A couple of weeks ago, our MMGW consultant visited our school. During her two day visit, she assisted in our building's Idaho Instructional Review, and met with our Focus Groups to check progress. On the second day of her visit, when she met with Focus Groups, her schedule wasn't as busy as previous visits - so she and I were able to spend some one-on-one time.
It was during this time, that she shared her PLN on Twitter. "Twitter"?! I thought. I couldn't believe she was promoting a social networking site - I just couldn't imagine "wasting" my time on my iPhone and laptop "tweeting." What she shared with me over the course of the day opened my eyes to a whole new world of professional development. Little did I know what a vast resource she was introducing me to. In addition to Twitter, she also showed me the multiple uses of Google Docs, Diigo.com, and Twitter4teachers.
That evening, I went home and created a profile on Twitter and "followed" Nancy. To my amazement, within minutes (probably more like seconds) she tweeted my tweet and introduced me to a world of fabulous educators. She sent me links to lists of "people to follow". In addition, I was able to open some links she had shared with me earlier, and comment on said links. That weekend, I was able to participate in the Live audio conference with Alfie Kohn - quite the eye opener. By listening to Mr. Kohn, and following on Twitter, I was able to find even more fabulous educators to follow.
I now have a Twitter, Diigo.com, and ning account (educator PLN). With the diigo account, I bookmark great sites I find when tweeting - that I later share with staff in my building. By joining the Educator PLN on ning, I learned of edchat. I have been able to participate in two edchats, and one onecom chat. I would say that I have been able to get more professional development in the last two weeks, than I have in the last six months (and it is FREE)! :)
I am getting "teased" by my staff members for "tweeting" - they are sure they have lost me to some virtual world. But, as I share the gems and tidbits I learn when I tweet, the teasing is turning to "where do you find this stuff?" I have to thank Nancy Blair for sparking my interest, and encouraging me when I started. I just hope that I can contribute to this web 2.0 world as much as I am learning.
