Who to Follow for #edtech Inspiration

Follow these educators for inspiration and advice for your classroom

Integrating technology into the classroom can be one of the most engaging and effective strategies you can implement as a teacher. It can also be the most daunting, especially when dealing with limited resources at your school.

At times like these, you could use some advice and inspiration, and who better to get it from than actual educators? Enter Twitter– a popular resource for teachers for sharing ideas and advice about education technology. (Learn about tweets and hashtags here).

This week, Educator Studio is spotlighting our top five favorite inspirational Twitter accounts. While there are plenty of educators you can follow for real-time news and information on education technology, these educators offer real-world advice and inspiration for your classroom.

Tom Whitby - @tomwhitby

As founder of the influential #edchat movement, Tom Whitby is the Twitter account to follow for ideas and advice on education technology. An advocate for critical thinking and life-long learning, Tom’s experiences as both an outspoken professor and connector of educators lend credence to his inspirational words on education reform. Follow Tom for a constant stream of advice on technology integration, or visit his profile to find links to more than 23,000 educators on Twitter.

Jerry Blumengarten - @cybraryman1

A self-described “cybrarian,” Jerry Blumengarten is an educator and writer who is trying to catalog the Internet for students, educators, and parents. With 30 years teaching experience, Jerry knows the value of ed tech for student engagement, and he’s not afraid to tweet about it. Follow Jerry if you want advice on how to foster a better learning environment for your students. Jerry is also a great educator to follow if you want to get involved in #edchat discussions on important topics such as ed policy and funding.

Josh Stumpenhorst - @stumpteacher

A language arts/ social studies teacher and “aspiring Jedi Knight,” Josh Stumpenhorst is a fantastic educator to follow if you have a question or need advice on technology integration. He’s more likely to answer your questions than say, Tom Whitby, and his tweets promote sharing with and learning from other educators. Josh uses his Twitter account to ask his followers questions about ed tech, prompting a variety of interesting and insightful responses from educators across the Twittersphere. He also has a really cool “Jedi” video on his blog.

Krissy Venosdale - @venspired

Like Jerry Blumengarten, gifted and eMints educator Krissy Venosdale is an advocate of better student engagement in the classroom. In her own words, she wants to foster a learning environment where students can “imagine, create, dream, and explore.” Krissy tweets out important questions to help other educators build an engaging classroom community. Follow Krissy to read her inspirational thoughts on the importance of quality learning.

Dr. Justin Tarte - @justintarte

Dr. Justin Tarte is the director of curriculum and support services for a school district in Missouri. A top contributor to the #edchat movement, Justin uses Twitter to share his inspiring thoughts on education leadership. He’s a believer in group collaboration and frequently engages in thought-provoking discussions with other educators on Twitter. Follow Justin for a steady stream of inspiration from a passionate educator.

Do you know an inspirational educator on Twitter? Tell us who inspires you in the comments section. Also, check out our Wise Words Series, where we illustrate the inspirational words of passionate educators, including many of the educators in today’s post.