indepth’s posterous

On Keeping Up With So Many "Tweets"

Back in December, '08, when I first set forth to "engage" on Twitter, I thought I'd be able to keep up with the truncated messages from maybe 25 or 30 active "tweeters". And, I began, as so many do, by following some of the biggest or best known "twitterati", like Guy Kawasaki and Robert Scoble - as well as those who they respect, or value worthwhile to follow.

When I reached 25 I figured out it was time to make the switch over to theTweetdeck platform to better manage the inbound flow of tweets.  Instantly I found I could now handle a whole lot more information. Currently I am following over 225 "tweeps."  Many are news sources, like BreakingNewsOnline, newspaper or magazine editors, like John Byrne of BusinessWeek,  and reporters, or TV/Radio interviewers like "CharlieRows" - Charlie Rose PBS Interviewer par excellance.

Soon I learned through a process of self-discovery what aspects of Twitter I was most interested in pursuing.  I found I was getting info that was too "tech heavy." So, then I tried a bold experiment of unfollowing Scoblizer. That difficult decision really freed up my screen and my brain. (I mean the Robert Scoble is exceptionally bright, tech savvy, and he's the hardest working guy on www.TheWholeDamnNet.com.  He's developing into a fairly decent interviewer too, as good as any "one man band" can be.  While at the same time he's just so relentlessly prolific and so ceaselessly evangelizing Facebook or Feedburner or, anything made by Apple, or Canon.)   But, I figured, so what if I learn of tech product breakthroughs hours or, even days later than most.  So what if that kind of information comes to me second hand. I can do just fine not getting caught up in morsels of current gossip from places like Davos.   What I learned from experience is that I can do better on Twitter without having to skim through all the minute details of his exceptionally busy life on the road with Fast Company TV.

My philosophy for Twitter is evolving, but for now it is to reach out to others based on information contained in their profile when I do not recognize a name.  Also, I strive to "re-tweet" (RT) from sources I trust, whenever the information may still be "fresh" or, be useful to others.  And, I now make it a practice to not automatically follow. (Recall how a fake Dalai Lama attracted thousands of trusting followers who were sucked in by a nicely designed profile?)

Life, I believe, is much too short to be playing the vanity game of striving to "collect" thousands of followers. (Isn't that almost the same as "He who dies with the most toys wins?") Instead, I am thinking its about quality, not quantity when it comes to who you follow. Keep in mind that what goes around comes around and water will seek its own level - meaning smart people will eventually attract other smart people.

I’ve come to think of Twitter as being very much like a "come as you are” party.  So, it is only polite to be social, essential be real, most interesting when you mingle and make new acquaintances with those you have found to have common interests.  At the best parties, you want everyone to share freely of their personalities, opinions, time and ideas.   So, I go to the Twitter party looking forward to having fun, getting news and inspiration, while meeting up with the thoughts of some of my old friends while being open to the idea of making a new twitter pal or two. 

An Easy Prediction:

Educators Will Soon be Jumping Onboard the Twitter Bandwagon.

            Within the next 12 months many educators at all levels, from elementary school to university professors will begin testing Twitter's educational applications in the classroom and thereafter they will promote Twitter as a classroom educational tool.  And, I predict that in time Twitter will be viewed to be as indispensable as the blackboard! 

It’s easy to visualize some of the potential classroom uses:  students that are ill getting their homework assignments via "tweeted" messages which can link directly to reading or study assignments posted online.  It’s also easy to imagine the students in an elementary classroom in one community using Twitter to share information about their daily activities with students in another state, or even with their counterparts in another nation? 

From the teacher’s perspective, wouldn’t it be effective if teachers could “tweet” messages to their students’ parents concerning a child’s progress in the classroom, or to provide advance notification of upcoming events, field trips, etc.  Of course, there are many more classroom possibilities for Twitter, and I'm trusting our most creative and engaged teachers to discover and promote those educational uses.

Why do I see this happening?   The first two reasons are basic truths:

1.)    By its very nature, Twitter promotes reading; and

2.)    Twitter can be helpful in improving one’s writing skills at any level.  In fact, Twitter can make writing fun.  It’s limited 140 keystroke format is not intimidating.  At the same time, maximizing the presentation of ideas to be conveyed within the confined space of a "tweet" stimulates thinking at all levels.

There are other reasons involving trends favoring online learning.  I look forward to reading the comments from classroom educators who I encourage to voice their ideas on this prediction.