I had signed up for Twitter not long before the session with George Couros because when Cooper Nemeth went missing in East Kildonan, my home neighbourhood, my daughter on exchange in Quebec was getting updates regarding the disappearance through Twitter mush faster than anything I could glean here in Winnipeg. I had been reluctant to sign up for Twitter because I have observed significant negativity and bullying of others through these kinds of media and I didn’t want to be a part of that. However, the idea that sending a tweet out results in solutions to problems and ideas coming to you, rather than having to search and mill through a variety of sites and information to get what you need is highly appealing.

 

Since the April session, I’ve sent out a few tweets, some professional, a few personal. I haven’t received a flood of response, probably because my followers are so few, though I did cc George in my tweets. I have had conversations with other professionals about how they use Twitter in their lines of work – reading appropriate articles and developing relationships. I’m excited about the possibilities that Twitter offers, even if I haven’t reaped the benefits greatly as yet.

 

Recently, I attended a soccer tournament in Calgary and through that experience, I signed up for Instagram as well so that I could have better access to pictures taken during the weekend. My husband signed up so that he could see the pictures, and I saw that my youngest son, 11 years old, had signed up as well. I returned home from this trip feeling motivated and inspired.  On our Spring Break vacation, my young son was downloading podcasts to listen to during our long road trip and following his lead, I did the same and listened to a podcast about Melati and Isabel Wijsen and their campaign to ban plastic bags in Bali. I think it is important to realize that kids do these things every day. They are proficient and comfortable with these methods of communication. They are interested by and devoted to technology. My other son is plugged in constantly…he will go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and be watching a Youtube video on the way to the bathroom, while in the bathroom and returning to bed. I know…I can hear him! I want to keep up, not only to remain effective as a teacher, but for myself as a learner!

Lori Bodner

Clifton School

Cluster 2010