Social media is a game changer for educators today. This coming from a social media introvert is a pretty big deal. Anyone who knows me, knows I don’t do social media for personal use. I shared this in a previous post, Teaching Students How To Use Social Media Responsibly. I personally don’t choose to use social media to tell my story. You want to know what’s going on in my life, call me. You want to know how my family is, come over for a visit. I still crave that social interaction between people…good conversations, seeing the face of a loved one, seeing someone’s smile and hearing their voice and laugh. Call me old-fashioned in my late thirties! 😉
But when using social media to connect with amazing educators, talk about my favorite topics in education, learn something new, and get fresh ideas, count me in! In fact, connecting with others on social media has been a complete game changer. I’ve found it to be a powerful tool to grow my professional learning network and help me grow as an educator in many ways. Here’s how!
Game Changer#1: Facebook Friendzy
Collaborating with educators around the globe is truly amazing. Learning the similarities and differences between different cultures regarding policy, practice, successes, and challenges within education is eye-opening. It’s important as educators to be aware of what’s happening in education outside of our own classroom, school, school district, state, and country. It’s essential that we become well rounded and “educated” about education beyond our scope. I’ve done this through many groups on Facebook. There are many groups that encourage teacher collaboration, creating and sharing of ideas and resources. This has truly helped me to become a better, more reflective educator. I have reflected upon my practices, updated my internal hard drive and branched out to creating resources that best fit the students I teach. I have collaborated with so many teachers who have supported and inspired me on this journey and whom I can actually call “friends,” my virtual BFFs. And if you’re in a school environment where collaboration is not its forte or you do not have teacher besties to lend or bounce off ideas, join some Facebook groups in your area of expertise or grade level you teach and you’ll be sure to grow and find a few friends in the process.
Game Changer #2: Let’s Talk Insta-spiration
Do you need instant inspiration? Head over to Instagram! The saying goes, “a picture tells a thousand words,” well on Instagram these rockstar teachers are saying a whole lot about all of the incredible things they are doing in their classrooms. I am truly inspired by them. Their classrooms are the perfect place to be from décor, clever organization, classroom arrangement, room transformations, engaging activities, ideas, and resources. Now you don’t have to have an IG or Pinterest ready classroom to teach, but you’ll be blown away by these educators who are creative, innovative and create the best learning environment for children, plus they are sharing it with the rest of us teachers. It’s a win-win! There’s something about pictures that really inspires and reminds me why I love teaching.
Game Changer #3: Tweet, Tweet, Tweet
This little birdie has helped me connect with and follow my favorite gurus in education. I can stay up to date with what’s going on in classrooms around the world along with effective educational practices. Twitter is a huge social platform to connect with educators and schools. It’s also a great tool to build community within schools and school districts as they tweet their school happenings. As a parent, it’s pretty cool to see what’s going on in your child’s school district at a glance. I also joined in on some Twitter chats and had the opportunity to learn some different perspectives on a variety of educational topics and challenges and took away some really neat ideas. There is an inspiring PLN on Twitter that you can become part of especially if it’s lacking in your own school or district.
So let’s get social!! Join some facebook groups, browse and post some pics on Instagram and tweet your heart out. Share your incredible journey as a teacher and join others on theirs. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
And right here at For The Love of Teachers you can join the forums to collaborate and share ideas and resources too. When creating For The Love of Teachers it was my vision to create a place where educators could come together to continue to learn and grow professionally by collaborating with others that build us up and make us better. Come join in!
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Christine Weis is a passionate educator, classroom management coach, wife, and mom of two busy boys. She enjoys teaching, writing, and creating resources for teachers.
I agree with you. I love getting to see people. Social media can be helpful too!
Seeing someone in person keeps people connected! Social media is helpful for educators to connect around the globe, people that we would have never met to collaborate otherwise. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I like the convenience that technology offers nowadays. My children especially benefited from their school’s facebook page which limits membership to those belonging to a certain grade level. They get updates, reminders, and share some tips with fellow classmates too.
Me too! A school’s facebook page helps keep the students and school community connected. I like that. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I’ve met some of my most favorite people online… INCLUDING MY HUSBAND! I will forever be a lover of social media. Until my babies get into high school of course then I’ll be terrified of it!
It seems like that’s how everyone meets today. I agree…social media is terrifying for youngsters. That’s why it’s important that adults model and teach their children how to use it responsibly and appropriately. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I love how the internet and social media allows us to connect with great people we would have never met otherwise. I can see how this would be especially great for teachers. It’s always wonderful to find new inspiration.
That is so true! I love collaborating with others around the world and getting new ideas. It has definitely inspired me. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Haven’t realised how much social medias can help in education, such great use of the platforms.
Yes! If you use social media for inspiration and collaboration it is a really great tool! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I have to agree with you, I have been a home educator for almost a decade now and utilizing social media for my benefit has been amazing. There are tasks and subjects where social media has added to our projects and my level of teaching.
Yes! That’s fantastic! I connect with a lot of home educators on social media and we share a lot of great ideas. It definitely has made us all better educators. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
These platforms are definitely great places to connect with other educators! I just wish they weren’t such a time suck sometimes!
-Kim
They sure are! Social media is a complete time sucker! As addicting as it is, it’s okay to unplug sometimes—we all have to!
Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I love IG – I am a little obsessed! They are such great platforms for discovery!
I really like IG too! I love browsing through pictures. Sometimes I get lost in IG! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I agree social media is a powerful tool for educators. I especially liked instagram for visuals
Me too…IG is a great platform for quick visuals! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Great points! I am a homeschool mom and find that many of the things you mention apply to the home educators as well 😃
Yes…very true! I connect with many homeschool moms in my groups. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
social media really is a great tool for sharing and collaborating.
Yes…I completely agree! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
My mom is a teacher and loves posting diff activities and ideas for her teacher friends to see. It’s s great sharing tool.
Oh that’s fantastic! I agree! I love seeing what other teachers do in their classrooms.Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers