Tweet this!

I was skeptical at first, when I started using Twitter a few weeks ago, when I "announced" my intentions to tweet. So I'm reporting on what I've learned so far - and I have a question for you...

That Amazing Multiplying Effect

I wouldn't say anything I've done has gone "viral", but I was surprised to see a significant spike in my blog after I tweeted a pointer to "11 Reasons a Tablet PC is Better". Here's how it worked:

• When I posted the tweet, I had only 94 "followers"
• 6 Twitterers (if that's what you call us) "retweeted" the message (Thanks!). It turns out that they have, in total, over 3,000 followers
• The Chronicle of Higher Education found the blog (not sure how) and posted an article "Why a Tablet PC Beats Your Whiteboard", referring to my blog. This was also tweeted about, and there were many terrific comments posted there, too.

All I can say is "wow" and "thanks!"

Interesting People and Helpful Resources

The "flat world" just gets flatter when you use Twitter. I'm really enjoying "meeting" interesting people who are passionate about education technology, and generous in sharing what they are learning and hearing. "Meeting" may be an overstatement, as I've only had a few direct contacts (so far). But I am getting some wonderful, diverse insights from their tweets. It's a bit like hearing them think out loud.

This happens through an intriguing series of explorations, beginning with the "swarm" (my words) of thinking that is being shared in real time. From there, I started finding some people who had relevant and thoughtful posts (contrary to twitter myth, not all posts are narcissistic and superficial). Selective following leads to an interesting collection of headlines.

I also find interesting people by keeping an eye on keyword searches of interest,  like #edtech, #classroom, #tabletpc, #NECC09 (the conference I'm going to next week), etc.

This network of information and thinking leads to some very helpful resources. For example, I started following  Thomas Whitby (@tomwhitby ) from St. Joseph's College (New York area) who has been very generously combing the twittersphere for meaningful items to share. By following him, I found that he had just recently started a Linked-In group called "Technology-Using Professors" (nearly 1400 members already). Just yesterday, Carol Schwartz, educational technologist for the North West Ohio Computer Association that serves school districts in Ohio posted a message in the Linked-In group. It was a pointer to her collection of twitter tips for educators. Very nice! (Thanks, Carol!)

An Important Question - and short survey

So, I would say I'm pleased with my first 18 day experience. What it leaves me with, however, is an important question: How much time should educators be spending in Twitter to get the maximum intended benefit? So I invite those of you who are using Twitter to answer that question in a very short (30 second) anonymous survey. I can imagine that there are many educators who can benefit from Twitter - but are rightfully concerned about prioritizing their time.

I will leave the survey up through June, and will post the results in this blog later in July. I look forward to your feedback!

PS: in the meantime, I will be tweeting while at the National Education Computing Conference. Feel free to follow me @jgvanides and/or track the search tag #NECC09.

Jim Vanides, B.S.M.E, M.Ed.
Worldwide Education Programs
HP Global Social Investment
Hewlett-Packard
Twitter @jgvanides

For information about the HP Global Social Investments, visit www.hp.com/hpinfo/grants