How to get more teachers to participate in Twitter Chats?

As Digital Learning Coaches, we realize the power of Twitter.

Most connected educators do. But, how do we convince people (especially teachers) who aren't on Twitter how valuable it is?

This has been a challenge and one that I have realized as we have tried to get a Twitter Chat going in our district.

We have had 3 Twitter Chats so far. Our hashtag is #haysedchat. So far, we have had maybe 2-3 teachers on our chat.

I have  been trying to brainstorm some ideas with my colleagues of what we can do to get more teachers to participate.

Here are some ideas:
1. Do a "Lunch and Learn" that involves food where we get more teachers signed up for Twitter.
2. Work with administrators who are on Twitter in the district to encourage their teachers to not only sign up for a Twitter account, but to use it.
3. Assign/volunteer a campus to moderate the Twitter chat, in doing this we will pick a campus that has several Twitter users (I can think of two campuses in our district out of 24 schools that is well connected and use Twitter regularly.)
4. Work with administrators to come up with some incentives that they can provide their campus for participating in Twitter chats--jeans pass, duty coverage, lunch coverage, etc.
5. See if we can put the teachers names who do participate in a drawing for a prize of some sort. Maybe an iTunes giftcard, Starbucks giftcard, Subway giftcard, etc.
6. Maybe one day, our district could offer teachers who participate comp time or PD hours.

I think administrators are the key, as they tend to be with various issues. I think if we can get buy in from administrators, we will have more of a chance to make an impact with teachers.

Please let me know if you have any ideas. I would love to hear them!

This is one of our Twitter Chat Flyers. I made it in Canva and then our team has Tweeted it out pretty regularly leading up to the Twitter chat. 

Mirror 360: District Roll Out

Next week our district is going to be rolling out Mirror 360. This software can connect your iPad to your Projector using your Computer. This gives the teacher the ability to walk around the classroom and monitor students, while also using their iPad. Teachers are no longer anchored to their desk and don't have to trip over cords and connections. 

I am so excited because this is one of the major launches happening in our Department and District. The other is shared Macbook Carts...but one thing at a time. 

Today in Canva, I started compiling some FREE apps for teachers to use their iPads with their classes. Some of the apps are for presentation software--Google Slides and Nearpod, or a fun one for students would be Sock Puppets or Tellagami. Some of the apps could be used for quick exit tickets--Padlet, Educreations, Popplet Lite. 

The Lead4ward app has some great strategies for teachers and a timer--great for a quick formative assessments! 

Thinglink could be used for any subject, but you can really use it for infographics, maps, posters, etc.
 I am really excited about the launch of Mirror 360 in our district. I think I am most excited because I have a lot of requests coming in where I get to go help teachers use the software in their classrooms!