Learning To Tweet

Wow!

Here I have been, venturing into the world of Twitter, without a clue of how I am supposed to Tweet.  There are certain ways people tweet with @ signs and # signs and names and tags and hashtags and mentions, etc…  Oh my. I still don’t know how to do all that they do with such ease.  I’m sure I will learn.  But, learning takes time. We must be patient with ourselves.  This is a good lesson for all, actually – not only do we have to be patient (and kind) to ourselves, but we need to be patient and kind to others who are taking risks and learning something new.

I would like to share a few of the things I have learned, in the few days I have been tweeting:

• There are amazing individuals who are knowledgable and willing to share their great knowledge openly with anyone.
• People (Tweeters?) are so welcoming, inclusive, and friendly in Twitter-land!
• I am so impressed with the amount of professional sharing and learning going on in Twitter.
• Twitter is truly one of the best places today for Professional Development! While this surprises me, because I was not sure what to expect when I re-entered the World of Twitter, I can not emphasize this enough!
• School Trustees, Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, District staff, teachers, and fellow Administrators (among others, I’m sure), have shared numerous interesting articles, videos, magazines, websites, and blogs about important issues in education happening NOW!  The relevance is incredible!
• If you have a questions, just ask, and people will answer.
• I have also learned things about these people as people: sick children, 7-11 visits (free Slurpie Day was today, don’t ya know), special pets, thesis completion, etc…). One of the Tweeters actually has twin babies born twenty days before my son was born this past December.  What a small world.
• People care for one another in Twitter. They really do. I read encouraging words, heard laughter, read heart-felt condolences, felt appreciation, the list could go on. They care.
• Twitter is a community of real people, sharing real ideas, and making a real difference in each other’s lives and, in turn, in the lives of our students.

Having said all this, I do wish I would have first read the following blog before entering Twitter-verse.

Listed on Jane’s Pick of the Day  (@C4LPT on Twitter) and RT (re-tweeted) for @LnDDave ‘s new Blog Post:

Misadventures in Learning: What’s a Twitter Chat?.

It would have helped me immensely.  Oh, who am I kidding, that’s not really the type of learner I am.  I don’t like reading directions, I like doing and figuring it out as I go.  Oh, and ask questions of others. This is how I did my blog.  Forget instructions, just do it. If I get stuck, ask for some help.  No big deal.  We are surrounded by experts who would love to impart their knowledge on us, why not let them.  🙂

I will not let this steep learning curve of Twitter hinder my learning. I am amazed at what I have learned in the short time I’ve been involved in Twitter.  Imagine the learning and growth that will occur if I continue?  I have learned that my colleagues on Twitter are patient, understanding and forgiving while they coach me through this new territory.

Most importantly, though, to be a great leader, I believe, one must lead by example. That is what I plan to do.  How can I ask others to take risks, teach in a way that may be new to them, integrate technology in a way they have never done, if I am not willing to do the same.

I am a learner and will continue to be a learner.  I will also lead other learners with my own learning (and have a great time doing it).