Step 3:(II) Using Twitter to Build your PLN

 Benefits of Using Twitter:
271 Million active users post text,links, images, and 6 second videos (Vines) in 140 characters or less. Pros are instant new sources, and access public icons.
It is a place where educators can find advice, give advice, find great links, share work, and engage in general musings about education. Brendon Hyndman for more research and examples of how Twitter is used in the global education community checks out “Twitter provides a modern platform for teachers to share, network, gain emotional support, build professional learning communities and make a contribution to their profession”.
Five steps to building your PLN via Twitter

1. Join. The sign up process is easy. You follow these steps. Go directly to https://twitter.com/signup. Once you are signed up, you can customize your profile. Complete your bio so people know who you are. Add a profile photo. You will also be able to add a header photo.
2. Follow People. Following someone on Twitter means: You are subscribing to their tweets and their updates will appear in your home timeline. That person is able to send you a private direct message if you are following each other.
3. Lurk. You will need to spend more time checking out the stream of tweets and getting the hang of tweeting, retweeting, direct messaging, and hashtags.
4. Contribute. When you have lurked for a while, jump and contribute! Remember the more you put in, the more you get out. What to Tweet about: a photo from a lesson, a link to something interesting you have read, a question about a topic, a request for a resource, a link to something from your own blog or someone else’s blog, and a favorite online tool.