1. First you have to join.

Obviously, joining Twitter is the first step towards expanding your personal/professional learning network (PLN). What’s not so obvious, however, is that “how” you start is also important. Don’t be an egg. Put a picture in your profile. Avatars are fine, but educators like to see the actual person they might follow, so take a deep breath and choose a picture you like. Tell us a little bit about yourself in your profile. Who are you? What are your passions? Why are you on Twitter? A good picture and a nice profile are enough for the average tweep (Twitter user) who’s trying to decide who to follow.

2. Follow People

Twitter is ultimately about having conversations. In order to have conversations, you have to follow people. One of the slightly annoying things about signing up for Twitter is that it automatically directs you to follow people. Bypass that part and follow people when you are ready. Most people start out following people they know. That’s natural because you already have a rapport and comfort level with people you know. The value of Twitter, however, is how it can connect you to people all over the world.
A good goal for someone new to Twitter is to follow 100 people. Follow people who follow people you respect. It’s okay if you don’t know them. Also, follow people back. Your “follower” to “following” ratio should be close to 1:1. People who only follow back a small percentage of their followers aren’t truly interested in a conversation. There are some strange folks out there, however, so don’t feel obligated to follow back everyone.

3. Tweet and Re-tweet

If you don’t tweet are you really on Twitter? Sure, Twitter can be used as a one way tool to gain information, but everyone has something they can share. If you aren’t ready to send an “original” tweet, then just retweet the stuff you like. The more you retweet, the more likely you are to meet new people. It’s like starting the first conversation at a cocktail party. Once you start tweeting regularly you’ll begin to see the value of Twitter as a learning tool.

4. Lurk in a Chat

Twitter chats are amazing opportunities to learn from your PLN. Most folks who are new to Twitter will find chats to be a little overwhelming and fast-moving. Start out by lurking in a chat. Go under the hashtag (#) for any chat you’re interested in and just follow the conversation.
For a list of educational chats see this link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiftIdjCeWSXdDRLRzNsVk...

5. Participate in a Chat

When you’re ready, join in on a chat. Remember to include the hashtag in your tweet, otherwise only those who follow you will be able to read it. Twitter chats almost always lead to more followers. They are great ways to connect with people who share similar interests. Many chats use a Q1-A1 format. This means the moderator numbers their questions. When you respond, use the letter “A” and the corresponding question number. For example:
Q1. How has Twitter expanded your learning? #mdeschat
A1. By connecting me with great educators all over the globe. #mdeschat

Why Twitter?

Twitter helps you find your professional voice. By sharing your views, and listening to others, you begin to develop a coherent professional voice. You gain confidence in yourself and refine your views. Most of us work hard all day, but we rarely find the time to discuss our craft with others. Educators on Twitter are very supportive of their PLN colleagues. The greatest value of Twitter is that it broadens your professional knowledge for free! Who wouldn’t want to have access to some of the greatest minds in their profession? Go out and find them on Twitter. You won’t be disappointed.

Any discussion on Twitter would be incomplete without referring to one of the greatest sources of information for educators. Visit Cybraryman’s Twitter page for all of the information you’ll ever need:

http://www.cybraryman.com/twitter.html

You can find Dr. Wooleyhand on Twitter @principal64.