED_Ed     @CommonSenseEdu     @CommonSense     @edtechdigest     @HuffPostEdu     

Music Education & Technology
@MrsEMusic     @NAfME     @MusiciansApps     @MusicEdTech
@MusiciansWApps     @FinaleOfficial     @SibeliusBlog     @advance_musiced