Regularly searching education-related Twitter hashtags can help educators expand their professional growth
Social media remains a game-changer in education. Through platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, students are able to collaborate on projects or discussions about assignments.
Educators connect with peers across their district, state, or, in many cases, across the world. This ability to stay connected has led to the development of professional learning networks, sometimes called professional learning communities, in which educators build networks of peers they admire, those they share common interests with, and those they hope to learn from.
Much of this connecting occurs on Twitter. Many states have regular Twitter chats [1] focusing on general education or highlighting specific education topics.
(Next page: Five Twitter hashtags and recent tweets containing those hashtags)
Below, you’ll find five hashtags that offer engaging and thought-provoking tweets from educators across the planet.
To access the most recent tweets categorized under any of these hashtags, simply enter the hashtag in the Twitter search field, or click on it within any Tweet that contains it.
#edtech [2]
The #edtech category contains, as you probably guessed, tweets about education technology, technology in schools, and reasons why classrooms and students benefit from teachers who correctly implement and use technology during instruction.
Recent tweets cover critical thinking and The Maker Movement.
Three Good Videos Explaining Critical Thinking for Teachers http://t.co/O1O7GNzTrA [3] #edtech [4] #education [5] #edchat [6]
— Phil Dawson (@learnocracy) November 12, 2014 [7]
The Maker Movement can help educators connect students to their physical learning environment http://t.co/nEX43Qdo4A [8] @sciam [9] #STEM [10] #edtech [4]
— Words & Numbers (@WNContent) November 12, 2014 [11]
Technology’s Role in Putting Learning Science #Research [12] To Work http://t.co/NsJkV7sls6 [13] #edtech [4]
— Aubrey Francisco (@aubreyfrancisco) November 12, 2014 [14]
#edchat [15]
Created by Steven W. Anderson and Tom Whitby, this well-known hashtag and chat offers tons of discussion threads about any education topic imaginable.
The goal is that students should surpass us not be equal to us. #edchat [6] #iledchat [16] #suptchat [17]
— Mike schiffman (@SchiffmanMike) November 12, 2014 [18]
Great for the Library/Classroom: A Guide to Understanding Plagiarism http://t.co/iQ1aBizvCM [19] #njed [20] #nced [21] #edchat [6] pic.twitter.com/zrm4XeAWaM [22]
— EasyBib (@EasyBib) November 12, 2014 [23]
#artsed [24]
This hashtag highlights those interested in discussing and advocating for arts in education. And as recent STEAM conversations reveal, the arts occupy a powerful place in many science, math, and engineering lessons.
Here are the number of students without #artsed [25]. Live webinar on journo tips, research now: http://t.co/xJ2bomgNxy [26] pic.twitter.com/2oI2TODIjk [27]
— EWA (@EdWriters) November 12, 2014 [28]
#gbl [29]
Gaming, gamification, and game-based learning: These terms are no stranger to education. With efforts underway to implement game-based learning in more and more classrooms, and as educators discover ways to assess student achievement through games, this hashtag offers some of the most current discussions on gaming’s role in education.
Want to be part of the GlassLab game design process? Join the GlassLab Teacher Network today! http://t.co/yPjsfkUJdU [30] #socialimpact [31] #gbl [32]…
— GlassLab (@GlassLabGames) November 12, 2014 [33]
Deconstructing the Oregon Trail: analysis of learning goals & game mechanics in the #gbl [32] favorite http://t.co/pyMyWQvAoN [34] — Institute of Play (@instituteofplay) November 11, 2014 [35]
#STEM [36]
The STEM hashtag is pretty self-explanatory. For discussions about STEM lessons, STEM advocacy, STEM engagement strategies, and more, go right to this ongoing conversation.
Have you seen #Interstellar [37]? Find out why seeing female #scientists [38] onscreen is great for women in #STEM [10] here: http://t.co/TDD3m3gwB3 [39]
— Sally Ride Science (@SallyRideSci) November 12, 2014 [40]
Great work in CO! RT @edinitiativeco [41]: Push for STEM education in Colorado gathers steam http://t.co/LwfA5H7bzX [42] #edcolo [43] #STEM [10] #DBJCEIpanel [44]
— Nat’l Math + Science (@NMSI) November 4, 2014 [45]
Turning peanut butter into diamonds http://t.co/JpYE3n9w8g [46] #STEM [10]
— Graham Brown-Martin (@GrahamBM) November 12, 2014 [47]