Chatting on Twitter

    I feel like I have so much to say about my first two Twitter chats! Before getting into the chats, I want to try to explain how nervous I was about being in a Twitter chat. Just a few weeks ago, I was not even on Twitter, but I was getting ready to participate in chats with people I did not even know in a program that was still new to me. It took me several days to even decide which chat to first participate in. I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to keep up or even know that to do. I was afraid the other participants in the Twitter chat would think I was dumb or know that I did not know what I was doing! Would they talk with me? Would they care about what I had to say? Would I have any good ideas to share? Would I be able to follow along? Oh and I kept telling my self, do not forget the hashtag! These were all questions and concerns that were swimming around in my head.

   After trying to push it off, I knew it time to choose a chat and jump in! After deciding on a project-based learning chat, I knew it was finally time to just join and chat. My first Twitter chat was through #Edtechbridge, and the topic was project-based learning. I was familiar with the idea of project-based learning, so that made me feel better. It was a quick-moving chat, but I was able to keep up. Everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming! I was able to learn more about what project-based learning was, technology's role in it, and which technology tools were helpful when planning those types of lessons/units. I took away so many great resources, and I felt as though I was favoriting everything so that I could explore the resources more. I really enjoyed seeing what other teachers were using to carry our their project based learning activities. I ended up following one or two people from this particular chat. While I enjoyed my first Twitter experience, there were a few challenges. It moved fast a first, and I think it seemed faster at first because this was my first time doing anything like this. I have participated in chats, but never with people I did not know. Remembering to put the hashtag for the chat was difficult for me at first. I was just focused on staying up with the conversation that I would move too quickly. One of the chat leaders saw that it was my first time, and he explained that they do archive their chats, so if I missed anything I could go back and look at our chat. This allowed me to really calm down and just enjoy the chat. After the introductions, I could feel the confidence building. It became just like a conversation between colleagues. It went from being stressful to being fun! I couldn't believe that an hour could by so quickly.

    Because the first Twitter chat went so well, I felt a little better going into the second Twitter chat. I wanted to choose a chat where I would be able to learn something completely new! I chose to participate in a #Edtechchat about the SAMR model. I had briefly heard of this, but I knew very little about it. This chat moved almost twice as fast as my first one,  and there were almost twice as many people. While I liked there were more people, it was almost too overwhelming to have that many people communicating at once. It became difficult to keep up and process the questions. The one thing I did really enjoy about this particular chat was how helpful and encouraging people were. At first, I was very confused with the SAMR model, but after talking to a few others in the chat, my questions were cleared up, and I had a better direction at where I was going with this model. They did not make me feel dumb or put me down because I didn't know things, instead they encouraged and helped me understand it. I did end up following several people through this chat as well. I was able to take away some great tools and ideas to use in my classroom. I think my experience may have been a little better if I would have had a little more knowledge about the topic. Going in with little to no knowledge was difficult. I wasn't familiar with some of the language that went with this particular model, and I think it would have been beneficial. It would have cut down on some of the confusion and stress I had trying to follow along.

    Over all, both Twitter chats went very well! I learned so much and took away so many useful ideas. I followed great people, and I was even followed by a few fellow chatters. Both chats had such useful and relevant content I could immediately use in my classroom. I already have several new ideas I plan on trying in the near future. The people in my chats were helpful and very nice. I felt so comfortable with people that I had never met.

     I do need to mention how thankful I am that I had set up my TweetDeck account. I was able to follow the chat in one easy column. I loved it! I am looking forward to participating in more chats in the near future. It really is a wonderful to expand my PLN and participate in professional development.