Twitter Training Takeaways

Gail, Lori, and I recently started weekly Twitter chats on Wednesday nights to take part in Daily 5, CAFE, and Math Daily 3 discussions. I love this opportunity because it allows for collaboration and learning from colleagues regardless of where we live.

I am pretty tech savvy—I have a teenage daughter who has taught me the ins and outs of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube, and I can hold my own in all those venues. Then there’s Twitter. My Twitter account was established in 2009, and as I write this, I have a total of 156 tweets (about half of which have been posted in the last month or two). So even though I loved the idea, my lack of experience made me uneasy and apprehensive about participating. However, Lori is experienced with Twitter and offered to help.

I wish I had a video of what it was like in my office the night of the first chat. Gail, Lori, and I were on a three-way call so we could “work together” during the chat, which really means we set it up that way so Lori could help Gail and I during the chat. There I was, trying to read the responses coming in, respond on my own using the right hashtag, liking tweets, retweeting tweets, and figuring out the question-and-answer format. In addition, I had to keep my answers to 140 characters . . . which proved to be very difficult for me!

Duringthe 30-minute session, I must have asked Lori 50 questions, which she was able to answer with ease while still fully engaging in the chat. At the end, she said, “That was a good first chat. It was nice and easy. As more people learn about our chats, it will become faster paced.” Faster paced!?! Oh boy!

So here are my takeaways and why I am sharing this story with you:

1. Keep learning. Don’t forget what it is like to be in the shoes of a first-time learner. What comes easily to one person may not to another. Patience, empathy, and clear directions help guide a person through the learning process.
2. Persevere. I am still learning, but each week it is getting easier, and I am gaining a lot from all the rich conversations I am part of. Great things come to those who persevere.
3. Ask for help. When you are interested in trying something new, it helps to have someone with experience to guide you.
4. Sometimes less is more. Twitter limits users to 140 characters. I didn’t understand how deep learning could take place with such a low character count. I now know. My thinking has been enriched by many tweets of 140 characters or fewer.

Now I am hooked and look forward to our Wednesday night chats. In fact, I have even started to participate in other chats! (It can be a bit addictive.) Gail and I are getting better each week, and if we struggle, Lori is right there to guide us along.

We would love for you to join us. We'll be chatting about good-fit books next week. See the invitation above. 

Follow us: @GailBoushey @AllisonBehne @Lorilovesbooks @TheDailyCAFE

 

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