Have you ever just wanted to reset your entire Twitter account to "following no one" and rebuild who you follow so you can have the best incoming feed ever?
I did. I recently unfollowed EVERYONE on Twitter. I wanted to be discerning about who ends up in my Twitter stream so that I would have more focused and meaningful interactions. As a result, I now have a low quantity, but high quality feed. I know there are numerous ways to filter, sort and follow other Tweeters i.e. HootSuit, TweetDeck, but when it comes to Twitter, I like to keep it simple.
This means I only user Twitter to follow Twitter and I look at three things:
1) @Connect: To see what conversations I've been tagged in.
2) Home: To see what my selected Tweeps are up to.
3) #Discover: To feed or hashtags of interest on Twitter.
That's it.
When you unfollow thousands of people, how do you go about figuring out who to follow? Well, I instantly thought of the top 25 people who influence and interact with me which makes up those in the list below, then I added from there where I've settled comfortably at about 170 people that I follow. My goal is to stay under 200.
Here is the criteria I used to follow people. Tweeps only have to meet one item in the criteria listed below for me to consider following them, but two (usually three) to be in the top 25.
1) We've engaged in a meaningful conversation on Twitter.
2) We've engaged in a meaningful conversation outside Twitter.
3) You write or speak publicly about a topic I'm interested in.
4) You Tweet about a topic I'm interested in.
2) We've engaged in a meaningful conversation outside Twitter.
3) You write or speak publicly about a topic I'm interested in.
4) You Tweet about a topic I'm interested in.
5) You follow me.
6) You noticed I unfollowed you and wrote to me asking me to re-follow.
In no particular order, here are the top 25 people followed by me to keep me connected to the latest in innovative teaching and learning. Among those here you'll find a mix of innovative teachers, students, and administrators...
Lisa Nielsen
@InnovativeEdu
Speaker. Writer. Educational innovator & agitator. Blogger who writes about learning innovatively & alternative ed. Author www.TeachingGenerationText.com
Tom Whitby
@tomwhitbyFOLLOWS YOU
Prof of Education. Founder: #Edchat, The EDU PLN Ning, Linkedin group Technology-Using Professors et al. BLOG: My Island Viewhttp://tomwhitby.wordpress.com
Deven Black
@devenkblackFOLLOWS YOU
Middle school teacher-librarian/media specialist in NYC. If you expect simple answers to complicated questions you are in the wrong place.
Lyn Hilt
@L_HiltFOLLOWS YOU
Elementary Principal, K-6 Tech Integrator/Coach, Reader, Writer, Connected learner!
Scott McLeod
@mcleodFOLLOWS YOU
Associate Professor. CASTLE Director. Blogger. Idea generator. Solution builder. Agitator. Catalyst. “If the leaders don’t get it, it’s not going to happen.”
George Couros
@gcourosFOLLOWS YOU
Division Principal of Innovative Teaching and Learning for PSD70. Passionate about learning, ed. tech, and helping others find their passion! I like dogs :)
Ira Socol
@irasocolFOLLOWS YOU
Re-imagining education based on history, postcolonial theories, liberation theology, and observation. Dedicated to open, democratic learning for all. Writer.
Tim Clark
@BYOTNetworkFOLLOWS YOU
Coordinator of Inst Tech for Forsyth County, GA - Empowering students and teachers with their personal technology devices to improve opportunities for learning.
Mary Beth Hertz
@mbteachFOLLOWS YOU
K-7 Technology Teacher and Technology Integration Specialist in Philadelphia. Edcamp Foundation Board member & organizer.
John T. Spencer
@johntspencerFOLLOWS YOU
Husband. Dad. Teacher. Writer. Perpetual Bender of Paperclips.
Kevin Jarrett
@kjarrettFOLLOWS YOU
Father, husband, Google Certified K-4 technology teacher leveraging social media in education. Blogger, workshop leader, lifelong learner, relentless optimist!
Gary Stager, Ph.D.
@garystagerFOLLOWS YOU
Progressive educator, journalist, speaker, university professor –http://stager.tv/blog -Expertise = edtech, 1:1 computing, online teaching, school reform, jazz
Eric Sheninger
@NMHS_PrincipalFOLLOWS YOU
Principal of New Milford HS (NJ): NASSP National Digital Principal Award Winner (2012), Google Certified Teacher, ASCD Conference Scholar, Author, Speaker
Chris Lehmann
@chrislehmannFOLLOWS YOU
Principal of the Science Leadership Academy Co-Chair - EduCon
Will Richardson
@willrich45FOLLOWS YOU
Parent, author, speaker, instigator, blogger about social Web tools and their effects on schools, education and learning.
Michelle Luhtala
@mluhtalaFOLLOWS YOU
New Canaan High School Library Department Chair. PLN facilitator at edWeb.net/emergingtech. Presenter. Blogger. Fierce advocate for free-range media and BYOD.
Tom Vander Ark
@tvanderarkFOLLOWS YOU
Interested in innovations that customize & motivate learning and extend access
Scott Newcomb
@SNewcoFOLLOWS YOU
Educator, Mobilist, Presenter, Blogger, 1:1 Mobile Learning Devices, ISTE & eLearning Guild member, SIGMLhttp://www.themobilenative.blogspot.com
lisa cooley
@coollitFOLLOWS YOU
Parent, school board member, school change agitator from central Maine. Glass beadmaker; violin teacher. Glass beads and jewelry:http://moltenmama.etsy.com
Allison Wu
@allisonswuFOLLOWS YOU
Advocate for #studentvoice in #edreform / youth engagement in policy | @HuffingtonPost blogger | @MingaGroup & @NYAAmerica too
Dean Shareski
@shareskiFOLLOWS YOU
Teacher, learner, husband, father, golfer. I try not to take this place too seriously but occasionally I do.
Patrick Larkin
@bhsprincipalFOLLOWS YOU
Principal of Burlington HS (MA): NASSP National Digital Principal Award Winner (2012), 1:1 iPad High School, Evangelist for Web 2.0 and Digital Tools.
pammoran
@pammoranFOLLOWS YOU
as an educator I'm for 21st c community learning spaces for all kinds of learners, both adults and young people; comments reflect my personal point of view.
Angela Maiers
@AngelaMaiersFOLLOWS YOU
I believe these 2words can change the world - #YouMatter - I'm an Educator, Author, Speaker passionate about literacy, learning, and power of social media
Joe Bower
@joe_bowerFOLLOWS YOU
I believe students should experience their success and failure not as reward and punishment but as information. Author of for the love of learning.
Not a bad idea. I go through my feed about twice a year and make sure that the people I follow actually contribute something of value to my network and learning. It changes often as my needs change. I also try hard to keep my followings under 200. Not always so easy. You have listed some people here that I will now have to check out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for following me. How does one unfollow everyone?
ReplyDeleteHey! I was wondering why I got that follow notification! I was like, "I thought Lisa was already following me..." haha. Thanks for including me in your network!
ReplyDeleteClick unfollow everyone in the third paragraph to get to the site that allows you to unfollow your Tweeps based on various criteria.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa!
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea, and great selection of people. It's hard to discern what to read and there's so much to miss if it's too busy.
ReplyDeleteI'm new to Twitter and don't find it all that helpful yet. I would imagine a lean list would be the way to go.
ReplyDeleteI totally get this. Confession: Sometimes, I find Twitter exhausting. While I always learn a ton, my brain and/or schedule force me to disengage every so often. Sometimes I just tune out because I need to be reflective, not conversational. But then I suffer what Lee Raine (Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project Director) calls FOMO Syndrome - Fear of Missing Out. I think of all the new learning I am missing and I feel...guilty?...lame?...I don't even know how to describe it. In any case, I am honored that you've chosen to keep me on the short list. I will endeavor to keep my Tweets meaningful, although today, I will clutter up your feed with announcements about this evening's edweb.net webinar on digital libraries - I talk about NYC public schools a bit. http://www.instantpresenter.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=EA58D985844C
ReplyDeleteI love keeping under 200 - how do people manage it when it's not? Anyway, thanks for your list - I'm glad to have some of these fabulous people in my PLN already - you made me feel like I'm on the right track! @JoyKirr
ReplyDeleteHonored to be in the conversation with you all! You make me smarter!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I will make the top 50 :-)
ReplyDeleteI felt a bit discouraged being left off the top 25. I may just be too radical even for you:)
ReplyDeleteMaybe not top 25, but definitely top 100 ;)
DeleteLisa, I know you won't mind me providing a contrary perspective here but your Top 25 are all North American. Wouldn't that make things a bit "echo-chamberish"? You express a lot of frustration with the US Education system - it would make sense to highlight voices from around the world. I must concede that my Reader and Twitter feeds are filled predominantly with English speaking, Western society living educators so I have some improvement to do as well. Who would be in your Top 25 from outside North America?
ReplyDeleteHoly moly. I never even looked at where folks were from. It's something I've noticed though. I no longer think of people being from places but rather having ideas i.e. I don't think of Angela from Iowa. I think of Angela whose an expert in passion driven learning.
DeleteIs there even a way to view folks on Twitter by location?
Try - http://www.mapmyfollowers.com/ - it can show who is following you up to a 1000 followers (which is only a fraction of yours). I've also taken the liberty of responding to this post with my own Top 25 list - but don't take me too seriously. You might still find some new Tweeters of interest that will add and broaden your educational perspective.
ReplyDeleteLisa, what a great post and radical idea!
ReplyDeleteI've essentially done the same thing without going to the trouble of unfollowing anyone. Instead, I made a "barebones" list that contains my very favorite tweeps, and I refer to it most of the time instead of the main twitter timeline. It helps to keep my sanity.
For people who don't know about lists, they are worth looking into. I've made several lists for different purposes, but my barebones list is one I refer to most often.
Just wanted to say thank you for keeping me on our list. Much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy learning from you too! :)
All the cool kids!
ReplyDeleteI read this when you posted and wanted to say thank you so much for all of your support and encouragement, and for sharing all that you do. We learn much from you!
ReplyDelete