As a tweeter of education tweets (many, many education tweets), I often find myself on lists that people put out as recommendations. Whenever that happens there will be a number of people who will pass their judgment over the quality of the list or the quality of the qualifications of individuals on that list. Of course, there are no rules in social media, so that will go on no matter what. I do think that we need a perspective on these lists in order to gauge the intensity of criticism.
First, we should state that anyone putting out a list, recommending people to follow, has found worth in the information that those people have put out. We can’t judge the value of that information to that individual, since we all come from varied backgrounds with varied experiences. What an inexperienced educator finds of value from others may not be as valuable to an educator of many years experience. That does not mean that the information is worthless. It is still valuable to a new educator. It indicates only that that particular list would not meet all the needs of a more experienced educator.
The biggest problem with any list is that someone is always left out. Even in listing your best ten recommendations there is sure to be someone you want on that list equal to all the others, but that would be eleven. Not gonna happen.
We should keep in mind that these are all personal recommendations. As we personalize our learning, we follow those people who best speak to our needs for learning. Again, who works for me might not work for you. I know that I have seen people on list who I follow, or have stopped following because they do not offer enough to supplement or challenge my learning. Those recommendations would not meet my needs, so although I would not take them, that gives me no license to publicly criticize the list, or individuals on it.
Another criticism that I have become most sensitive to recently is faulting an educator for “not even being a teacher”. Not every educator is a classroom teacher. That does not mean they aren’t educators. That doesn’t mean they can’t offer valid information, or considered opinions. (I do draw the line at non-educators making education policy. That is another discussion for another bottle of wine.) Administrators technically are not classroom teachers.
Quite honestly, many classroom teachers have little time to spend on social media when compared to those who educate educators as a vocation. Many consultants, bloggers, vendors, and retired educators spend greater amounts of time sharing information. We need to remind ourselves that sharing in social media allows us to judge the worth of the idea rather than who proposed it. I have become somewhat of a social media professional educator, hence my sensitivity to the criticism. That position however, is based on a 40-year classroom career (for the haters).
The main benefit of any lists recommending people to follow is that there are lists of people to follow. Social media, although no longer in its infancy, is still new to many educators. New educators are joining the community daily. All of us can take recommendations of people to follow. Lists offer a starting point for some, and additional value to established Personal Learning Networks for others. We must however, determine on our own, if any person warrants a continued “follow”, or a quick, unheralded “unfollow”. We design our own learning. We have a say, a voice in who we choose to learn from. Lists are introductions to people we might not yet have been exposed to.
I would hope that lists could be viewed with more tolerance, if not appreciation. Remember that the people on the lists did not choose to be there. Their appearance on the list came from another. They do not deserve to be publicly criticized for that. They are not to be targeted because someone else doesn’t get it. Respect is key to social media succeeding as a vehicle for our learning.
My Island View 
I believe that we have reached a level of absurdity when we have to defend lists and their place in social media and in education. Every time a new list comes out there is some ballyhoo over it. Last week it was the Forbes list, and now this week it will be the Mashable list. Perhaps next week we will all be in an uproar over David Letterman’s Top Ten Top Ten Lists of Educators.
Lists are just that, lists. My wife writes me a list every week. I then take that list to the store and attempt to purchase the items on it. Not easy to do when her list is in English and all of the product’s labels are in Japanese. This week she left off my favorite fruit, strawberries, which are in season here in Japan. Instead she had grapes. Does this mean that I can’t buy strawberries? Will the world end if I do, even though they were not on my wife’s list? Does this mean that my wife does not think strawberries worthy of our purchase? Should I attack my wife, her list and grapes because of this oversight? I rather like grapes, especially when they are smashed and left in oak barrels for long periods of time.
Now if you all will excuse me I need to go write a list of 10 people my wife should contact in case of an emergency. You can read that list later on Wired.com.
[…] As a tweeter of education tweets (many, many education tweets), I often find myself on lists that people put out as recommendations. Whenever that happens there will be a number of people who will … Another criticism that I have become most sensitive to recently is faulting an educator for “not even being a teacher”. Not every educator is a classroom teacher. That does not mean they aren’t educators. That doesn’t mean they can’t offer valid information, or considered opinions. (I do draw the line at non-educators making education policy. That is another discussion for another bottle of wine.) Administrators technically are not classroom teachers. […]
[…] As a tweeter of education tweets (many, many education tweets), I often find myself on lists that people put out as recommendations. Whenever that happens there will be a number of people who will … Another criticism that I have become most sensitive to recently is faulting an educator for “not even being a teacher”. Not every educator is a classroom teacher. That does not mean they aren’t educators. That doesn’t mean they can’t offer valid information, or considered opinions. (I do draw the line at non-educators making education policy. That is another discussion for another bottle of wine.) Administrators technically are not classroom teachers. […]
I appreciate this post Tom. The people on Twitter who make the “lists” and really don’t care about making it on a “list” are easy to identify. They share resources and connect with others because they care. I’m glad to be in the same profession as those folks and glad they are a part of my PLN.
[…] As a tweeter of education tweets (many, many education tweets), I often find myself on lists that people put out as recommendations. Whenever that happens there will be a number of people who will … Another criticism that I have become most sensitive to recently is faulting an educator for “not even being a teacher”. Not every educator is a classroom teacher. That does not mean they aren’t educators. That doesn’t mean they can’t offer valid information, or considered opinions. (I do draw the line at non-educators making education policy. That is another discussion for another bottle of wine.) Administrators technically are not classroom teachers. […]
When I think of Twitter lists, the first thought that comes to mind is organizing the people that I follow into lists on Twitter. I follow so many people, that this method helps me “change the channel” of who I’m following whenever I want. I organize my lists into teachers, technology, admin, etc.
[…] As a tweeter of education tweets (many, many education tweets), I often find myself on lists that people put out as recommendations. Whenever that happens there will be a number of people who will … […]
I think lists are a useful insight into the passions/strengths/views/ideas that an individual has; who cares who is on whose list though? While it is obviously nice to be recognised, I think people shouldn’t get on their high horse over this.
As evanscherr so aptly pointed out – lists are just that, lists.
You’ve got this right, Tom.
Lists provide starting points for people who are new to social spaces, and that makes them valuable in and of themselves.
Whenever I post a list, I always add the disclaimer that while my “Top 10 Tweeters” are right for me, they may not be right for everyone because they were chosen based on my interests and passions and preferences. I also always mention that my “Top 10 Tweeters” change constantly depending not on the content that they are sharing, but depending on what I’m passionate about.
For example, I haven’t stopped by the Island in a long while. That’s not because YOU have changed in some way. Instead, it is because I have changed. I’m wrapped up in all kinds of Common Core work right now — and that’s not your strength.
That’s the beauty of social spaces. They CAN change — and if we are using them right, they WILL change.
Does this make sense?
Bill
Reblogged this on that MADDENing teacher and commented:
My Island View’s Top 10 for 2014! 🙂
OK, I have gathered from Tom’s posts he does not care for lists per this post. So, in the spirit of New Year fun, I have been mulling a reblog, which is simply my way to bring a smile to Tom’s face. So, read and enjoy. You will learn something as well! Happy New Year!
Barbara Thank you so much for the repost. I even read it myself. I forgot about this one. Yes I am smiling