How to write an education tweet that adds value and gets noticed

Since getting its start less than a decade ago, more than a billion users have signed up for Twitter, with an estimated 320 million of them currently active. While Katy Perry (@katyperry ^[1]) may top the charts with the most followers (80 million and counting), the average number ^[2] of Twitter followers for those of us who aren’t pop sensations is a more modest 208. Regardless of who the user may be or the number of followers one may have, each tweet is restricted to a simple 140 characters. What you do with them is up to you.

While some tweeters may elect to update the world when they brush their teeth, many choose to use Twitter as an effective communication tool; one that generates conversation, pushes thinking, and at times, brings about change. And every day, millions of education-related tweets are posted to the site.

So what makes a Tweet valuable and worth reading? Why do some tweets receive a large amount of attention while others are left to themselves with no interaction at all?

Twitter’s popularity among educators has continued to grow, but for a profession so strapped for time, where’s the most value found? Listed below are a variety of characteristics and examples of great tweets from December.

It should be noted that what may be a great tweet for one person, may be completely irrelevant for another. Great tweets are relevant, usable, and/or thought-provoking for the viewer, thus it’s imperative for educators to connect with others with similar passions and interests. It’s important to point out, however, that it’s easy for an echo chamber to develop if one simply connects with like-minded individuals; therefore educators are encouraged to connect with a diverse audience to push their thinking and maximize effectiveness. If we are going to be better for our kids tomorrow, we need to find ways to become better today.

Click here to see examples.

For a comprehensive list of educational Twitter chats, check out the EduChat Calendar ^[48].