Teach Middle East Magazine Nov-Dec 2017 Issue 2 Volume 5 | Page 35

Sharing Good Practice you have a specific area of interest it is likely there will be a hashtag with a conversation around that topic from #Edtech to #BehaviourChat. If you want something you Tweet to reach a wider audience than your followers, then including a hashtag can do that. There are regular Twitter chats that take place online and people ask questions and respond to each other using the Twitter chat hashtag. I have hosted several Twitter chats and they are fantastic for networking, communicating and learning from one another. Keeping up to date and informed! Educational blogs written by teachers are shared daily via Twitter. As a result of using Twitter I read more regularly and have learnt so much! If you are interested in blogging, my advice would be to read lots of different blogs by different educators, then use Twitter to promote and share your teaching blog or ideas. A good site to start your blogging journey on would be wordpress.com. Twitter is known as a micro-blogging service and so if you’re finding that tweets alone aren’t enough for you to share; why not try writing a longer reflection on your free WordPress blog! Supportive network Twitter provides teachers with CPD at their finger tips - whenever they want! There is a large community of teachers online which can provide advice, guidance and support. I’ve had questions asked of me about exam boards and I have asked outwardly for support on resources for a specific topic. Every time I have reached out with a question or cry for help, someone has always been able to assist me. I am very confident that if you have a question someone on Twitter will be able to answer it for you! Finally, … My final nuggets of advice are about staying safe online. Remember if your profile is public then anyone can see your account so keep that in mind when you tweet! Please check your school’s social media policy too for guidance on your individual circumstances. If you would be happy for a colleague, your line manager, Headteacher, parent of a pupil or even a pupil to read your tweet then press post - if not reconsider what you tweet or retweet! If you are an International teacher, then please remember to be culturally sensitive about what you post - something you post online can be deemed unacceptable in some countries but not others. Sadly, there are some people online that can resort to trolling (upsetting others / abusive comments), although this has been rare in my experience. Remember we are the professionals so don’t respond or engage but instead become aware of the mute and block buttons! You can follow me or get in touch with me via Twitter @87History. Make sure to follow @teachmiddleeast. Here are 50 educators across the Middle East that I recommend to follow online: 1. @Steve_Bambury 21. @MrKentMath 36. @UAETeachMeet 2. @Msfindlater 22. @JessPrimaryHead 37. @HealyO007 3. @JESS_Director 23. @MDS_learning 38. @HeatherBrod12 4. @DubaiPrincipal 24. @BriankerrEdu 39. @VannDg 5. @Steph_Bernier01 25. @JWilliams0804 40. @Cally_Marshall 6. @classedgetech 26. @MikeBloy74 41. @Evo_Hannan 7. @Dubai_TeachMeet 27. @Noelhtuohyedy 42. @Melanieguidera 8. @Osama13 28. @McblaneJames 43. @GrainneQ84 9. @Bashaierk 29. @GuySchooley 44. @clive_gibson 10. @andyturner32 30. @peterjonesteach 45. @Jose10h 11. @mark_wood 31. @UAE_LN 46. @Rasinlearners 12. @nadineramadan3 32. @BSAKsechead 47. @JSchwartz100 13. @Coffeychemistry 33. @dsinclairsmith 48. @womeneduae 14. @LukeReesEdu 34. @a_loxstonbaker 49. @tallheadmaster 15. @Craigos87 35. @ELTMeldavis 50. @ciarankelly 16. @DamianBacchoo 17. @Philredhead 18. @DCol_Head 19. @lade_elizabeth 20. @muscatmum Kate Jones I am Head of History and qualified Lead Practitioner at Brighton College Al Ain. In August 2016, after six years teaching in the UK, I relocated to the UAE to teach and live in the region. I am a blogger sharing teaching and learning ideas for every classroom via my website Lovetoteach87.com and you can follow my Twitter account @87History Class Time | | Nov - Dec 2017 | 33