Before I begin this I would like to add as a caveat that I have only been using Twitter seriously for a few months. I am by no means an 'expert'. The reason I write this though is because, even in this short time, I have seen first-hand the real impact using Twitter has had on my students learning and engagement.
I believe there are three reasons why teachers should use Twitter. I will begin by explaining these reasons before showing some examples of Tweets that I have sent.
1) Using Twitter to promote yourself and your subject.
It may seem very ego- centred to use something to promote oneself. However, in a recent discussion with year 11 pupils about engagement it became very apparent that some teachers are able to engage their students before they enter their class. They do this by building a reputation; a reputation for innovation that makes students to look forward to lessons. Twitter is a brilliant tool for showing off the type of engaging activities that you use as a teacher to other students who were not in that lesson. This can only have a positive impact and build your reputation.
Developing from this, Twitter is a brilliant tool for promoting your subject. It is a great way to show off all the interesting and engaging activities that are undertaken in your subject. Photos of classwork and trips are good examples of this.
Added to this, as a history teacher, an option subject, Twitter is an invaluable tool for student recruitment. Rather than relying on student-word-of-mouth (in my experience on of the main ways most students make their options choices) Twitter allows you to show the potential next cohort what the current cohort is doing. This direct access to students, and potentially their parents, allows you to clearly represent what your subject is all about. Even year 11 students who are thinking about A-Levels choices could really benefit from seeing the subject in action.
Twitter allows teachers to promote themselves and their subject in a direct, modern and engaging way.
2) Using Twitter to promote students work
From a student perspective this is perhaps the most engaging aspect of Twitter. In all our classrooms we have noticeboards showcasing exemplar work. Twitter can be used as a modern development of this. Only very few of the relevant parties see the brilliant work that our students produce. With Twitter this can all change. I now regularly photo exemplar work and place it on Twitter. If the students have a Twitter account I will add that into the tweet. This means that if they ‘retweet’ then all of their followers can see their work. This could include parents, or the students could simply show their parents on their Twitter. Around school we have a series of screens that are linked to our school Twitter. If the school Twitter ‘retweets’ my tweet then at break and lunchtime the pupils can see that their peers are producing high-quality work.
Tweeting about students work has had a significant impact on engagement in my lessons especially with the more disaffected students:
"Sir, sir, can you put mine on Twitter?"
"Sir! I've just retweeted that tweet now my mum can see!"
These are some of the types of comments I regularly hear. I have also seen disaffected pupils walking out with their head held high telling their mates outside "sir's just put my work on Twitter innit!"
There is no doubt that Twitter is an effective vehicle for praise and engagement.
3) Using Twitter for CPD
Twitter allows us to connect with other teachers. Through this connection we can learn from each other. When I tweet about the teaching and learning that I am involved in I am showcasing my work to my followers. When others teachers tweet about their teaching and learning they are showcasing their work to me. This begins a two way process. Either we simply copy the ideas we see:
"This looks great, I'm trying it Monday morning!"
"I like this have you got any more information about it?"
Or we try to add to what someone else is doing or develop what we are doing:
"That's interesting have you thought about...?"
"I tried something similar but I found... can you help?"
"I've been using that but I tried doing it slightly differently by..."
In either case both the original tweeter and the receiver are developing their teaching and learning.
On several occasions I have used or adapted something I have seen on Twitter in my lessons; there is often no need to re-invent the wheel. I have done this without ever having met the teachers and, in many cases, without knowing anything about them. Without Twitter I would not have access to their work or ideas.
I believe there are three reasons why teachers should use Twitter. I will begin by explaining these reasons before showing some examples of Tweets that I have sent.
1) Using Twitter to promote yourself and your subject.
It may seem very ego- centred to use something to promote oneself. However, in a recent discussion with year 11 pupils about engagement it became very apparent that some teachers are able to engage their students before they enter their class. They do this by building a reputation; a reputation for innovation that makes students to look forward to lessons. Twitter is a brilliant tool for showing off the type of engaging activities that you use as a teacher to other students who were not in that lesson. This can only have a positive impact and build your reputation.
Developing from this, Twitter is a brilliant tool for promoting your subject. It is a great way to show off all the interesting and engaging activities that are undertaken in your subject. Photos of classwork and trips are good examples of this.
Added to this, as a history teacher, an option subject, Twitter is an invaluable tool for student recruitment. Rather than relying on student-word-of-mouth (in my experience on of the main ways most students make their options choices) Twitter allows you to show the potential next cohort what the current cohort is doing. This direct access to students, and potentially their parents, allows you to clearly represent what your subject is all about. Even year 11 students who are thinking about A-Levels choices could really benefit from seeing the subject in action.
Twitter allows teachers to promote themselves and their subject in a direct, modern and engaging way.
2) Using Twitter to promote students work
From a student perspective this is perhaps the most engaging aspect of Twitter. In all our classrooms we have noticeboards showcasing exemplar work. Twitter can be used as a modern development of this. Only very few of the relevant parties see the brilliant work that our students produce. With Twitter this can all change. I now regularly photo exemplar work and place it on Twitter. If the students have a Twitter account I will add that into the tweet. This means that if they ‘retweet’ then all of their followers can see their work. This could include parents, or the students could simply show their parents on their Twitter. Around school we have a series of screens that are linked to our school Twitter. If the school Twitter ‘retweets’ my tweet then at break and lunchtime the pupils can see that their peers are producing high-quality work.
Tweeting about students work has had a significant impact on engagement in my lessons especially with the more disaffected students:
"Sir, sir, can you put mine on Twitter?"
"Sir! I've just retweeted that tweet now my mum can see!"
These are some of the types of comments I regularly hear. I have also seen disaffected pupils walking out with their head held high telling their mates outside "sir's just put my work on Twitter innit!"
There is no doubt that Twitter is an effective vehicle for praise and engagement.
3) Using Twitter for CPD
Twitter allows us to connect with other teachers. Through this connection we can learn from each other. When I tweet about the teaching and learning that I am involved in I am showcasing my work to my followers. When others teachers tweet about their teaching and learning they are showcasing their work to me. This begins a two way process. Either we simply copy the ideas we see:
"This looks great, I'm trying it Monday morning!"
"I like this have you got any more information about it?"
Or we try to add to what someone else is doing or develop what we are doing:
"That's interesting have you thought about...?"
"I tried something similar but I found... can you help?"
"I've been using that but I tried doing it slightly differently by..."
In either case both the original tweeter and the receiver are developing their teaching and learning.
On several occasions I have used or adapted something I have seen on Twitter in my lessons; there is often no need to re-invent the wheel. I have done this without ever having met the teachers and, in many cases, without knowing anything about them. Without Twitter I would not have access to their work or ideas.
Twitter gives us all the chance to interact with fellow professionals all across the globe. Those of us already using Twitter are reaping massive benefits.
Exemplar Tweets and Examples
I have already talked about the three benefits of using Twitter for Teaching and below is a selection of exemplar tweets which provide specific examples that showcase how the three aims can be achieved. In many cases one tweet can do all three of the aims and the first one certainly promotes my subject, my students and allows a discussion on pedagogy for CPD.Exemplar Tweets and Examples
I have picked these tweets because they do not give out any details of the students work but I would normally include the @studentstwittername in the tweet.
I believe that these tweets give some clear examples of how twitter can be used. If you have any comments or feedback please tweet Mr David West @Westylish