Talking Stick - March/April 2013 - 11

PD for Free: Tuning in to Twitter
We rely on technology and online
resources so frequently in our
personal and professional lives – to
stay connected to family and friends,
to find research relevant to our
field of study, and to heighten our
productivity. Many are now turning
to the online world for professional
development. Twitter, in particular, is
a fantastic tool to stay up to date on
the hot topics and current issues in
our field, attend a conference without
needing to leave your office, and
connect with colleagues around the
world.
Many student affairs practitioners
are active Twitter users, sharing
articles, blogs, news stories, and
much more, all relevant to the
profession. You can find frequent
contributors by scrolling through
active hashtag communities like
#acuhoi, #sachat, and #wlsalt, or you
can search for Twitter users in higher
education at http://followedu.com/.

Following along on a backchannel
during a student affairs conference
is a fantastic way to learn and engage
without needing to leave your office
or spend a dime. If a tweet stands out,
take action. Retweet it, “favorite” it, or
reply, asking for more information.
Most tweeters are happy to share
more about what they’re learning
and can help to connect you to the
presenter(s) if you have specific
questions.
Megan Wyett, residence
director at the University of
Massachusetts Amherst, has made
PD for free a priority. “I have
really focused on growing my
personal learning network through
Twitter by participating in hashtag
conversations.” Megan includes the
weekly #sachat discussion in her
calendar to ensure that she has the
opportunity to connect with others
and add to her knowledge of hot
topics in student affairs.
Twitter can be overwhelming and
time consuming. If you build time
into your schedule, it is easier to
manage. Set aside 10 minutes
per day to scroll through
tweets from the hashtags
you get the most from,
and “favorite” the ones from

Does tHe
Talking STick
reaCH enougH
oF your staFF?
Call (614) 292-0099 or
e-mail talkingstick@
acuho-i.org for more
information about
additional membership
subscriptions.

colleagues you want to connect with to
learn more about. You will be amazed
at the professional development
opportunities that arise just by doing
this.
To help get you started, check out
these resources:
Student Affairs Hashtag Directory
http://www.studentlifeconsultants.com/
resources/studentaffairs_hashtag.pdf.
Learn more about the #SAchat
community: http://thesabloggers.org/
sachat/
If you’re interested in using
Twitter but are unsure where to begin,
ask a colleague to show you the ropes.
I’m also happy to provide “twittorials”
if you can’t find a knowledgeable coworker nearby. I’m just an email – or
tweet – away!
Kate McGartland-Kinsella, Student
Development Officer, University of
Toronto Mississauga
[Ed. Note: PD for Free is a recurring
column that explores professional
development opportunities for campus
housing professionals at little or no cost.
If you have ideas or success stories to
share, please contact the author at kate.
kinsella@utoronto.ca or on Twitter at
@KateMcGK.]

In the next Talking STick
Coming in the May + June issue:
· Unique programs for student engagement
· Students, staff, and mental health
· The proper ratio for custodial and maintenance staff

March + april 2013

11
http://www.studentlifeconsultants.com/resources/studentaffairs_hashtag.pdf http://thesabloggers.org/sachat/ http://thesabloggers.org/sachat/ http://followedu.com/
Talking Stick - March/April 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - March/April 2013
