Twitter

Twitter - www.twitter.com

OK - if someone asks you if you Twitter - do not be wary - they are asking if you participate in a popular social network. I almost did not choose Twitter for this post because I find it very difficult to describe. But Twitter is a favorite Web 2.0 tool for my own professional development. I have been Twittering for about 3 months and have learned so much from my friends and followers. So what is Twitter? According to Wikipedia: Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send "updates" (text-based posts, up to 140 characters long) to the Twitter website, via short message service, instant messaging, email, or an application such as Twitterrific or Snitter .

I follow 36 different individuals from around the world and have 20 individuals who follow me. However, some of the people I follow are the guru's of educational technology (Tony Vincent, Bernie Dodge, David Jakes, David Warlick, John Peterson - to name a few). Since CTG, I have also been fortunate to add a new group of Twitter friends that have an interest in assistive technology (Paul Hamilton from SETT BC, Brian Wojcik AT consultant from IL, Karen Janowski OT /AT from Boston, Maddie Pugliese from STAGES fame to name a few).

Think of Twitter as a really small blog (140 characters or less). How does it provide Prof Dev? Twitter asks you to answer a question - What are you doing? I might post - working on a presentation on Internet Accessibility. Within seconds I will receive suggestions from my followers who are online. Or I will read others posts - like David Warlick posting that a URL of a keynote he will be giving in Chine in a few hours. I get to see his keynotes before the folks who will see him in person. Here is a video describing it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkd-Kft1xy8 . Someone else might post a great resource that they just found on the web.

Here is a post that was just sent: ok time to get professional :) Looking for samples of STUDENT created enhanced math podcasts...anyone? Friday Paul Hamilton from SETT BC was posting about his success with a particular piece of assistive technology. I know a few folks at the other CESA's who are also Twittering - so if you are interested - go to Twitter and create an account. I will watch for you

My Twitter name is : Pswalser Feel free to follow me!