Using Twitter to Build Connections and Keep Technology Integration Relevant

Throughout the somewhat short time, I have been in the Instructional Technology EdS program at The University of Montevallo, I have learned a great deal about technology integration and leadership. An ongoing assignment for each class in the program is to collect documentation of various activities that connect to the Consortium for School Network (CoSN) Framework. [“The Consortium for School Network (CoSN) is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. CoSN provides thought leadership resources, community, best practices and advocacy tools to help edtech leaders succeed in the digital transformation” (CoSn). ] These documents are gathered together in an “OPL Record” that I will submit prior to completion of the degree program. 

This semester one of the activities I used for my “OPL Record” showed evidence of my professional participation on Twitter. My documentation for this activity included tweets and Twitter chats that demonstrated the Professional Learning Network (PLN) I’ve established. For my OPL Record, I connected this Twitter PLN documentation to CETL Framework 7E. CETL Framework 7E is “enhance communication by keeping up to date on emerging technologies.” 

I enjoyed using Twitter more than I expected and I’ve been amazed by how useful the education, technology, and leadership content is. I’m happy with the PLN I’ve built and I hope I will become more involved and connected to this group in the future. The Twitter PLN documentation I used for my OPL Record includes links to multiple Twitter posts made over the course of several weeks. The posts do not represent the entirety of my Twitter presence, however, they each demonstrate my engagement with various digital technology resources connected to education. The document also includes links to a Twitter chat I participated in as well as information about my newly established LinkedIn profile. Each of these items demonstrates ways in which I am using my PLN to enhance communication with other educators and keep up to date on emerging technologies.

The purpose of this blog post is to highlight a field experience from this semester that has had a significant and positive impact on my growth as a technology leader. Much to my surprise, using Twitter to form a PLN and build connections has been most beneficial to my growth. According to Carpenter, Krutka, and Trust, “many educators turn to social media to grow and enhance professional learning networks (PLNs) that extend beyond their schools” (2022, p. 85). Twitter has helped me connect with other educators in my content area as well as technology experts, and individuals who post about topics ranging from youth mental health, to visual arts, to ADHD. Making connections with these individuals has improved my instruction and provided me with the opportunity to share resources with members of my PLN as well as my colleagues at school.

In order to build my PLN on Twitter, I have created a number of Twitter lists and participated in a few Twitter chats. Initially, I was not a fan of these chats, but once I got used to the format, I started to appreciate them a lot more. One of my favorite chats so far has been #PD4UAndMe. One of the things I like most about this particular chat is that it doesn’t have formal questions. With this chat, someone posts a topic and everyone just starts tweeting. I have found that without questions, I actually connect more with the other chat participants. Since I am less worried about answering a question before the next question is posted, I actually have time to read and respond to what other people are tweeting.

In his book Digital Leadership, Eric Sheninger talks about the need to move from professional development to professional learning. Building PLNs on Twitter can provide that professional learning by allowing us to “access the expertise of school administrators and teachers from around the world” (Sheninger, 2019, p. 143). In the Preface of his book, Sheninger claims that joining PLN’s can help educators “meet their diverse learning needs; acquire resources; access knowledge; receive feedback; connect with experts in the field of education as well as practitioners; and discuss proven strategies to improve teaching, learning, and leadership” (Sheninger, 2019, p.xxi). Carpenter, Krutka, and Trust also discuss the benefits of PLN’s stating that PLN’s provide a space “where educators go to meet new people, discover new information, and engage in conversations or collaborative learning with others” (2022, p. 86). For more information on PLN’s you can check out one of my previous posts where I talk about the benefits of establishing a PLN and how they can help digital leaders create a shared vision.

The EdS program at UM has opened my eyes to the critical role of technology leaders. I have learned about a number of resources I didn’t know were available and come to appreciate resources that I was underutilizing. Twitter has improved my instructional practice and allowed me to stay up-to-date on emerging technologies. Sheninger says “digital leadership is not about flashy tools; it is a strategic mindset that leverages available resources to improve what we do while anticipating the changes needed to cultivate a school culture focused on efficacy” (2019, p. xix). CETL Framework 7E focuses on using communication to keep in touch with technology trends. While there are a number of ways that technology leaders can accomplish this, I believe Twitter has helped me to do this the most.

Resources

Carpenter, J. P., Krutka, D. G., & Trust, T. (2022). Continuity and Change in Educators’ Professional Learning Networks. Journal of Educational Change, 23(1), 85–113. https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.montevallo.edu/content/pdf/10.1007/s10833-020-09411-1?pdf=openurl

CoSN: Leading Education Innovation. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2023. Framework of Essential Skills. CoSN. https://www.cosn.org/careers-certification/framework-of-essential-skills/ 

Sheninger, E. (2019). Digital leadership: Changing paradigms for changing times (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.