More Twitter Chats to Engage

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we are trying Twitter chats as a creative way to have conversations with teachers about new/different topics. We thought if we could chat online,  instead of doing face-to-face, it would be more convenient for them. Today, we discussed the Flipped Class.

Chatting to engage on hot-button topics, like flipping, allows us to go deeper than we could in person. You have to minimize your thoughts and opinions into few yet powerful words. As we read, we absorb and process this more immediately and intensely than a verbal conversation. Have you ever realized something was said in a conversation you had HOURS after the conversation took place?

We would love to have constant verbal and present contact with our teachers. Unfortunately we can't right now and might not ever have that. But we can find creative ways to get information to and from them, plant seeds with them, support them, and brag on them, and it doesn't have to be in person. Capitalize on your digital resources and engage your teachers so that they can engage each other, and motivate and inspire you!

If you are a teacher, tweet to engage your co-workers. Do a chat over lunch or in the evenings to share information and ideas. There are other ways to do it than Twitter, so find what works!

As I mentioned above, we chatted on the Flipped Classroom today. We have a few teachers that have successfully flipped, some who are starting to flip lessons, and some that are afraid to flip quite yet. One of our successful "flippers" was able to join our chat and chime in today to add insight for those watching/participating that aren't as far along as he is. This was INVALUABLE! How could we have normally gotten that interaction? We would have had to schedule a meeting with him to give teachers the opportunity to ask questions and they may not have walked away with the same information from an hours worth of time. Not only that, the comments can be seen after the chat is over.

Insightful comments from our #morgantechchat on the Flipped Classroom:

@MorganiTech You can reach every student, in every class, every day. Powerful stuff! #morgantechchat
— A Johnson (@ChemicalPhys) March 6, 2015

@MorganiTech allow the teacher to differentiate in the classroom by assisting the students individually as they have questions
— J Sherwood (@sherwood_joan) March 6, 2015

@MorganiTech Better yet, Flipping a lesson leads to Flipped units --> Flipped Classrooms --> Flipped Learning #morgantechchat
— A Johnson (@ChemicalPhys) March 6, 2015

Explore your unknowns through a digitally collaborative medium. Whether it is a Facebook group (private/closed is now a safe option), a Twitter chat, a discussion forum, etc. Capitalize on the free resources that are out there and make a difference with a conversation!