Using Twitter for Professional Development

For many people, the Twitter social networking software conjures up the worst of the Internet: trivial messages peppered with unrecognizable abbreviations, all packed into 140 characters. And yet, as this recent article at Edutopia reveals, many teachers are using "tweets" to extend their personal learning networks -- accessing and sharing resources in their subject or specialty areas. Author Betty Ray offers several examples of educationally focused chats and includes all the how-to you need to put Twitter to work for you. Also see this profile of a tweeting Oregon teacher.