Just a Little Tweet From Me

Illustration by Tom Bloom

He rocks in the treetops all the day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and
a-singing this song
Every little bird, every little bee
Loves to hear
the robin go tweet-tweet-tweet

Tweet. Tweet. Tweet. Tweets are the actions that make Twitter work. Each message sent out on Twitter at 140 characters or less are called "tweets" and can share with the world what you are doing at that moment, the score of a hockey game, ground breaking news or a link to a fabulous website you just came across. Twitter is gaining momentum and is quickly becoming a useful tool in many professional and personal areas.

I am new to Twitter, three months new, and am just beginning to understand its possibilities. When I look back, way back to the beginning of this course where I read that I must join Twitter, I thought to myself, what have I got myself into. Twitter, what is that? I spent the first few weeks trying to figure out what possible value it could have in my life. Honestly, I felt it was a complete waste of time. It wasn't until this topic was brought up in class that our professor, Joanne de Groot finally clarified things for me: use Facebook
for social gatherings, and Twitter for gathering professional ideas. That was the direction I needed. I continue to follow a couple of people for fun, but mostly I follow links that catch my interest professionally, much as I do with Google Reader.

However, even after this discussion, I continued to feel challenged as I simply did not feel that I had anything to offer in this fast paced social network. By the time I thought I had something to add to a topic, everyone had moved on to something new. Or by the time I got to my computer, I would have forgotten what wonderful idea I had to share in the first place. (That really burns.) I became more hesitant after a classmate said she tried to add something frivolous to "test the waters" and found herself being chastised. It was a slow start.

I found the collection of sites from the Trailfire to be very good. Twitter Search in Plain English from Common Craft was once again a useful place to begin. There were many sites that described Twitter simply and clearly such as Suggestions for Getting Started with Twitter and Top Ten Twitter Tips for Beginners. I wish I had spent some time checking out sites like these when I was first learning about Twitter.

I was grateful for Joanne's reminders that if we didn't actually use Twitter, we would not get a very good mark. It has now been many weeks and 10 tweets later, and I am slowly getting the hang of it. I still only like to tweet when I have something "uber" intelligent to say so I don't post very often. :) I get what Mack D. Male says on his post: "...you can’t really explain Twitter. It’s one of those things that you have to experience before you get it." I remember this same conversation in our class about how I really didn't know what to do now that I was a member of Twitter. It is only after many weeks that I am slowly beginning to understand its purpose. I know Joanne, you have pushed us to use Twitter and to not leave it to the last minute and I now understand why. This same idea is once again expressed on the pdf Twitter for Beginners. On page 8 the comment "To learn about Twitter, you have to use Twitter." is so true. As you first take your baby twitter steps, you certainly question what all the hype is about? You don't understand the social niceties - when and where to jump in. I found it was like coming in in the middle of a conversation and no one being polite enough to include you so you had to just be pushy and say your piece. It was all very complicated. And so at first it was just easier to not participate.

However, slowly, with some more pushing from Joanne, I tested the waters. It wasn't too bad - but it does take a while to figure out that most people do not answer questions or give responses. Basically you are adding to the dialogue, giving out information, but it is not really a conversation. It's like a conference, we are all there for the same reason (mostly) and everyone has some information to share. You share it, put it out there, and what someone does with it is up to them. And that is the end of the conversation - mostly. Or at least that's how I see it. I did post a question, asking for links to websites for making an online photo album but I received no responses. Or if I did, I don't know how to retrieve them.

There were lots of helpful hints on websites to help you become a "twitterer". Mack Male, on his website shares his ideas on how to get started with Twitter:
-pick a good user name
-keep your tweets public.
-enter your website URL if you have one (I haven't done this as I am not confident enough to want to share my blog with others)
-make your tweets interesting. Now that just makes me want to start sending out tweets right away. (As I inwardly groan.) Whose to say what is interesting!


Personal Use
How would I use Twitter personally?
You can tweet about any topic:

-the score of a hockey game
-where you are having lunch
-a major crisis in your community or the world at large
-an interesting website on a personal topic such as books, quilting, swimming, etc.
-a community event

One of the things I have noticed when searching a general topic is how frequently people use foul language. The "f" word gets thrown around a lot and I was a surprised with this. I certainly don't see it in the professional tweets I follow but in other areas I do. This would be a worthwhile discussion with my students if they were to use Twitter. One of my grade sevens mentioned that she uses Twitter and this would be a good opportunity to open discussion on what one might say on Twitter.

Professional Use
Presently I follow people who interest me professionally such as people interested in technology in an educational setting or other teachers or teacher-librarians. I can see how the more you use Twitter, the more people you may find to follow. As I am a new cell phone user I haven't tried to use Twitter on my phone, only the computer which can be cumbersome. Having access through a Blackberry or iPhone would probably make it easier to access.

I haven't used Tweetdeck or any other tool that would collect my tweets for me but I would like to give this a try. Each time I download something, our computer runs a little less successfully so I thought I had best wait.

I don't really think I would use Twitter within my staff. I mention Twitter around my staffroom table and I get a blank stare. Perhaps sharing links with our technology support teacher in this manner might be viable. I certainly do not see using it with students. "Recently, many libraries across the nation(USA) have begun adopting Twitter as a means to keep on the cutting edge of new technology as well as keep patrons informed and interested in library services." (College at Home, 2010) The fact that you have access to so many people instantaneously is magic.


Twittering Successfully
I think there are some key ideas if you are to twitter successfully. First you need to have something to say that interests others. Whether this be websites, new ideas from a recent conference, there needs to be a point to your babble. Does anyone really care that you just did the laundry? Here are some suggestions from Brad Hughes, a school superintendent:
-Beat the 140 character limit by linking to a web page with more information.
-Add your Twitter address to your e-mail signature and school district letterhead.
-Limit the personal stuff unless you know followers care where you go or who you meet.
-Do it daily. People value online resources they care about and that are regularly updated.
-When news media outlets print or air a positive story about your district, tweet it, with a link to the story.

Personal Learning
How do I feel about Twitter after giving it a try these past few months? I am feeling more confident in understanding its purpose and am less hesitant to post my own thoughts and ideas. Twitter for me will be more of a place to gain knowledge and when the right moment comes along, I will also share knowledge.

In her article Library 2.0: Enter the Teacher Librarian Enthusiast, Wanchek quotes Joyce Valenza: "If school librarians are information specialists then they have to be users and producers of information in our time." I may not be a tweeter "extraordinaire", but as a teacher and teacher-librarian in the 21st century, I must be aware and cognizant of web 2.0 tools and the impact they can have on our students and on our own personal learning. I must be willing to at least give it a try before I say yeah or nay. For now, I will continue to use Twitter and the content it offers. That is its real value.


Sources

Bloom, T. Illustration. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6573999.html?industryid=47079&q=twitter

College at Home. (2010). Twitter for librarians: the ultimate guide. Retrieved from http://www.collegeathome.com/blog/2008/05/27/twitter-for-librarians-the-ultimate-guide/

Hughes, B.. (2010, April). Twittering in the Hands of School Leaders. School Administrator, 67(4), 8. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals.

Kroski, E. (2008). All a twitter: want to try microblogging?. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6573999.html?industryid=47079&q=twitter

Ludwid, S. (2009). Top ten twitter tips for beginners. Retrieved from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2341095,00.asp

Lynch, C.G.. (2009). Twitter tips: how to write better tweets. Retrieved from http://www.cio.com/article/491372/Twitter_Tips_How_to_Write_Better_Tweets?source=nlt_cioinsider

Male, M.D.. (2008). Getting started with twitter. Retrieved from http://blog.mastermaq.ca/2008/11/21/suggestions-for-getting-started-with-twitter/
Rene, L. (1958). Rocking Robin. Lyrics retrieved from http://www.lyricsdownload.com/hollies-rocking-robin-lyrics.html

Twitter for beginners. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.crowinfodesign.com/downloads/twitter_beginners.pdf

Wanchek, N. (2010). Library 2.0: Enter the teacher librarian enthusiast. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/03/25/library-2.0-enter-the-teacher-librarian-enthusiast.aspx