More and more, I’m surprised by how many educators are still not on Twitter and Pinterest. As districts have gotten more comfortable with unblocking these social media tools, it would stand to reason that educators would be excited to join in these important outlets and participate in the rich conversations and sharing. Yet, many still have not taken the leap!
Personally, I think this has more to do with the sheer overwhelming nature of these platforms. Educators just don’t know what to DO on them – what are the for, how do I use them effectively and why should I spend my time there? No one wants to sign up for an account only to have it be one more password you need to remember. As our way of trying to help teachers and leaders embrace these tools, we’ve developed a tweet and pin guidebook for educators as our Free Friday tool this week. Hopefully, this will help you navigate these social media waters with more confidence and purpose!
This information is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many other ways to use both of these platforms to enhance your classroom and teaching, build your professional skills and capacity, and to network beyond your own schoolhouse. But this is a good start. If you simply follow 2-3 of the chats and pin boards, and begin listening and contributing to the conversations and pins you see, you’ll be well on your way to growing as an educator. And if you haven’t already done so, we invite you to follow our Twitter feed and Pinterest boards as well. We would welcome you into our community! Happy Friday!
