Dare I admit this in my blog? I think I am addicted to Twitter!

A day doesn’t go by without checking my Twitter updates. I haven’t quite put my finger on why it is so addictive. What possesses me to log on each morning to see what are people are doing, reading, saying or thinking? And why do I feel compelled to answer in 140 characters or less the question – What are you doing? Do people really care?

Today I am a panelists on KnowledgeBank for a follow up session of Steve Hargadon keynote – Web2.0 is the Future of Education. It is reading his paper on 10 Trends he believes have importance for education, that I started to make some connections with why I like Twitter.

Trend 1 – New Publishing Revolution – I can create content through micro-blogging and make links to other content.

Trend 2 – A Tidal Wave of Information – There is so much to learn from the Twitter community. You can always find new tools, find out about a project or some interesting research. You can even call on the Twittersphere for advice – see Jess McCulloch’s post.

Trend 3 – Everything is Becoming Participative – Twitter allows for opinions, reflections and comments. Dialogue can be generated out of a link to a news story or a video.

Trend 4 – The New Pro-Sumers - I can consume, produce and digest.

Trend 5 – The Age of the Collaborator – I can find new ideas and great experiences shared via Twitter. I can work on shared understandings and collaborate to create new knowledge – all through a tweet.

Trend 6 – An Explosion of Innovation – Many new ideas, projects have come about from communicating globally with other like minded, or not so like-minded people.

Trend 7 – The World Gets even Flatter and Faster – Twitter is anytime, anywhere! I can connect globally 24/7. Twitter does not close for the day.

Trend 8 – Social Learning Moves Towards Centre Stage – Much of my learning about Web2.0 most definitely has come through social online interaction. Twitter has been my ‘hallway’ for learning. It is that quick chat, the touch base with a colleague, the overhearing of the a little gem that for me, is the most addictive thing about Twitter.

Trend 9 – The Long Tail – The more I learn about Web2.0 on Twitter the more I want to learn. I have a passion to learn and am active in my pursuit.

Trend 10 – Social Networking Really Opens Up the Party – and wow what a party it’s been so far.

So what do others think?

“Hullo. I am Angelica. I am 5 years old. I really don’t have much of a past. In fact, I am the future.”

If we were to teach not only for today but also for tomorrow, what should we be teaching our students. Hedley Beare raises this question in his story about Angelica, a fictional 5 year old sitting in your classroom.

Today we asked teachers what they believed to be the most important 21st Century Skills were for our students. These were some of the comments -

• Flexibility
• Communication
• Empathy
• Global Awareness
• Learning how to learn

I have set up a VoiceThread below and would love for you to add your comment.