Today’s call for slices from Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche immediately makes me think of HOW one gets better. Previous posts about professional development are here, here, and here. I love learning. I love learning with friends. Therefore, one of the best tools that I use for professional development is Twitter because it truly is exemplified by this graphic.
What?
Learning. Identifying a topic. Identifying a need. Finding experts. Reading. Writing. Talking. Learning Together. There are many ways to “Better Oneself” and one of the fastest routes is through TWITTER!
Start the Challenge
If you’re on Facebook, go to this post of Mary C Howard’s (author of Good to Great) for her Twitter 5-3-1 Challenge.
“TWITTER 5-3-1 CHALLENGE:
So I’m posing a summer challenge that will take very little time.5: FOLLOW
Follow five people you admire. Just find them on Twitter and click the follow button on the far top right of their page.3: RETWEET/LIKE
Retweet or like three comments that inspired you. Just click on the comment and then the up/down arrows at the bottom middle and hit retweet (or like with the heart at the bottom).1: Reply
Make one comment to a tweet every day (even “Thank you.”) Just click on the left arrow at the bottom right and type.I promise you that my 5-3-1 challenge will enrich you beyond measure this summer. Twitter is a treasure chest of inspiration, ideas, articles, posts, and dedication. If you’re not using it even to a small degree, you’re cheating yourself. This summer is a great time to dip your toe in the Twitter pool. I promise you that you’ll be grateful you did!”
My only addition is to make it the 5 -3 – 1 – 1 Challenge.
The final 1 – Find a chat
Weekly chats might be #TCRWP on Wednesdays or #G2Great on Thursdays. Monthly chats might be #TitleTalk on the last Sunday of the month. Additional chats like #TWTBlog may be scheduled after a series of blog posts.
Why a Twitter Chat?
A Twitter Chat will give you an opportunity to “rub elbows” with the experts and grow your own knowledge base as well as your PLN. You will be amazed at the authors who are available to learn from as well as the inspiration, ideas, articles, and posts that Mary refers to above.
You are at the crossroad. You must make the decision.
How will you better yourself?
Resource - Full 
Kimberley Moran recently listed me as a teacher to follow on Twitter. That made me think about how I use Twitter. I needed this post, the 5-4-3-2-1 challenge. Our greatest strength in this day and age is working together.
Better Together Always!
😀
Fran, you inspire me. Sometimes I feel so alone in my learning. But having a network online has been the engine to keep me going. I love opening your posts and being filled with hope. I, like you, am a learner who can’t stop learning. It’s hard when you run out of gas, especially at the end of a school year. But, this was just what I needed to read this morning. Thank you.
There is way too much isolation in both teaching and learning. Both blog posts and Twitter can reduce that feeling. You are so welcome!
Great way to become better, Fran. Twitter deepens and grows my personal learning whenever I’m on! Thank you.
Dana,
Twitter can be a quick, YET highly effective way to communicate directly with the experts we know and love to learn with.