Getting Started on Twitter

"Just do it!" is something I heard a lot when I was starting on Twitter. But it's easier said than done.

Know Who to Follow
There are a few ways to follow people. Follow those you find or are recommended to you. Once you find some interesting people, see which hashtags they are posting to, or take a look at who they follow.


Steps to Build Networks
Building a PLN will take time and effort, but it is very much worth the time and effort. Once your PLN is built, you will have a network of people who know the information you need to know, and will be there to share ideas and resources with you.

Since I am new in my role of a tech coach, I reached out to my PLN (Most of whom happen to be tech coaches themselves and I can't tell if it was a conscience effort to engage with them. It could have been me dressing for the job I wanted. (See below)


Steps to take on Twitter
This is what I generally did when I started Twitter. I am not saying this is the best way though.

1. Lurk
Just watch and read at first.

2. Retweet and Curate
You can gain credibility by sharing content you find from others.

3. Reply
Start replying to what others say.

4. Ask / Answer Questions
The power of Twitter is in the community. Tap into it. You will get when you give.

5. Join Chats
Twitterchats are one hour to a week chats that revolve around a topic. They are a powerful way to learn and build relationships.

6. Generate your own content


Day 2 of the #ISEdChat - this would not have happened with one person working alone

The Importance of Enthusiasm

“Put Enthusiasm Into Your Work” - Dale Carnegie

I had spent almost a week preparing a presentation about my role as a learning technology coach is and how I could help support teachers. The elementary principal agreed to let me come in to talk to the team during their weekly meeting and I spent more time than I would care to admit putting together a presentation.

The morning of the presentation I was listening to a podcast about giving presentations and the advice was don't use images from Google Image Search. I don't have many pictures from my new school, so I had filled my presentation with Creative Commons images, but since I feel the same, I took the message of the podcast to heart and stripped out all my images during the school day.

At the meeting, I looked around the room at the elementary teachers and I did not see any energy. I was not feeling good about my presentation anymore either. Then I made my mistake, and one that I will try to not make again, I matched the energy of the room and spoke without slides.

Big Mistake

I fell as flat as the room's energy, and my message was not even remotely received. I had been afraid of coming off as fake or annoying, but worse, I  didn't come off as anything at all.

I did not inject my message with enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm and confidence are linked. They both come from within. Since I did not speak with the enthusiasm I have for the topic, I did not have the confidence while speaking that I could have had.

My presentation

If I had used my original presentation, and spoken with enthusiasm, I think I could have garnered some interest from the teachers. If I don't speak with enthusiasm for a topic I am passionate about, why would anyone else be excited to receive my message?

From now on, I will do my best to put enthusiasm into everything I do because who else will be enthusiastic about what I do?

This post was inspired by Episode 12 of the Carnegie Coach Podcast - Put Enthusiasm into Your Work.

How Do You Know What You Don't Know?

Each week, well almost each week, I send out a survey seeing what questions the staff has. Sometimes I am able to deal with these inquiries by email. These always seem to be the kind of issues teachers have, but aren't worth the time seeking an answer.

Above is a section of my survey results. The highlighted box is what spawned this post.

How do I know what I don't know?

That is a good question. In fact, Donald Rumsfeld knew this too.

My question is: if you know there are things you don't know, what are you doing to find them? Do you talk with colleagues? Do you read more about your subject? Do you engage with others online?

And my question for myself is: How can I better support teachers who feel this way?

Empathy

I was hired this year to be the first Learning Technology Coach at Kaohsiung American School. It is a great honor to be a part of the building and evolution of a coaching program.

At the same time it can be very humbling as I learn my way around the school and the role which has led me to feel isolated at times.

The other day I was making my way around the school and I visited one teacher's room. We were talking about his class, and how things are going for him because he is in a situation similar to me in that he is also new to the school and the country.

At one point in our conversation he said, "I am glad I am not in your position. You have it rough being in a brand new role at the school."

That little bit of empathy, that short phrase, made me feel connected and relieved that someone else understood, or at least thought about, what I was going through.

I was no longer an island.

Which left me with two questions I will carry with me:

• Am I in tune to what other teachers are going through? 
• Am I able to empathize as well as that teacher did?

Week 1 Performance Task

Share your thoughts on the process of selecting a colleague to work with, including at least one goal for your work with this colleague over the next six weeks.

crossposted on the Eduro coaching forum.

Before I started my journey in my new position at a new school, I was able to connect with some teachers. One of these teachers is currently enrolled in COETAIL, and when I get to the school, he immediately reached out for help with his Course 5 project. He has a very interesting project set up.

When it came time for this week’s performance task, he seemed like a natural fit since we have been working together anyway. I was also interested in working with this particular teacher since he teaches high school English -- a subject that I know little about -- and the secondary English department has started a blogging initiative for students grades seven to twelve.

The teacher I am working will be an interesting match for me: he is in the high school division whereas I have an elementary background, he has much more teaching experience than I do, and he is just an interesting fellow that will be fun to work with. In addition, if his experience is positive, I believe he will make for a good proponent.

Just having the role of “Technology Coach” causes people to have predispositions about me and what I do, one of which is that I will always be looking at technology. While that is something I will look at, I am more interested in seeing what teaching practices will have a more positive effect on student learning outcomes.