Post 5 - Blogging

 "Blogging provides the perfect platform for reflection"

Activity - Having witnessed what twitter and blogging has done for others, start your own blog and write a post of your own stating:

• What you hope to get out of using social media as a CPD or classroom tool.

• How you hope to achieve this (for example, committing to 10 minutes per day or 1 blog per month)

If you are unsure how to set up a blog, see the below video for details:

Post 4 - So what is the hashtag all about?

Taking part in discussions is a great way to learn more about a topic and share your ideas. To find a twitter chat, click on the search icon on twitter:

Then type in the chat you wish to view. Below are some excellent education chats you may wish to look at:

...and some others for you to check out:

Activity - Search for the #ukfechat discussion. What was the last tweet about which included this #? 

Extension - Is there a tweet in the #ukfechat stream that you can respond to? Have a go and create a dialogue.

Post 3 - How to use Twitter and Blogger

Twitter and Google Blogger seamlessly interlink. This means that an individual can blog in detail about something and then microblog a link and brief overview to followers on Twitter.

When using social media, particularly twitter, there is what is known as 'social media etiquette'. I suggest the following when starting out:

• Always be kind, specific and helpful - this does not mean that you can't be critical of someone's views/work.
• Follow  - the only way to increase followers is to follow people. 
• Thank - followers if they share anything you have said - this is how you get your views out to the masses.
• Use a # - this will mean that your tweet will be seen by anyone using the #.
• Take part in discussions - more to follow.

If you have never used Twitter, or unsure of how to use it, watch the tutorial below prior to signing up:

Activity - Let's apply these rules now:

1. Search and follow one of the following educators on twitter: @ASTSupportAALI or @rlj1981
2. In the biography of each, you will find a link to their blog. Click on a blog and pick one of their blog posts (note that these all tend to be classroom activity related - i.e. tips and tools for the classroom). 
3. Select a post to read and then write a 'tweet' about it (see below video for example).

Extension - You may wish to read more comprehensive blogs that try to get to the crooks of education. Some of my favourite reading are blogs by @learningspy and @mjbromley. Try the above with one of their posts.

Post 2 - How does blogging make for effective CPD?

                                                 What is Blogging?

blog

blɒɡ/

noun

1. 1.

   a personal website or web page on which an individual records opinions, links to other sites, etc. 
2. on a regular basis.

verb

1. 1.

   add new material to or regularly update a blog.

   "it's about a week since I last blogged"

Blogging can be in the form of more reflective posts, or micro posts using platforms such as 

Twitter. This wonderful infographic created by @teamtait shows how Teachers may use 

Twitter (Micro-blogging):

I asked my Personal Learning Network (PLN) what their views of Twitter and Blogging 
were in terms of how they support effective CPD. Below are a few of the responses:

Activity - What are your thoughts on using blogging for CPD? Write a comment below:

Post 1 - What does effective CPD look like?

This blog post aims to establish what effective CPD looks like. 

A model of CPD is shown below. Today will predominantly focus on stage 1 - making you aware of the way in which social media can be an effective CPD tool. 

(http://blogs.educationscotland.gov.uk)

This blog relies on the comments of all individuals undertaking the 'Using Social Media to enhance CPD' session.

Activity 1 - What things have made CPD/training effective for you in the past? Please put your answer below as a comment. 

Extension Activity - Create a dialogue with another individual by commenting on their comment.