Networking and Social Media
Twitter: A Place for Professionals Giulia Pucci Fourth Grade Language Arts/Social Studies Teacher, Northwest Independent School District, Texas
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illions of people use Twitter every day. The social atmosphere of Twitter is all-encompassing, allowing people in nearly every field of study or interest to find a pocket of kindred spirits. The world of education is booming through Twitter, allowing professionals access to experiences, expertise, ideas, and motivation at their fingertips. Let’s explore ways to use Twitter as a professional platform. Create an Account. Think about how you will use your account. Your account will look much different if you are using it for Professional Development as opposed to an account for your classroom. When selecting your username, select a professional handle that includes your name, alma-mater, school, or school district, an important association, etc. If someone were to look you up, your username should depict your purpose and your audience. Your handle is your first impression on other users – treat it well! Build Your Profile. Like your Twitter handle, your profile will serve as a first impression. ü
Your Biography will serve as your tagline. It should be short, to the point, and tell something about your purpose and personality. Some possible information to include could be your current place of employment, certifications, alma-mater, year of graduation, or a favorite motto.
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Your Profile Picture should be a clear, professional photo that only depicts you. This picture should be consistent across all professional social media.
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Your Header Photo is a great place to express some creative license, but avoid any artwork that you do not own. Keep it clean, professional, appealing, and true to you.
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Twitter may ask for some Additional Information like a website, location, or privacy settings. If you do not already have a Digital Portfolio or a Class Website, build one and post it. When selecting location settings, keep your audience in mind. If this is an account for your class to follow, keep the location settings turned off. If you’re seeking potential employment, turn them on. Keep this in mind with your privacy settings. This is a personal preference, but also a matter of safety. Don’t ever share your classroom number, students’ names, personal information, or copyright-sensitive material.
Follow Other Professionals. Search for authors, researchers, superintendents, schools, speakers, and other teaches in the field of education – many of them are on Twitter and ready to learn with you! If your Twitter is for Professional Development, you may want to keep your account set to public so other educators can learn from you. You can follow me, too, at @ GiuliaPucciEDU! Tweet. Share your questions and observations in education to your followers. Use hashtags (# followed by a word or phrase without spaces) to connect yourself with other people Tweeting about the same topic. Hashtags link your Tweet to a database of other Tweets that share the same hashtag. Try out Twitter chats, where people from around the world meet online at a certain time and communicate through a thread of hashtags. Enjoy your adventures in digital learning! A world of knowledge is at your fingertips, and making your professional Twitter account is the first step to enriching your digital experience!
50 American Association for Employment in Education
