One of the places I learned the most about teaching and about education and actually many other things over the years was in the faculty lounge. Oh sure we’ve all heard stories of “toxic” environments in faculty lounges where all that goes on is complaining and gossip and negative things. But for me the faculty lounge was mostly a very positive experience.

It was from more experienced teachers that I learned how to handle teaching issues – what do you do with cheater? What do you do about tests or assignments that don’t work? How do you evaluate students with special needs? And on and on and on. The lounge was also a place to learn about current events from a deeper background. There are an awful lot of teachers who have a wealth of knowledge to bring to a conversation. History teachers bring one perspective; science teachers another; world languages teachers still another. And the list goes on. There are not many learning environments like a healthy faculty lounge.

Today my virtual faculty lounge is Twitter. Yes, Twitter. It is there where I engage with and learn from teachers, not just from one school, from all over the country and the world. Lately I have taken to asking questions there. Just throwing out items for discussion. Questions like “what is basic goal of HS?” which is the basis for another blog post I’m working on BTW. I’m getting perspectives from all over and people are explaining not only their views but the ones they hear expressed locally.

I’m also hearing (ok reading) observations from other teachers. For example one teacher is taking a week long workshop and feeling a bit overwhelmed. The questions she is asking though are along the lines of how can she help her students avoid that feeling? Teachers are working through issues with the help of others and they are doing it online and in a somewhat public forum. There is a huge benefit to this I think.

I am reminded of a cartoon I had hanging in my classroom for a couple of years (I wish I hadn’t lost it). The cartoon showed a classroom of students. All were thinking the same exact thing in the thought balloon overhead. Panel one “I am so lost” Panel two “Everyone else understands this so well” Panel three “I dare not ask a question and appear stupid in front of the class”

Doesn’t that happen all too often in life? Not just in school BTW. It happens in business meetings as well. The value of Twitter, well one of them, is that we have people feeling safe enough to pose questions and express concerns. In return others are providing answers (at best) and sympathy and sounding boards (at worst). Everyone participating benefits and learns.

What is the value of Twitter? Conversation, support, learning, community, friendship – well I guess I’m finding multiple benefits.

Note: You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AlfredTwo I do chat a lot though. :-)