Below is an in-depth description of two social media platforms I use most frequently for my PLN purposes. There are so many more platforms out there! Go to my Resources page to find some more!
Twitter is a popular social networking site where users compose "tweets" or short messages that are 140 characters or less in length. Twitter users can "follow" each other to see what each other is tweeting about. Their tweets will appear on your "newsfeed", which is basically your homepage. Content is organized by hashtag and location (see my resources page to learn more about hashtags). Here is a list of popular hashtags related to education. Personally, I have found it easiest to find other professionals to follow by searching relevant hashtags (for example, #edtech has helped me find other teachers who have resources related to educational technology) . Twitter chats are one of the many ways that teachers use twitter to network and expand their PLN. Check out Kathy Shrock's and Cybraryman's resources for twitter and twitter chats!
Twitter is great for teachers because it has so many users, which makes it easy to find other professionals who have various specialties. Communication is easy, and relatively immediate (depending on the user). You won't have to wait long for an answer if you ask a question with the right hashtag!
Twitter is great for teachers because it has so many users, which makes it easy to find other professionals who have various specialties. Communication is easy, and relatively immediate (depending on the user). You won't have to wait long for an answer if you ask a question with the right hashtag!
Pinterest is another very popular social media platform. Think of it as a digital version of the inspiration board you had on your wall in high school. Users create various "boards", which are collections of related "pins". Pins are essentially links to other sites. For example, I have a board titled "5th Grade Reading", where I have a collection of pins that link to various blogs, articles, and resources to help me in that particular instructional area. If you are looking for something specific, for example you need to find resources to teach your students the difference between homophones, you can simply type the key words in the search bar and relevant pins will appear! Users on Pinterest can follow each other to see what the other is pinning. This appears on a newsfeed feature that is similar to Twitter. Users can also send each other pins through the messaging feature. Users can also find each other through Pinterest's "recommended pins" function. Pinterest uses an algorithm to understand what you are pinning and recommends pins that fit in with what you are looking for. From those recommended pins, you can view the user who pinned them and follow them! Here is a guide from Edudemic about how teachers can use Pinterest in their classrooms.
Pinterest is great for teachers because it is a collection of ideas and resources about almost any topic. I have been using this platform for years, and some of my best lessons have started from ideas I got from pins!
Pinterest is great for teachers because it is a collection of ideas and resources about almost any topic. I have been using this platform for years, and some of my best lessons have started from ideas I got from pins!
Want to start a PLN in your school?
Find like-minded teachers and other colleagues who have the same interests, passions, and questions that you do! Decide how you will communicate, collaborate, and contribute to your PLN (i.e what online platform will you use?). Next, determine if your PLN members will meet virtually (synchronously or asynchronously), in person, or both! Finally, start networking! Try to expand your PLN to individuals outside of your school. Look for resources that might be of interest to your PLN and share them. Ask each other questions. Chat about educational topics that are of interest to you.