1. Learning Connections
Sligo VEC Teachers’ Day
Mary Loftus

2. Educator
Learner
IT
Parent
Manager

3. My first experience of the power of online learning

4. Fully online 2 yr Masters
in Software Engineering & Database Technologies
run jointly by NUI Galway and Regis University
http://www.nuigalway.ie/itonline/

5. Joined November 2008
Connected Futures course in 2009 got me started in earnest

6. • Short messages –
140 characters
• @ to send a
message to
another user
• #hashtags to
follow particular
subjects or events
e.g. #sligovec
• RT – means
ReTweet – to echo
another’s tweet

7. How does Twitter add to online learning
Twitter makes me think
Powerful Participatory Space
Connection
Equality
Accessibility
Creativity
Develops Critical Thinking faculties
Fosters Engagement
Teaches new literacies
Teaches filtering, discernment
Self awareness
A bit like travel
Opened doors in my head

8. How do I use Twitter?

9. Twitter for Research & Good Practice - Learning
@michaelkls
Michael Seery, DIT @grainneconole
@michael_hanley Grainne Conole
E-learning consultant Open University
@siobhanos
Siobhan O’Sullivan, UCC @catherinecronin
NUI Galway
@pattishank
Patti Shank @quinnovator
Author Clark Quinn @janebozarth
Jane Bozarth
@cammybean Editor eLearning Mag
Cammy Bean @catmoore
Kineo Learning Cathy Moore
E-learning Practitioner

10. Sharing Links to Books & Journals

11. Remote Conference Participation

12. But it’s not all work!

13. Personal Development
Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change
– Brene Brown

14. Poetry Music
Inspiration Photography

15. More and more – it’s about the people

17. Mentors

18. Connections
Serendipity

19. Friendship

20. Remote conference participation has lead to
conference speaking / presentation

21. 2nd Level Schools & Teachers are doing it too and
some are using Twitter in their Classrooms
• Pauric O’Donnell - St Eunan’s, Letterkenny
• Evelyn O’Connor – LeavingCertEnglish.com
• Mags Amond – Loreto Cavan, Edmodo, CESI
• Donal O’Mahony – Portmarnock CC - History
• Fintan O’Mahony – Scoil Mhuire, Carrick – History
• Fred Boss – NCTE - #edchatie facilitator
• Damien Quinn – SeomraRanga.com (primary)
• Mary Jo Bell – Twitter in the Infant Classroom
• Pam Moran, Ira Socol, Leigh Graves Wolf - USA

22. @ @MrPODonnell Pauric O’Donnell - St Eunan’s, Letterkenny
Twitter as school noticeboard

23. @evelynoconnor Evelyn O’Connor
Mount Saint Michael’s Secondary School in Claremorris –
LeavingCertEnglish.com

24. @magsamond Mags Amond
– CESI Executive, Edmodo User

25. @domaho Donal O’Mahony – Portmarnock CC,
Twitter in the classroom and more

26. @levdavidovic Fintan O’Mahony – Scoil Mhuire in Carrick-
on-Suir, Twitter in the classroom & more
Fintan

27. @seomraranga @mrquinnsclass Damien Quinn – Ransboro NS,
Twitter in the classroom & Seomra Ranga website
• Seomra Ranga

28. @7mjb @mrsbellsclass Mary Jo Bell –
Twitter in the infant classroom & more

29. @pammoran @irasocol @gravesle
Pam Moran, Ira Socol, Leigh Graves Wolf
Superintendent/ Edu Provocateur/ Teacher Training
International connections

30. @fboss Fred Boss – NCTE,
#edchatie

31. Supports, Resources & Communities

32. Twitter tutorials
thank you @glynnmark & @pamelaaobrien

33. www.cesi.ie

35. Monday nights – 8.30pm
Come along to meet educators from
across the levels in Ireland and
abroad

36. This community has already welcomed
#sligovec teachers
Click to see a selection of the tweets.. ->

37. New ways of learning – video produced by @catherinecronin @glynnmark & @fboss

38. Your Challenge #sligovec
• Today – talk to one other person about something
you want to do after this session
• Sign up for a Twitter account
• Tweet something
• Check out #edchatie on Monday night 8.30pm
• https://twitter.com/#!/search/?q=%23edchatie
• Think about the possibilities
• Discuss them with at least one colleague

39. Thank you!
loftus.mary@gmail.com
@marloft