The advancement of technology has made it easier than ever to connect with individuals across the world. As a result, an in
creasing number of teachers use Twitter chats to connect with their community of fellow educators and build a personal learning network (PLN). Twitter chats occur daily and typically focus on a specific theme or grade level. These chats pose a series of questions for discussion and encourage participants to use a specific hashtag to make their contributions more visible to others. This article contains valuable information about Twitter chats and PLNs.
My experience with Twitter was very limited. I only joined the site about a month ago when I was required to make a professional account for my technology class. Before my first Twitter chat began, I was nervous and did not know what to expect. How many people would participate? Would I be noticed by any of them? Once the chat began, however, my nervousness faded away. I was able to enjoy learning from others and making new connections. 
I participated in my first Twitter chat on October 7, 2018. I chose #21stedchat, a Twitter chat hosted by Jill Thompson. I was surprised by how many Twitter chats occur each day and how easy they are to find. This website provides a schedule for Twitter chats related to education.
The Twitter chat I chose posed questions related to teaching in the 21st century. There were questions about how to create an optimal learning environment for each student and how external factors 
influence the internal classroom environment. This Twitter chat allowed me to learn from several educators about how to manage outside circumstances and disruptions that impact the classroom, like a student’s home environment or a call from the office. The chat also taught me the importance of student involvement and feedback when designing a classroom environment to meet the needs of each individual student. I also heard from several educators about the important role empathy plays in developing a positive classroom environment that promotes optimal learning.
I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly and welcoming chat participants were. Multiple people liked and retweeted my tweets. This reassurance that I was doing something right made me more willing and excited to share my ideas. I also found several educators with Twitter accounts to follow because of this chat. These educators include David Prindle, Steve Holmes, and Shelley Sanchez Terrell.
I am confident I will continue to participate in Twitter chats in the future. Because Twitter chats cover a wide range of topics, including technology in the classroom and special education, there is no limit to the amount of valuable information they can provide. I am excited to engage with knowledgeable educators to learn about teaching strategies for topics like lesson planning and classroom management. I also plan to use Twitter chats in the future to make connections with fellow educators. These connections can help with job placement. Also, teaching is a difficult job and having a support network of fellow educators will help keep me motivated and make me a better teacher. I will be able to ask members of my PLN for advice regarding specific difficulties in my classroom, like managing student behavior or communicating with parents. My first Twitter chat was a fun and rewarding experience, and I look forward to participating in future chats.
