Twitter: How do I love thee, let me count the ways!

     I have always been enthusiastic about Twitter for professional use, ever since attending a "You Are Not Alone: How to Grow Your PLN" session by Dave Burgess, author of Teach Like a Pirate. (For notes from that 2014 ICE conference, click here.) Twitter has been my go-to source when I am looking for like-minded educators, innovative schools, answers, resources, or just plain inspiration. My handle is @AClasky. 

     Until now, however, I had avoided the Twitter Chat, a format that seemed a bit chaotic. But happily, that is changing. The other night I participated in my first Twitter Chat, #atchat, about Assistive Technology.  It was helpful to enter the hashtag in the Twitter search field, and then click  the Live tab at the top. 

      [Image Source: screenshot by A. Clasky]
       
Search for a group's hashtag and then click 
Live during a Twitter Chat.

    

      The moderators were Karen Janowski, an Assistive and Educational Technology

 Consultant from the Boston area and Mike Marotta, an Assistive Technology Consultant and Trainer from New Jersey. Karen invited newcomers to introduce themselves. And then a lively, general session ensued which included a discussion of favorite apps and resources discovered this year, how relevant or not handwriting is today, challenges faced so far, and favorite articles and blogs. Questions were labeled Q1, Q2, etc, and answers followed suit, A1, A2. Karen reminded us to use the #atchat hashtag when responding. It's easy to forget to do that because the pace can feel pretty lively! 

     The tone was upbeat and friendly and it suddenly felt like I had a circle of dedicated and highly knowledgeable educators to turn to if I ever had an assistive tech question or issue.   One tweeter mentioned that Osmo now has a Numbers component--who knew?! It struck me that here is a group of teachers who are passionate about their field, and after teaching all day they are chatting about it online at night! Several times we were reminded that the group was looking for new moderators, that this is a job that rotates and is shared. Mike collected all of the #atchat tweets in Storify, and tweeted it out the next day. Next time I plan to explore a tool like TweetDeck to help me see tweets  more steadily throughout a chat rather than in bursts. I hope my future chats are as accessible, convivial and practical as #atchat!

      [Image Source: screenshot by A. Clasky]

It can be gratifying to widen your PLN
 and discover new resources during a Twitter Chat. 

What Stage of Technology are You in?

     It has been fascinating to learn about the Five Stages of Technology Integration! I had heard of a step here or a step there, but never all five in order:

• 1. Entry:  Technology is something to be feared or avoided. 
• 2. Adoption:  The teacher utilizes a few tools, usually productivity tools, but considers        technology as something  taught by someone else. 
• 3. Adaption:  Technology doesn’t replace anything, for examples student write their paper in class and then type it up in the lab. 
• 4. Appropriation:  The teacher uses tech all the time to excess, if it involves tech it must be better. 
• 5. Innovation: The teacher assesses what technology works with her curriculum. 

     How empowering to consider that we are on a learning continuum, and can advance as far as we want. It’s normal to feel mistrustful, or its normal to lean too heavily on something new or a wonderful guru, these are all phases of mastery. I'm wondering if the study this is based on is also responsible for the SAMR ladder?

     I probably go back and forth between Appropriation and Innovation. I aim for Innovation of course, but sometimes if something doesn't go as well as I had hoped, like using a back channel with 2nd grade for example, in my final analysis I may feel like I didn’t prepare students properly for a new experience. Or else I might have been too swayed by reports of how wonderful a new tool could be versus really getting a feel for a particular class, being in touch with them developmentally.  I sheepishly admit that yes, it is possible for tech specialists to be bedazzled by the tool at times, rather than focusing on the students and what they are learning.  As Barb Mayer, 2nd grade teacher, says with gusto, the tail should not be wagging the dog!  She is a great example of someone in the Innovation stage. She decided her class would participate in the Global Read Aloud on their terms. So they are blogging and have plans to connect with another class, but her learning objective right now, Author’s Purpose, is still being achieved.

                                                                                   (Image Source: Elizabeth Fitzgerald)

                                           2015 Global Read Aloud Books: Teachers strive to connect students
                                                     with the wider world.                   

     The Stage 4 teacher who only is focused on the technology in her own classroom, and who frequently has won grants to get things the other classes do not have, is also quite familiar.  My current district values team work to such a degree, if one teacher is doing something interesting with technology, she is thrilled when another colleague begins the same or similar undertaking. Very refreshing!

     When learning a new and initially challenging technology, I believe it is possible to slide back to the feelings that I used to have at the entry level stage—frustration. I wouldn’t say that I do not trust technology in general when frustrated by something new. But by knowing my learning style with technology, I am confident that continually playing and experimenting with a new app, etc. will most surely lead me to mastery sooner or later. 

     It’s fitting to mention during Connected Educators Month, that it is helpful and reassuring to be able to turn to your PLN when trying out something new with your class. You can find out what the stumbling blocks may be and get helpful tips and advice. You are not alone with Aurasma or Green Screen or the updated KidBlog or whatever you are trying out!

     Now if only I could apply this kind of positive thinking to other areas of my life—like exercising!