by Lisa Pagano & Ashley Hurley
In January 2014, we launched a weekly district-wide Twitter chat to connect educators in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (and beyond!). Since the launch of #cmsk12chat in January, educators across CMS have participated in a conversation with one another from the comfort of their own homes for an hour each week. Colleagues discuss different topics, share strategies, swap ideas and resources, and learn and grow together. The chat provides FREE professional development, growth opportunities, and a strong sense of community. Topics of #cmsk12chat have ranged from supporting ELL students to the 4Cs to supporting new teachers. Chats are moderated and lead by educators in CMS.
How Does a Twitter Chat Work?
Twitter chats are fast-paced and exciting opportunities for connecting with others! Participants gather on Twitter at the same time and participate in a live conversation with one another. A Twitter chat is essentially conversation bound together with a specific hashtag. In our case, we add the hashtag #cmsk12chat to the end of our tweets.
Educational Twitter chats take place everyday! For a complete schedule of chats, click here. Don't be afraid to jump in and join a conversation that interests you! If you need some ideas or guidance regarding how to get started, take a look at Dr. Joe Mazza's free "Learn Twitter" course and resources or Cybrary Man's Twitter resource page. Additionally, we are more than happy to help you get started!
Educational Twitter chats take place everyday! For a complete schedule of chats, click here. Don't be afraid to jump in and join a conversation that interests you! If you need some ideas or guidance regarding how to get started, take a look at Dr. Joe Mazza's free "Learn Twitter" course and resources or Cybrary Man's Twitter resource page. Additionally, we are more than happy to help you get started!
#cmsk12chat Archives
Is your interest piqued? Do you want to see what types of ideas, resources, and strategies are shared during #cmsk12chat? Have you missed a chat in real time? No worries! Check out our Symbaloo Webmix with archives of past chats! Simply click on any tile to view archives from any #cmsk12chat.
One of the best things about Twitter chats is that the learning continues after the hour of live chatting ends! Future #cmsk12chats will also be archived in this Symbaloo Webmix.
Is your interest piqued? Do you want to see what types of ideas, resources, and strategies are shared during #cmsk12chat? Have you missed a chat in real time? No worries! Check out our Symbaloo Webmix with archives of past chats! Simply click on any tile to view archives from any #cmsk12chat.
One of the best things about Twitter chats is that the learning continues after the hour of live chatting ends! Future #cmsk12chats will also be archived in this Symbaloo Webmix.
Summer Schedule for #cmsk12chat
Over the summer, #cmsk12chat will run on a modified schedule. The chat will occur weekly through June, bi-weekly in July, and resume on its weekly schedule in August. Mark your calendars! The dates for #cmsk12chat during the summer are: June 18th, June 25th, July 9th, July 23rd, August 6th, August 13th, and August 20th. We will return to our regular weekly schedule during the 2014-2015 school year. Connect with us soon!
Over the summer, #cmsk12chat will run on a modified schedule. The chat will occur weekly through June, bi-weekly in July, and resume on its weekly schedule in August. Mark your calendars! The dates for #cmsk12chat during the summer are: June 18th, June 25th, July 9th, July 23rd, August 6th, August 13th, and August 20th. We will return to our regular weekly schedule during the 2014-2015 school year. Connect with us soon!
Click the image above to sign up to moderate or co-moderate #cmsk12chat this summer! Click here to preview a one-page guide we put together to support moderators!
Great news! #cmsk12chat Featured in eSchool News!
#cmsk12chat was mentioned in an article on eSchool News on May 28 and is considered one of the top state Twitter chats in the country! (Click on the image to read the article.)
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Ashley Hurley and Lisa Pagano are two educators who are passionate about educational technology, improving the quality of teaching and learning in our district, and connecting educators with resources and each other. Ashley is a Professional Development Specialist and Lisa is currently an Academic Facilitator and the district's Networking Coordinator. They have joined forces this year to build a district-wide Professional Learning Network, or PLN, which consists of this blog, Twitter, and Facebook. They are also the co-creators of #cmsk12chat. They look forward to continued collaboration and growing the PLN in 2014-2015. Additionally, Ashley and Lisa are working together on several other joint projects. They will co-present
"Blending Reading, Writing and Connecting through Blogging" at the CMS Summer Institute and "Innovate and Develop Professionally with 140 Characters: Using Twitter to Connect, Communicate, Collaborate, and Create Learning Opportunities" at the Summer Leadership Conference. They will also present on the "The Power of PLNs: Get Connected" at the North Carolina Association of Elementary Educators State Conference in October.
You can connect with Lisa and Ashley through Twitter and their websites. They would love to be part of your PLN!
Lisa: @edu_ms_pagano mspagano.weebly.com
Ashley: @ashleyhhurley ashleyhurley.net
Ashley Hurley and Lisa Pagano are two educators who are passionate about educational technology, improving the quality of teaching and learning in our district, and connecting educators with resources and each other. Ashley is a Professional Development Specialist and Lisa is currently an Academic Facilitator and the district's Networking Coordinator. They have joined forces this year to build a district-wide Professional Learning Network, or PLN, which consists of this blog, Twitter, and Facebook. They are also the co-creators of #cmsk12chat. They look forward to continued collaboration and growing the PLN in 2014-2015. Additionally, Ashley and Lisa are working together on several other joint projects. They will co-present
"Blending Reading, Writing and Connecting through Blogging" at the CMS Summer Institute and "Innovate and Develop Professionally with 140 Characters: Using Twitter to Connect, Communicate, Collaborate, and Create Learning Opportunities" at the Summer Leadership Conference. They will also present on the "The Power of PLNs: Get Connected" at the North Carolina Association of Elementary Educators State Conference in October.
You can connect with Lisa and Ashley through Twitter and their websites. They would love to be part of your PLN!
Lisa: @edu_ms_pagano mspagano.weebly.com
Ashley: @ashleyhhurley ashleyhurley.net