learning connections - twitter as professional and personal development for teachers

Sligo VEC Teachers’ Day

Mary Loftus

Learning Connections

Learner

Educator

IT ManagerParent

My first experience of the power of online learning

Fully online 2 yr Masters in Software Engineering & Database Technologiesrun jointly by NUI Galway and Regis Universityhttp://www.nuigalway.ie/itonline/

Joined November 2008Connected Futures course in 2009 got me started in earnest

• Short messages – 140 characters

• @ to send a message to another user

• #hashtags to follow particular subjects or events e.g. #sligovec

• RT – means ReTweet – to echo another’s tweet

Twitter makes me thinkHow does Twitter add to online learningPowerful Participatory Space

ConnectionEquality

AccessibilityCreativity

Develops Critical Thinking facultiesFosters Engagement

Teaches new literaciesTeaches filtering, discernment

Self awarenessA bit like travel

Opened doors in my head

How do I use Twitter?

@michaelklsMichael Seery, DIT

@michael_hanleyE-learning consultant

@siobhanosSiobhan O’Sullivan, UCC @catherinecronin

NUI Galway

@quinnovatorClark Quinn

@grainneconoleGrainne ConoleOpen University

@janebozarthJane BozarthEditor eLearning Mag@cammybean

Cammy BeanKineo Learning

@catmooreCathy MooreE-learning Practitioner

@pattishankPatti ShankAuthor

Twitter for Research & Good Practice - Learning

Sharing Links to Books & Journals

Remote Conference Participation

But it’s not all work!

Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change– Brene Brown

Personal Development

Poetry

Music

PhotographyInspiration

More and more – it’s about the people

Mentors

Connections

Serendipity

Friendship

Remote conference participation has lead to conference speaking / presentation

• Pauric O’Donnell - St Eunan’s, Letterkenny• Evelyn O’Connor – LeavingCertEnglish.com• Mags Amond – Loreto Cavan, Edmodo, CESI• Donal O’Mahony – Portmarnock CC - History• Fintan O’Mahony – Scoil Mhuire, Carrick – History• Fred Boss – NCTE - #edchatie facilitator• Damien Quinn – SeomraRanga.com (primary)• Mary Jo Bell – Twitter in the Infant Classroom• Pam Moran, Ira Socol, Leigh Graves Wolf - USA

2nd Level Schools & Teachers are doing it too and some are using Twitter in their Classrooms

@ @MrPODonnell Pauric O’Donnell - St Eunan’s, Letterkenny Twitter as school noticeboard

@evelynoconnor Evelyn O’ConnorMount Saint Michael’s Secondary School in Claremorris –

LeavingCertEnglish.com

@magsamond Mags Amond – CESI Executive, Edmodo User

@domaho Donal O’Mahony – Portmarnock CC, Twitter in the classroom and more

Fintan@levdavidovic Fintan O’Mahony – Scoil Mhuire in Carrick-

on-Suir, Twitter in the classroom & more

• Seomra Ranga

@seomraranga @mrquinnsclass Damien Quinn – Ransboro NS, Twitter in the classroom & Seomra Ranga website

@7mjb @mrsbellsclass Mary Jo Bell – Twitter in the infant classroom & more

@pammoran @irasocol @gravesle Pam Moran, Ira Socol, Leigh Graves Wolf

Superintendent/ Edu Provocateur/ Teacher Training

International connections

@fboss Fred Boss – NCTE, #edchatie

Supports, Resources & Communities

Twitter tutorialsthank you @glynnmark & @pamelaaobrien

www.cesi.ie

Monday nights – 8.30pm

Come along to meet educators from across the levels in Ireland and

abroad

This community has already welcomed #sligovec teachers

Click to see a selection of the tweets.. ->

New ways of learning – video produced by @catherinecronin @glynnmark & @fboss

• Today – talk to one other person about something you want to do after this session

• Sign up for a Twitter account• Tweet something• Check out #edchatie on Monday night 8.30pm• https://twitter.com/#!/search/?q=%23edchatie

• Think about the possibilities• Discuss them with at least one colleague

Your Challenge #sligovec

Thank you!

loftus.mary@gmail.com@marloft