Do you have a PLN? Would you describe yourself as a “connected educator”? Whether these terms are in your everyday vocabulary or are completely new to you, now more than ever, there are amazing online spaces for educators to connect with others and leverage the power of a professional learning network.
I’m a huge fan of Twitter chats and if you’re a regular follower of ClassTechTips.com this shouldn’t come as a big surprise. I’ve shared courses and books I’ve read about using Twitter as an educator and I’ve hosted lots of Twitter chats over the past few years. But what if you’re just getting started… how do you find the perfect Twitter chat?
Twitter Chats with Participate
The folks at Participate have a fantastic online tool to help you find the Twitter chat that is just right for you. I’ve worked with the team behind this tool for a few years and even developed a few courses (like this one) to host on their platform. Their website includes an awesome Twitter chat tool to help you search for Twitter chats for teachers that connect to your areas of interest, match up with your geography, or simply fit your busy schedule.
When you open up Participate’s chat page you’ll find a running list of all the Twitter chats taking place at that very moment along with ones that might start later that day. You can also peek below the daily schedule to find categories like STEM, global, and secondary topics, that connect to a content area you’re teaching, the state you live in, or even a new topic you want to learn more about. This tool will help you find the perfect Twitter chat and let you jump right in.
What’s super neat about Participate’s chat page is how you can take a look at chats that have already happened and make a plan for chats that might be happening later in the week or month. I love how easy it is to navigate and how it doesn’t take long to figure out which Twitter chat you’d like to join into. If you have a busy schedule you can find something to explore on the fly by taking a look at the calendar and deciding what you have time for,
I’ve shared some of the ways Twitter has impacted my career in past posts. If it wasn’t for a handful of Twitter chats I joined when I first became active on the platform, I wouldn’t have met so many wonderful educators -both virtually and during events like EdCamps and local conferences.
If you’re looking to find the perfect Twitter chat, head over the Participate’s chat platform and dive in!
I've had the pleasure of working with representatives from this company over the past few years. All opinions are my own :)
cross posted at classtechtips.com
Monica Burns is a fifth grade teacher in a 1:1 iPad classroom. Visit her website at classtechtips.com for creative education technology tips and technology lesson plans aligned to the Common Core Standards.
