“Why Educators Should Use Twitter” Video Twitter Assignment

This video showed me that there are some great role models on Twitter that teach with

great passion and give their all in everything they do when it comes to teaching. Before this

assignment I would have never even thought of looking for mentors such as these on a social

networking site. Twitter is a technology that makes collaboration incredibly easy and sharing

information as stress-free as it possibly can. This is how we should all should strive to be as

future teachers. I followed Jerry Blumengarten, Pernille Ripp, Aviva Dunsiger, and Chris Wejr. I

also followed you Harold Blanco, @CI350class, which was not included in this video.

Jerry Blumengarten

@cybraryman1

I decided to follow Jerry Blumengarten before I even looked at his twitter as a result from

this video “Why Educators Should Use Twitter”. In the video it stated that he was a retired

educator so I knew he had to have some experience, both good and bad. I have heard from many

of my clinical teachers that one of the best teachers in this field is experience. With that being

said I figured he’d be a great choice; after all the more experience, the better! When I had the

opportunity to look through his tweets after I followed him I was not disappointed. The video

also stated that he was the ultimate master of information so of course I felt that I needed to

follow him if I followed anyone on Twitter. Throughout most of Jerry’s tweets he had

exceptional advice on what make a great teacher and even some of the issue we spoke about on

constantly being connected in both good and bad ways. Undoubtedly he lived up to my

expectations seeing as he was always promoting his other social media which included

everything from antibullying to Facebook. This site really did seem to cover it all. It was also a

perfect example of collaboration done right. Through careful observation and analysis

throughout his tweets, as well as many of the other sites, he really does seem to have all the

answers. This is a great follow for any teacher candidate, current teacher, or retiree.

Pernille Ripp

@pernilleripp

I followed this individual because according to the video her old user name was @4thgrdteach

and I plan to teach in the elementary environment so I thought she would have some great advice

and information that I can draw from. The video stated that she often shares her experiences and

knowledge through Twitter. I know that this information will come in handy in the future if not

now. Her twitter account and tweets didn’t let me down, she had some great advice and some

remarkable incite to teaching young children. She also proves to be on board with Project Based

Learning which will benefit her students through a variety of ways. As if all of this wasn’t

enough she is even the creator of the Global Read Aloud and author according to bio on her

profile. She also tweeted about having her students blog about different topics and posted a video

newsletter to the world about what the students have been doing in their class. The video

newsletter is in place of a written parent newsletter by her. The students get to tell about what

they have been working on in their own class, this makes it easier on the teacher who acts as the

facilitator and the student feel involved and motivated to do the assignment at hand. I look

forward to seeing what else she comes with, all of her ideas are authentic and great ways to keep

the students excited about learning. I am very happy to have access to such an incredible teacher

and her authentic ideas that she is kind enough to share!

Aviva Dunsiger

@avivaloca

I followed this individual for the same reason I stated in the one above, I plan to teach

elementary students and this individual’s old username was @Grade1 so I thought I could learn a

thing or two from her tweets. The video stated that she also shares her own experiences and

knowledge on Twitter. Through her tweets I observed that she collaborates a lot with others and

puts an emphasis on children learning on pace at home as well as in the classroom. This is great

because it is important that parents and teachers are on the same page for the most part so the

student will benefit and not suffer. She also motivates the children to get involved which is a

magnificent way to keep the students engaged. ‘Building and thinking’ will help encourage

advanced thinking skills among the students and this may even lead to collaboration among the

students; if this happens then they are also building on real-life issues. Her tweets also prove that

she blogs on the daily basis and appreciates blogs from others. She is a very project based

learning driven 21st century teacher which is a greatest kind to be at this point in time. Students

benefit from this pillar perhaps the most because that actually get the experience in. As I

watched what she tweeted I saw some activities that required the students’ involvement. For one

example they had to build a hurricane safe bridge out of provided material. You can tell from the

pictures that they were really enjoying themselves and that’s when children learn the most in my

opinion, when they actually enjoy what is going on. She was a great follow with some

magnificent ideas as well.

Chris Wejr

@ChrisWejr

I followed Chris Wejr because not only is he an elementary principal but he also helps students

focus on the learning that is taking place rather than the rewards that follow after. I believe that

this is critical for our students since in reality it’s not the reward that really matters while it may

be motivating, it’s what the child actually learns and the process that goes along with it. He is

also a strong supporter of digital resumes according to the video, which as we know now from

this class, is a step in the right direction. Classes at this day and age need to have someone that is

pro technology in every sense so that the students can benefit as much as they possibly can. We

need to strive for the 21st century classroom rather than the traditional classroom. He seems to go

along with the Project Based Learning pillar which is a magnificent way to teach in the 21st

century classroom. I believe his tweets and his outlook on teaching is the ideally 21st century

learning, it is no secret that that is the way and what he wants taught. His tweets show how he

stands personally on the topic and I believe that that is the correct way as far as I concerned to

conduct a digitally involved classroom. He encourages students to use advanced thinking skills

and addresses real-life issues all the while motivating his students. In many of his tweets he also

promotes collaboration amongst his students. Not only does he tweet his pro technology view but

he also retweets those of other’s that backs up his philosophy.