#gtchat Archive
Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT is a weekly chat on Twitter that takes place on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and 5 p.m. PT in the U.S. For one hour, parents, educators, advocates and experts in the field of gifted and talented gather to share resources, links, authentic life experiences and insights about gifted issues.
Tuesday March 22, 2016
Our topic today is “How to Use Twitter to Advocate for Gifted Education”
Please tell us where you’re from and introduce yourself!
I’m Lisa Conrad ~ moderator, advocate, presenter, blogger & mother of 2 gifted young adults from Pittsburgh, PA.
Hi Jo Freitag from Gifted Resources and Sprite's Site Victoria Australia here on Wednesday at 11.00 am for
Nicole Shannon - GT Coordinator from Round Rock, TX
Hello fellow friends! Congrats to Lisa on four years.
I'm Justin Hockey, music teacher in Brisbane, Australia. Moving overseas in August to international school in South Korea.
Thanks for your support of bringing educators, parents & experts together to connect, share & learn with each other.
This is my first ! I'm a grad student at East Carolina University (NC.) Thanks for hosting this!
<--- Advisor Welcome, Nicole!
This is also my first chat, . So excited to be a part of this, both personally and professionally.
<--- Advisor! Welcome, Lisa and thanks!
Tracy here from North Texas - parent of two gifted sons that are (sort of) adults now… ☺️
I am Amanda Tomlin, a Reading Education graduate student getting my AIG license from ECU.
Thanks Jerry! It wouldn't have happened without your support as well!
Hi! Marilyn Mitchell GT specialist from Uvalde TX
Welcome, Justin! You will not be disappointed!
Before we begin … We’d like to acknowledge our 4th Anniversary with
Jeremy, parent from CT. Welcome, Justin!
Thank you all, great to be here. Nice to meet you!
JJ here TAGT staff thanks for 4 great years of service to gifted community
Carol from Indiana. Mostly lurking tonight. Buried my mom yesterday.
Hi! I'm Candace and I am a GT specialist in the Dallas, Texas area.
Thanks, JJ! Your support has meant so much!
Happy 4th Anniversary Sorry I am running late
So, sorry. Our condolences, Carol. :(
As a reminder, we use a Q1/Q2 format for questions & A1/A2 for answers during
If joining via Twitter, remember to add the hashtag to each tweet.
Stay with the flow! All the links & a summary of this chat will be posted later on our blog at https://t.co/jUsAaBcS81
Right back at you, Lisa!!
Q1) What advantages are there to using Twitter (140/drama/linking) as opposed to other social media platforms?
Kate from IA joining in!
https://t.co/9V21oV8ODD
For the next hour I’ll be joining others at ( ) ~ please pardon the heavy stream or better yet; join us!
we're all thinking of you. You've been an important part of our community here. Deepest condolences to your family.
A1) Using appropriate hashtags wisely allows advocates to reach beyond the ‘choir’; outside the box.
Twitter is less susceptible to the echo chamber that you get in Facebook.
A1 it is a quick an easy way to communicate to many people at one time.
A1: hubby says, advantage is you are limited to what you can say in one tweet.<-- introvert, explains a lot. We extraverts talk more
A1) Twitter is a source of professional learning/networking for many educators.
A1) Twitter chats with a recognizable & unique hashtag promote a continuing conversation over time.
A1) Twitter is quick easy to use to provide information, support and encouragement
A1) twitter hashtags carry across to
Mary Lovell, parent advocate, dallas area, lurking for now...
A1) You can reach many people quickly via Twitter. You have to be concise so people get your message quickly.
Welcome, Mary! Glad you made it!
SO agree ... many people think this is a negative: I think it's huge plus! https://t.co/iLSBRT8xUL
A1) You can reach many people quickly via Twitter. You have to be concise so people get your message quickly.
A1) Twitter encourages & facilitates creation of communities w/shared interests, desires, end goals (Putnam) https://t.co/4AUyuki7aK
A1) I . I don't love any other platform. Most learning from one another here. No close second. https://t.co/crLOjTlpad
Q1) What advantages are there to using Twitter (140/drama/linking) as opposed to other social media platforms?
SO agree...many people think this is a negative: I think it's huge plus!<--I wonder if this is introvert/extravert thing?
<-- admittedly not a fan of Twitter format. I talk too much.
I'm popping in briefly. GT Specialist in NW Houston.
Twitter is also a great way to connect with a wide range of people with common interests. Plus it makes conferences much more fun
I like the challenge of being concise; getting message across!
A1) Concise, targeted via hashtags, community, open to all comers. Prefer this to any other social media platform.
. that is it - Twitter is OPEN
Q2) What strategies (RTs/hashtags/Likes) are most applicable to the Twitter platform for using it for advocacy?
Twitter expands your world as being the only GT specialist on a campus can be lonely.
A2) Advocacy via Twitter can be accomplished by retweeting, hashtagging and liking tweets.
I like that on twitter I can see everything. I'm not controlled by an algorithm.
This is something a lot of people outside ed don't realize! https://t.co/aiRem4UD8f
Twitter expands your world as being the only GT specialist on a campus can be lonely.
RT I like that on twitter I can see everything. I'm not controlled by an algorithm. <-- so true!
A1:Quick, to the point, collaborative professional learning. Much simpler than other social media systems! Professional
It is easy to share with several groups of people by using multiple hashtags
It is easy to share with several groups of people by using multiple hashtags
A2) Use Twitter to identify gifted ed advocates/organizations & build relationships by ‘following’; DMs; adding to lists.
Twitter has also opened up professional learning, like never before, to everyone with a stake in education.
A2 Follow policy makers and other leaders it is easy to loop them into a conversation
A2 Retweeting to show understanding and aggreeance.
A2: The ability to connect with educators across the world and be in "constant" contact as I browse their ideas and strategies
I think it's why Twitter is like paradise to us .
A2) Chats are what first brought me into Twitter. Now that I'm here, hashtags are what help me find things and share them.
A2) Can collect and pass on links, information by using RTs and likes and notify the appropriate groups using hashtags
A2) Strategic success of advocacy via Twitter requires a fluid & evolving approach to using social media.
The new Twitter algorithm is annoying... You can turn it off in your settings! https://t.co/r36LpW3Xag
RT I like that on twitter I can see everything. I'm not controlled by an algorithm. <-- so true!
Hi nice to see you here! Welcome to - this is one of my students make her feel welcome
Welcome! https://t.co/ez9BkUoSn5
Hi nice to see you here! Welcome to - this is one of my students make her feel welcome
A2) You can create a professional network of other GT advocates. Joining chats and using hashtags introduces you to these advocates.
Q3) How can gifted organizations use Twitter to advocate for gifted education/children & benefit their members?
Hi I'm here too!! I was tweeting but realized my profile was private ...
Thanks Dr. H! :) I'm excited to be here!
Organizations can simultaneously provide information, foster involvement & promote advocacy. https://t.co/z2w9V98QX1
A3) With as the new ED of there has been a huge boost in involvement on Twitter and
A3) Gifted organizations can notify their events and share relevant information using Twitter using hashtags
A3) Organizations must commit to a long-term presence on social media; specifically Twitter & eschew ‘quick result’ strategies.
A3: Hoagies' Gifted Inc shares links across various platforms to reach all our followers. Everyone has their own preferred platform.
A3) Use Twitter to share information on upcoming conferences, webinars, chats; always using hashtags to widen reach.
Many state groups are joining Twitter they just need encouragement and active members
We’re already half way through our chat! Thanks for all the great sharing.
Q3 - Hashtags are a great way to get the word out... Just make sure the hashtag and Twitter handle is easy to remember!
A3: like with other social medias, early adopters have the advantage. Get here, and get active!
A3) Twitter provides conduit to reaching existing supporters/potential audiences; i.e., educators needing gifted classroom strat.
A3) requires consistent effort and support to make it work It has to live on beyond a conference it should be the start not the end
A3) Hashtags for the organization allow parents and others to access information quickly and easily.
A3) keeping communication open to parents, students, and colleagues
A3) The ‘community’ paradigm can extend to fostering interaction between organizations for the greater good. (Shaw)
A3) Forge authentic voice. Replicate print/web communications. Use Twitter as conversational tool. https://t.co/7UX9qLRqhi
True and Twitter can be used as a pointer to info found on other platforms
Q4) How can parents use Twitter to advocate for gifted education?
A4) Advocates can connect gifted parents & kids with peers on Twitter. Unlimited benefits to finding ones tribe!
A4: organize parents and get in touch with state gifted org and state ed officials. Get in on the conversation!
A4) Parents meeting on Twitter can facilitate IRL meetings for kids and their peers.
A4) Participate in Twitter chats related to gifted education & gifted students. Affirm positive message about these kids.
A4) Twitter has been effectively used to appeal to politicians considering gifted education legislation.
A4) Parents become part of the "team"! Twitter chats welcome/include voices from everyone, PhD or MOM.
A4) Parents on Twitter facilitate IRL meetings for kids & peers<--I'm less comfortable with this; you know < about them
Seeing more state organizations on Twitter! Good sign! https://t.co/jdM0DcgGbi
A4: organize parents and get in touch with state gifted org and state ed officials. Get in on the conversation!
A4) Parents can find information to use in advocacy and find encouragement in Twitter chats esp !
Q5) What’s the best way to use Twitter at conferences (backchannel/promotion/hashtag)?
A5) Twitter can be used to initially promote and raise awareness about upcoming gifted conferences.
A4) Twitter is prime for any education advocacy. Easy to latch onto other advocates & experts. https://t.co/DaPaw7um6A
Q4) How can parents use Twitter to advocate for gifted education?
I love it when conferences have live Twitter feeds showing.
A5) Get involved make new friends while there also I love to follow conferences when I am not there to see what others are learning
A5) I love following conference hashtags, especially when I can't attend in person.
A5) Use twitter to promote those key points that resonate with you at conferences
A1) Plus it's great for connecting with other passionate educators, parents, advocates, & organizations who care as much as we do!
Also, having WiFi helps a lot in keeping the Twitter useful and engaging.
Thank you to our TAGT President! https://t.co/ICvPOam6Mj
Thanks TAGT for supporting gtchat. It's one more reason to be a proud member of this organization.
Let's continue the sharing in the coming year and at in July, 2017 in Sydney, Australia!
It will be a great conference! https://t.co/aD3Gg8nFyA
Let's continue the sharing in the coming year and at in July, 2017 in Sydney, Australia!
A5) Commentary tweets and special twitter sessions from conferences can give people a vicarious feeling of attending
A5) Twitter can be used to connect with specific topics, subjects, strategies! Like an online!
A5) I also really like seeing photos from conferences Pics of good slides is a PLUS
Especially great to see tweets from concurrent breakouts, where there were 2 or 3 you wanted to attend!
A5) Conference attendees can use conference-specific hashtags to tweet from sessions.
A2) Hashtags are a advocate's - they're a great way to show your support and spread your message widely!
A4 Part of advocating is LEARNING! They can lurk, ask experts for info, etc.
is giving us lots of great feedback and information for
A2) Hashtags are also great to identify others in the field who you'd like to follow or add to your !
A5) Conference presenters can use Twitter as a backchannel with their audience during sessions.
A5) Twitter is a great way to plan Tweet-ups @ conferences! <--- some of my best memories from conferences past ...
Purposeful planning of hashtag creation will assist attendees in locating the sessions and speakers they are interested in quickly.
A5) Tweetups are great. I love meeting people I follow in person
Yes! A 24/7 hashtag ... keep the conversation going. https://t.co/e9O0Yw1oWi
is giving us lots of great feedback and information for
RT A5) Tweetups are great. I love meeting people I follow in person
A5)presenters can seed tweets with links related to sessions before the conference.
A3) Two words: engage consistently. Constant involvement, tweeting, and connecting is crucial!
Twitter will help involve people from around the world that may not be able to attend the conference too.
. Yes, this is a good way to help drive traffic to your session
I've been known to do this en route to a conference ... just ask ;) https://t.co/RNNlf3MUEv
A5)presenters can seed tweets with links related to sessions before the conference.
A5) continuing 's thought, a conf can encourage social media participation before and during conference, including all!
Very, very important. Keep everyone committed and involved. https://t.co/6yP222eSlq
Twitter will help involve people from around the world that may not be able to attend the conference too.
A5 It's the only to get near presentations... They are PACKED!!!
Purposeful planning will make locating sessions/speakers easier to locate
A3) And the more people you engage/connect with, the more opportunity to spread your mission and benefit the community!
To continue this Twitter helps to start the conversation before and continue it after everyone get2 talk
Q6) How can you use Twitter to connect with peers/colleagues to advocate for gifted issues (tweetups/edcamps)?
A6) Gifted advocates can connect with leaders in the field in real-time to tweet issues important to all.
Yes! https://t.co/Q8fHo3H3Cz
Especially great to see tweets from concurrent breakouts, where there were 2 or 3 you wanted to attend!
A6) Twitter is a great way to arrange tweetups and meetings at conferences or edcamps.
HAHA! Thanks I am always surprised when people show up.
A4) Parents can also build a network of advocates using Hashtags.
Gotta run - we're at the train station where I Left my car. Thanks for the chat Lisa! Great job as always!
A6) Twitter can be useful in the planning stages and for notifying any last minute changes
A6 - I try to use on all GT advocacy issues/comments whether or not it's chat time!
Truly 'added value' for conference attendees!
A5) Use the conference hashtag to make the most of the experience. See what others are saying & share what you've learned.
We should always remember that the Internet & especially Twitter are an infinitely powerful pen https://t.co/tHbzmGV8u9
A6) Encourage followers to connect; tag in tweets and graphics. Build communities of like-minded advocates.
A5) Promote hashtags on the conference marketing materials, emails, at the event, etc.
A5) I love using conference Hashtags and quoting speakers so I can go back later and remember key points from the conference.
A6) Twitter can be used to acknowledge accomplishments within the gifted community; announce new books; relevant blog posts.
This can make a big difference in keeping everyone in the loop https://t.co/Da0jvJedX3
A6) Twitter can be useful in the planning stages and for notifying any last minute changes
Me too, Tracy. I like to notify about new blog posts etc on
Yes! https://t.co/su8Ahc2t1m
A5) Promote hashtags on the conference marketing materials, emails, at the event, etc.
I've had the opportunity to do this just a couple of times. I'm hungry for more!
It really humanizes social media ... making connections irl. https://t.co/qJmdouvw0G
I've had the opportunity to do this just a couple of times. I'm hungry for more!
A6) My colleagues and I have become very proficient in retweeting each other to share info and advocate.
We’re nearing the end of our chat today … final thoughts or questions?
We'll archive the and share the link via later today
A6) EdCamps can become , too. Everyone on Twitter is the same size. When we advocate together, we're at the same level.
Thanks Lisa and all for sharing all this great information!
I would love to attend a parent camp!
Congrats on 4 years of Here is to 4 MORE YEARS!
Thanks for having us! Looking forward to attending another in the future!
Twitter: Keeping the global we community going, one hashtag at a time!
Before you go … build your Personal Learning Network and follow some of the folks whose comments you liked!
is proud to sponsor - thanks to for your tireless efforts to facilitate this chat!
It is important to keep the lines of communication open and share share share information.
Whoops! Typos are the worst! **
There will be no next week! We’ll be taking a spring break!
Thank you for all your hard work over the past 4 years. Congratulations!
Please note TIME CHANGES for our next as New Zealand/Australia go to Standard Time
Our next will be Tues April 5th at 8E/7C/6M/5P (US)/Wed 6th April at 1.00 (UK)/ 10.00 AEST /12.00 NZST
