While reading chapter two of
What Connected Educators Do Differently by Todd Whitaker, Jeffery
Zoul, and Jimmy Casas. I have started to see things a little differently than I originally did with regard to hashtags and twitter chats. I have to admit I'm still on the fence about Ed Camps though.
HASHTAGS
Hashtags are a great way to explore the social media world to find information on topics that you need to learn more about. I have actually found myself using hashtag search for more than just technology recently. Doing the
#12DaysTwitter in conjunction with using
TweetDeck has made my searches so much easier to follow and I can remove all the other stuff that isn't what I need right at that moment. I can peruse the people I follow or I can do a search for a specific hashtags. It has changed and massively increased my twitter usage.
TWITTER CHATS
I have been a part of twitter chats in the past. I am personally more of a twitter chat troll! I like to read the responses, but sometimes I get so excited by the answers from everyone else, I forget to respond. Or I start looking into things that I have read about and get so wrapped up I ignore the rest of the chat. The one nice thing is, I am still getting more information, knowledge, learning, etc. Regardless of if I had actually joined in the chat. I have liked getting feedback from other people on my posts though too. I have learned to look at things a different way than I previously had by throwing the ideas out there for others to post on. Also, who doesn't feel good when you get a message saying someone favorites your tweet or retweets it? It's like a little technology warm fuzzy (yes, I know I dated myself right there!)
ED CAMPS
I have not been involved with an Ed Camp before. I guess the idea that I am going to take time
from my family to go to something that I don't know what I am going to be learning about, seems counter productive when I look at my insanely packed calendar to see if the date is available. I don't know what is going to happen at the Ed Camp, but I do know that I have a home TO-DO list that makes my head spin just looking at it. I guess this just something I will have to try out and see if it becomes my new favorite learning resource. We shall see!
I agree with you on the hashtags. They make finding information so much easier. I haven't attended an edcamp yet either. Family life happens as you mentioned and Saturday mornings are the worst time to give up. I would love to see an edcamp offered in the summer when I have time to process. This might be better for you too. I wonder why it is always on a Saturday morning?
ReplyDeleteI love that you are using Tweetdeck now to organize your hashtags and that you are lurking in the chats. That is a great way to learn from others and be inspired. It is hard to give up a Saturday, but once a year I do and head to Edcamp Omaha. It is fun to join the conversation with a group of educators who are excited. I always leave energized. Maybe you'd like to join me at our next Edcamp Omaha next month! :-)
ReplyDeleteI would be interested in doing that with you for sure Ann. Let me know the dates and I will look over my calendar.
DeleteI would be interested in doing that with you for sure Ann. Let me know the dates and I will look over my calendar.
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