Blogging About Twitter (Post Assignment #2)

I am a little ahead of the game this week, but I will be as Sheldon says "AFK" (for you Big Bang Theory fans).  I leave tomorrow evening with 82 students to head to DC until Sunday (sleeping on the bus there and back).  I don't have a SmartPhone and am not taking my iPad, but if I get a chance somehow, I will tweet from DC.
This week's assignment has been my first experience with Twitter.  I think that this tool may be something that may take me a while to figure out the benefits.  I know that Twitter is now the communcation tool of choice for my high school students - sometimes too much.  Since our students can BYOD, it is difficult sometimes to keep them on task instead of using Twitter throughout class.  Incorporating Twitter into the purpose of the class is a goal that I need to work on so that it is effective and not a distraction.  By following the 6 Tips given in this week's reading, I think I can work towards that goal.
I really liked the idea of a Tweetstory.  I can see that as possibly working on a story and projecting on the Apple TV when students receive tweets to add to the story.  I see a lesson plan in my head now.  Because the business world and our economy is constantly changing, I think the updates from the Federal Reserve and some of the financial education sites will help me keep my lessons current.  I always try to give the students current information so when they hear the economy being discussed on the news, they can relate it to what we are doing in class.
I think for me at this point, I will probably be using Twitter more for professional connections.  I know following our state department chairperson will offer me more information and connections than I have time to read.  The Business Education section of the Twitter4Teachers Wiki also seems to have a lot of resources.
Setting up the TweetDeck, I can tell already that I am really going to use.  With it open, I immediately see a tweet and can tell if it is something I need to follow now, or it can wait to later to follow up on.  I also like the Timeline column.  It just seems so much neater to me than going to the Twitter site.
Overall, I think it will take me a while to get used to using Twitter and I try to think about what I would Twitter that other people would want to know.  I'm sure the more I make my self use it, the easier it will be for me to see the benefits.  So I'm looking forward to adding one more tool to my teaching toolbox. 
Since I need to keep my Twitter account private, please request to follow me @ebfelty and I will accept your request.  Thanks to those who have already requested.  Be watching for my tweets from DC.  And pray that we have good weather - it's supposed to snow and be below freezing so I need to go pack my wool socks and mittens!