How to engage with the education debate - Ian Stonnell

The world of online education research and debate is a daunting one to any teacher looking to start getting involved. There are thousands of tweeters, hundreds of education blogs and numerous education sites all of which can enlighten but also confuse. It is hard to know where to begin and where to find the quality. So, as a teacher looking to get involved and learn something new what do you do? Here is a short guide to get started.

Get on Twitter
Get on Twitter and start to follow some of the main teaching blogs and education thinkers. You can start by following @DenbighCPD and have a look at who I am following. I would highly recommend Tom Sherrington and David Didau as people to follow. However it is probably best to start your own search. There is a great list of leading tweeters here that you can begin following today.

Clcik on the picture to see a larger version of this list.

Hashtags are also a powertful twitter tool. By searching a hashtag you can access lots of educational content without having to follow anyone. You can also ask questions through tweets and add a hashtag which will give it a good chance of getting a response. Click here for a list of the most popular education hashtags (including subject specific ones).

(NB: If you want to see some of this is practice come to the additional CPD in the conference room on Wednesday 12th February).

Online teaching blogs
Start looking at some of the best teaching and learning blogs. I have provided a list of links to many of these blogs on this site (look to the right if you are on the desktop site). These blogs routinely use academic evidence to support their strategies and can also be followed on twitter. Bear in mind that there are many subject specific blogs and sites that I have not included in this list. You can follow most of these blogs on twitter too.

Teaching asociations
Consider joining or following on twitter some of the larger organisations that provide general research informed strategies such as the Chartered College of Teaching and ResearchED. These organisations are leading the way in evidence informed practice. ResearchED also host several events across the country through the year that are well worth a visit. Denbigh will be running another trip for teachers this year. There are also a host of subject associations that are worth following.

Podcasts
Fancy a listen rather than a read? There are several podcasts that can replace bedtime reading, or listening to the news on the way to work. The learning Scientist podcast is a great start and here you can find a good list of some other education podcasts that may tickle your fancy. 

Give new things a go
Experiment with what you learn. Perhaps pick up one strategy and idea and give it a go - see if it works and if it does keep on using it and why not share!?

I am sure that once you start getting involved you will find lots of things that will inspire you - I haven't met many teachers who haven't found it beneficial - perhaps just avoid getting into any protracted and unnecessary twitter debates unless you like that kind of thing!

Good Luck!

Further Reading and instructional videos

• https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2017/apr/20/teachers-on-twitter-why-join-get-started-social-media
• VIDEO - How to use twitter for beginners
• VIDEO - How to build an education network