Learning & Leading Through Technology

What If I Miss a Chat?

Although the live, dynamic nature of chats is part of their appeal, many chat transcripts are also archived on a companion blog or website. This is a valuable service for participants who want to review tweets because of the fast pace of chat or for those who miss a chat altogether. Users can also archive important individual tweets from chats they would like to view later by using Twitter’s “favorite” feature. Free apps like Evernote can also help you store tweets and links for later reference.

How Do I Start My Own Chat?

If a hashtag doesn’t already exist
for a topic of interest, any user can
claim it for a chat and spread the
word to others interested in the topic.

But don’t forget that no one owns a hashtag. So if you decide to start using #MHSchat, for example, for a chat among teachers at your high school, don’t be surprised if teachers from a different “MHS” start using the same hashtag. That’s why it’s wise to choose a hashtag that others are unlikely to apply to a different topic.

Twitter chats are a great way to
model participation and innovation
in a digital age learning culture. While
Twitter is no panacea for professional
development, an increasing number
of educators turn to the free service
again and again to energize learning
and collaboration with their col-
leagues. And given the many demands
on educators’ time, the sheer volume
of their voluntary participation is
a testament to the value of chats.
If you’re ready to join them, then
find—or start—a chat that meets
your professional needs. You may
be surprised by what you can learn
140 characters at a time!

Jeffrey P. Carpenter is an
assistant professor of educa-
tion at Elon University in
Elon, North Carolina. His
research interests concern
innovations in teaching,
and he is currently studying
social media’s role in student learning and
educator professional development. Follow
him on Twitter @DocCarpenter.

Daniel G. Krutka is an assistant
professor of curriculum and
instruction at Texas Woman’s
University in Denton, Texas.
A former social studies teacher,
his research interests concern
how educators can nurture
participatory and democratic educational exp-
eriences. Follow him on Twitter @dankrutka.

The collective intelligence of a chat can provide educators with classroom-tested lessons, a variety of perspectives on specific problems, or an introduction to emerging technologies.