This document summarizes and analyzes the Twitter accounts of 5 educational professionals. It discusses how each educator uses Twitter to share resources, perspectives on education issues, and insights into their teaching practices. Key points discussed include how the educators engage in online professional learning communities, incorporate new technologies into lessons, and advocate for social justice. The document also reflects on how viewing educators' Twitter profiles can provide insight into their commitments to ongoing learning and relevance in the digital age.

1. Kristin Hayes
CI 350
Harold Blanco
1) Jerry Blumengarten aka @cybraryman1
Immediately after I began looking through Jerry’s tweets, I saw his use of the
hashtag #edchats. I saw that he had tweeted the link to the archive of the chats,
but even more so, I saw many one-liners he posted from past chats. If I would be
to scrolling through my Twitter and saw one of these, it would be a quick way to
stay up-to-date with the conversations in education today. Also, conducting these
chats on Twitter allows anyone to search for the chats and then contribute to the
conversation happening. These conversations have no boundaries, and therefore
are not limited to one group of people. Topics within education are expanding to
include the opinions of diverse people which enriches the conversations as
offering another point of view. Jerry also includes many educational resources
that he uses in his tweets such as Edmodo as well as links to special topics he
writes about on his personal website: cybraryman.com.
2) Tom Altepeter aka @tomaltepeter
My Twitter would look like this today if I still tweeted regularly. It is so uplifting
to read Tom’s tweets because I get the sense that not all is lost in the world and
that he cares. He discusses topics pertaining to the main theme of social justice,
and I love that. The way he goes about doing this, however, is not in an
overbearing or abrasive way that would turn people off. For example, Tom
tweeted a cartoon depicting black/white race relations in the United States. This
makes the issues, such as racism, more relevant and much more accessible to
discuss especially to children. I like how he includes many different aspects
present within the idea of social justice such as environmental, cultural, and
racial instead of just focusing on one. I also enjoyed scrolling through his
inspirational quotes on his page. Furthermore, Tom posts many external links to
outside blogs that discuss different issues. This aides in his goal of presenting a
comprehensive picture of the structural problems preventing social justice to be
achieved amongst societies.

2. 3) Josh Stumpenhorst aka @stumpteacher
I am not even going to lie about this. I judge people sometimes based on their
short Twitter “biography” if you wish. One line in Mr. Stumpenhorst’s biography
stood out to me: “…always looking to be better and stay relevant.” I think this is a
very important to have in education. As civilization has modernized, the diffusion
of knowledge has followed, making Josh’s line especially true in this time of
rapidly changing information. Not only has the information changed, but the
learners have obviously changed into more digitally stimulated learners. Staying
relevant and always seeking to better should be the idealistic goals of teachers of
any subject in order to connect better with learners. Upon looking at the content
of Josh’s Twitter, he posts a lot of funny things as well as things pertaining to the
teaching methods. I mean, he had his students create medieval castles and
manors in Minecraft. I thought that was so cool that I just might borrow the idea
someday. I also notice by reading his twitter that he does not take any grades
except on final projects. He gives feedback on assignments throughout the year,
but they aren’t formally grade. I saw that he was shortly responding to fellow
tweeters about his grading policy. It amazes me how some teachers cannot see
past the grade aspect of evaluation. I am not saying we should just throw grades
out the window, but there are so many aspects of learning that just can’t be
formally assessed. I know I’m preaching to choir though!

3. 4) Gwyneth Jones aka @gwynethjones
I am so jealous of her life! Not only does she live in the DC Metro area area, but she
is a librarian! That always has been one of my goals within the educational system.
In case you were wondering, my plan after obtaining my undergraduate degree is to
get my Masters in School Counseling and maybe looking into the librarian science. I
also plan to open a bakery and do archeology digs during my time here as well.
Enough of my dreams, let’s talk about Gwyneth’s twitter. I can tell she is a fellow
nerd such as myself just from looking at her Twitter background. There is a Dr. Who
Tardis. I immediately saw a link to a QR Code Scavenger Code that she posted. This
was very helpful in my eyes because I was scratching my head trying to think of fun
ways of incorporating QR codes into my curriculum instead of just putting a QR up
for the students to scan. Also, Gwyneth has such a positive attitude; the screenshot I
have included demonstrates this. I think it is important quality to have in teaching
because as discussed in class, teachers are essentially modeling every time they stand
in front of students whether they realize it or not. I have noticed that the common
theme between all of these educational tweeters is that they all engage in
professional development activities outside of the school such as conferences. Most
do not go so far as to do this, but I think it demonstrates that the teachers take their
jobs seriously which all should.
5) @CI350Class
I enjoyed reading the tweets that you posted. I found it interesting that you used
Twitter to reach out to the celebrities about the problems in Venezuela. I honestly
wonder how many of them actually reading what people say to them because when I
used to have Twitter on my phone, I would often times idly scroll through learning
way too much about others. Even though Twitter only allots 140 characters, powerful
messages can be made through this platform such as the tweets you posted.
Honestly, my favorite thing you posted recently is the surprise citizens from New
York gave the NYPD. I know it is kind of mean, but my brother-in-law is one of the
Captains of HPD, and I have witnessed/heard things that cause alarm. You can never
trust photographs though. They are only a moment frozen in time and that moment
can change from moment to moment. While it may look like one thing, it could very
likely be another. Regardless of these facts, I love that citizens banded together to

4. show NYPD that police brutality will not be swept under the rug anymore. Plus, it
provided public pressure to the police force to straighten its act up!