Twitter 4 Teachers

I read this blog post by Shannon Smith on her blog the other day.  There are good videos about teachers using Twitter.  Check out her blog post Twitter For Teachers. You can follow Shannon on Twitter @shannoninottawa 

Twitter Search

So have you started your PLN yet?  Have you started a Twitter Account to connect with other teachers?  Do you have any hashtags (#) that you are following?

Here is another Common Craft video to help you use Twitter better. Watch Twitter Search In Plane English I will also be posting a list of some hashtags that you my want to follow.  I like #edchat and #edtech.  There are lost more out there!  Be on the look out for a blog post about TweetDeck too.

So SMART

If you have a SMART Board you have been to the SMART Technologies webpage.  My question is how much do you use the SMART webpage?  There is a lot more there then just SMART Notebook lesson plans. Some of the things are just for SMART Board users but there are things that would be helpful to any interactive white board user.

Want to know more about your SMART Board and how to use it?  Would you like more information on how to use SMART Notebook?  You can do that and more online when you want with the SMART Learning Space.  After making a free account you have access to free and fee based classes.  There is more to this program then what is listed here.  Check it out and see what you can learn.

There are four SMART Publications that you can get by email based on your needs. There are publications for teachers, IT, and administrators.

SMART Exchange is the part of the webpage that most educators know well.  You can post lessons you have made and download lessons that other teachers have made.  This is a HUGE time saver!  If you are new to SMART it is a good place to start.  If you have not been to the SMART Exchange in the last month you may get a bit of a shock.  You now have to make an account to use SMART Exchange.

The Webinars page is one I have used a lot and feel that I have learned the most from.  There are several recorded webinars posted that cover several topics.

Don't forget to make SMART part of your PLN. SMART is on your favorite Social Media.  You can see what SMART has to say on Face Book and Twitter.  You should also check out their YouTube Chanel.

Tips for Twitter

I got this link in a Tweet this weekend.

Top 100 Tools for the Twittering Teacher by Donna Scott
http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2009/04/02/top-100-tools-for-the-twittering-teacher/

What is a PLN?

How would you like to learn new things everyday, or just when you want to, that will help you in your classroom?  YOU CAN!  All you need to do is build a Professional Learning Network (PLN).  A PLN can be whatever you need it to be....blogs, Twitter, podcasts, and more!  

I was a hold out on Twitter until a couple of week ago.  I was getting ready to go to the Midwest Educational Technology Conference (METC) and everyone was talking about following the conference on Twitter.  I broke down and got a Twitter account and now I am hooked!  I can talk, in 140 characters or less, with teachers around the nation (or world) about what I need to know!  I have learned a lot from the people I follow on Twitter.  Please don't think that the only people on Twitter are the "tech" people.  There are people talking about all parts of education.  Check out the video from commoncraft.com that tells you about Twitter.