140 characters doesn't seem like a lot, but the microblogging site Twitter (http://www.twitter.com) has built a dynamic, thriving social network out of it. The original idea was to use SMS to tell small groups of people 'what you are doing' and one of the first names that was suggested for it was 'Friendstalker'. Fortunately, the name was changed and, almost five years later it has developed into one of the most used sites on the Internet.

English language teachers were among the first wave of Twitter users, and it was quickly used by some to connect with colleagues around the world, to share information, links, advice, and friendship.

The Global staffroom

The great appeal of Twitter for teachers is that it acts like a global, always-on, virtual staffroom. Just like your usual staffroom, you can go to Twitter before and after classes, or in-between and consult the people you are connected to. It works best if you treat it like a staff-room and go there when you have time and need to consult or share with colleagues. You'll find it works better than searching Google for links to classroom resources (they will be resources that have been recommended by teachers who have used them) an d unlike your face-to-face classroom, you'll always find colleagues online no matter what time of day it is. That is, if you connect to enough people.

How not to use Twitter

Many people when they start to use Twitter think of it as a kind of email, don't connect to many people and and try to read everything that everyone in their network posts. However, you wouldn't expect to participate in every conversation that goes on in your staffroom, would you? Twitter is the same. Don't try to read everything and go there when you have time and feel like it. That said, you'll need to actively participate in Twitter if you're to make the most of it. Set aside a little of your time every day and you'll soon see the value of it. Little and often works better than spending long chunks of time using the tool. 

Getting started

Twitter also works best if you are connected to a large number of teachers. Your PLN (personal learning network) will grow organically once you start using it, but first, you'll need some help choosing your first group of teachers. Fortunately,  Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto (@barbsaka) in Japan has published a list of Twitter teachers who are ideal for teachers starting to use Twitter to follow (http://twitter.com/barbsaka/starter-pln). Once you have created your account, follow these people and you will soon feel welcome.

A support network for teachers using Twitter

Help is also at hand in the shape of a new European Union funded project (aPLaNet) to help teachers build and use a PLN, and which will include an introduction to Twitter. The project is open to any teachers (not just those in Europe) and has just launched, but will be well worth watching and will soon be launching its community site (follow @aPLaNetproject on Twitter) that will bring teachers together for professional development online.

#ELTchat

At the moment, one of the best places to go for professional development on Twitter if you are English teachers to network ELT Chat. Every Wednesday, English teachers come together and use Twitter to discuss subjects that are of concern to us all. Using the tag #eltchat in Twitter, this is a great way for teachers new to the social network to meet other teachers and you'll soon see the value of participating. It's worth keeping an eye on, even if you can't participate live in the chats as all of the chats are archived and summaries produced on the ELT Chat webiste (see below).

Last words

Finally, many busy teachers when they hear of Twitter think they don't have time for 'yet another social network' but, I hope you do give it a chance - if you do so, then I'm sure you'll find it actually ends up saving you time in the long run, and will open up a whole new world of networking and support that can bring you pleasant surprises. What are you waiting for? Jump in!

More details

Graham Stanley is a teacher with the British Council in Barcelona, Spain, and social media consutlant with the British Council worldwide. He blogs at http://blog-efl.blogspot.com and you can find him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/grahamstanley

Follow ELT Blogathon at http://twitter.com/eltblogathon

The aPLaNet project Twitter account is here: http://twitter.com/aPLaNetproject
Information about ELTChat is here: http://eltchat.com/