A simple search on Twitter would quickly return tweets in which teachers celebrate how the the platform has supported their professional learning. For example, take a look at the responses when George Couros (@gcouros) asked "If you were going to give one reason on why a teacher should use Twitter, what would it be?" I'm currently conducting doctoral research to explore this phenomenon, seeking to reveal more about what is occurring, how it's happening and what effects it has on the people concerned.

Partly inspired by David's 'Edonis' research study, I'll be using semi-structured interviews as one channel through which people can share their thoughts. With participants’ permissions, I hope to post here the interviews from those who kindly agreed to participate in the open.

Here is Ian talking about the project on Raido Edutalk

Further details about the study can be found on the CPDin140 blog. If you have any questions, or are interested in participating, please do get in touch.

Ian Guest (@IaninSheffield)

CPD in 140 – Kristian Still

CPDin140 – Kristian Still

Kristian (@KristianStill) provides here a very balanced set of insights and observations of both the bright and darker sides of Twitter. What I do need to add though is that during the brief chat we had after the ‘stop’ button had been pressed, Kristian recalled times past and other activities which were to some extent connected by and through Twitter. The EdTechRoundUp podcasts produced during Sunday night FlashMeetings, facilitated largely by Doug Belshaw and Dai Barnes were recollected. Also how potent an experience it had been producing the #movemeon book, and how, as a PDF, it continues to do good work. Perhaps Dai or Doug might like to talk about those times …?

 

CPD in 140 – John Heffernan

CPDin140 – John Heffernan

With a broad range of experiences, educator John Heffernan (@johnmayo on Twitter) currently finds himself transplanted from Ireland, his home, into Virginia, United States. John discusses the part that Twitter played in that, connecting him with ‘interesting, smart people’ and exposing him to people who ‘have different views and different lifestyles.’ John recognises the degree to which he has become:

“I can’t imagine how I would have ended up, or how my career would have developed without Twitter”

CPDin140 – John Johnston

CPDin140 – John Johnston

For once John Johnston (@johnjohnston on Twitter) finds himself on the other side of the mixing desk, having kindly volunteered to contribute his experiences to the project. John ranged broad and wide, introducing me to new concepts such as ‘continuing amateur development‘ and ‘opinionated‘ software. And what a wonderful way to close our chat:

That’s what Twitter’s about I guess; it’s good to talk.

CPDin 140 – Chris Bailey

CPDin140 – Chris Bailey

Chris Bailey (@mrchrisjbailey on Twitter) sits only a couple of metres from me here at Sheffield Hallam. Although no longer teaching in the primary sector, Chris (a long time Twitter user) kindly volunteered to contribute his insights to my study. Chris noted that Twitter provides value in the ‘connections‘ it enables and the opportunities for ‘sharing‘ which open up, but we need to be conscious of whether it might also ‘distract‘ … although that might not necessarily be a bad thing.

CPDin140 – Joe Dale

CPDin140 – Joe Dale

Joe Dale (@joedale on Twitter) discusses dropping in and out of Twitter, the life and history of the #mfltwitterati community and the trust it engenders between participants. A self-confessed experimenter, Joe’s recent tinkerings into Anchor (with Rachel Smith – @lancslassrach on Twitter) certainly (ahem!) hooked me.