TCCfx 2014 Conference: Tweeting of minds--Week Nine

Week Nine

TCCfx 2014 Conference: Tweeting of minds

It was the meeting of minds and the tweeting of minds at the TCCfx 2014 conference. This was a delightfully new experience for me, which lead to exploration on the ramifications of tweeting during an academic conference.

For me it was awkward at first, not knowing what to do or where to jump in to respond to the flow of tweeting of minds. Prior to the start of the conference, Dr. Bert posted tweets on handy tips for using social media during a conference as well as guidance for using Twitter to monitor events. Even though awkward initially, it gave me a sense of hope in doing it right and direction.

Bert Kimura ‏@kimubert Oct 21

Tips for Using Social Media During Conferences http://mashable.com/2014/10/21/using-social-media-events/#:eyJzIjoidCIsImkiOiJfc3BpMWY4bDRtc3N2YXJ0diJ9 … via @mashable #tccfx #642fa

Bert Kimura ‏@kimubert  Oct 22

Guidance for using Twitter to monitor professional events such as #TCCfx. http://etcjournal.com/2012/11/10/twitter-for-professional-use-part-4-participating-in-a-live-event/ … #642fa @Melissa_Venable

My first tweet of the TCCfx 2014 Conference came because I didn’t know how to get to the next room.  

My tweet, “How do I get to the next room? International Research in Educational Technology. #tccfx #642fa.” No response. I felt as no one was listening.  I felt frustrated. So, I tweet again. This time I directed tweets toward two participants “@jgcellist @bigislemom Do you know how to go to the next room after this? #tccfx #642fa.”

James G. @jgcellist tweets:

“James G. ‏@jgcellist Oct 22 @faith_SMi @bigislemom I just quit and switched tracks. Put in the code for which track you wanted. :)”

Terry Saragosa quickly follows. Her tweet: “@faith_SMi @jgcellist—stay in the room if you are going to stay in track 1. Exit and re-enter with tccfx2014_track2 if not#642fa #tccfx.”

Before exiting, I tweet back; “bigislemom @jgcellist Thanks! #tccfx #642fa.”

While my tweeting skills are yet to be honed, the most beneficial meeting of minds and tweeting of minds came by my tweeting exhange with Mark Yap. He tweeted, “Tips by Gavon.” #TCCfx Articulate Storyline is AWESOME.

Mark Yap ‏@markyap501 Oct 22

Tips by Gavon. #TCCfx Articulate Storyline is AWESOME!!

I followed by tweeting “Articulate storyline is incredibly valuable. #tccfx #642fa.”

Mark tweets @faith_smi—agreed!

To which I tweeted, “@markyap501 How do you keep up on the different products that Storyline offers? Now there is Storyline 2. #tccfx #642.”

Mark tweets, “@faith_smi—we’ve purchased maintenance on the software so we get the updates for a much lower cost.” Mark tweets again, “@faith_smi—depends on ur organizations structure. We have a multimedia dev person who does this.” 

What came as a surprise shortly after the “tweeting our minds” was what Articulate Storyline (the company) did and that was re-tweeted my tweet, “Articulate storyline is incredibly valuable. #tccfx #642fa.” I thought that was rather amazing. It all happened so quickly and in real time.  

How would I rate the overall experience? I’d give it an 8/10. This is not because of the conference, it is rather that I felt I could have tweeted more, responded more, re-tweeted more. Tweets move fast while presenters present. TCCfx 2014 was a terrific experience; however, long before the conclusion of the meeting of minds and tweeting of minds,  the balance/imbalance between actively listening and tweeting was a “fait accompli,” because of my lack of “tweeting” skills. 

In the final tweet analysis, 

"@LTEC 642 E-learning community#practice makes perfect@kimubert#next time! ;)"