50 Education Leaders Worth Following On Twitter

How do you discover the education news and research that matters to you? Probably by curating a list of the top thought leaders, local people you want to keep track of, and a smattering of other helpful folks.


But it’s not always easy to find the thought leaders from around the world you should be following. Whether you agree with what they’re saying, tweeting, or believing … their opinion matters to many. So rather than shutting out a particular point of view, consider adding some of these 50 education thought leaders curated by Online College to your stream to keep it lively and interesting!

Administrators and Researchers

 

1. John Robinson
   Principal John Robinson loves discussing both policies impacting public schools and education technology from an administrative perspective.
2. Eric Sheninger
   He didn’t win the NASSP Digital Principal Award this year because of his tech-fearing tendencies, that’s for sure! This administrator is all about fostering communication and harnessing social media to improve schools.
3. Lyn Hilt
   The most popular school administrators on Twitter, like proud “connected learner” Lyn Hilt, enjoy taking advantage of today’s technologies to encourage education on a more global level than ever before.
4. Robert J. Marzano
   At the Marzano Research Laboratory in Colorado, this education expert and consultant and his team find practical applications for available studies. Updates from the think tank itself are posted here.
5. Tom D’Amico
   Tom D’Amico oversees the Ottawa Catholic School Board as superintendent and, like most plugged-in admins, he seriously digs education technology.
6. Darcy Moore
   This admin does it all, education-wise, and pulls from his experience as the New South Wales Department of Education and Communities’ deputy principal to discuss both education politics and (duh) the growing importance of edtech initiatives and applications.
7. George Couros
   Education technology and administrative duties collide in this microblog kept by a very popular, influential Ottawa-based Division Principal of Innovative Teaching and Learning.
8. mikeherrity
   SharePoint in Education author and Deputy Headteacher Mike Herrity is all about e-learning, as evidenced by the whole “he created an entire platform for it” thing.
9. Harvard Education
   Learn what the graduate students at this Ivy League cornerstone are currently researching, because at least some of it might very well dictate future policies and initiatives.
10. NAESP
    Follow the National Association of Elementary School Principals for up-to-date information about what today’s administrators think about and want to see happen.

Education Technology

 

11. Kevin Corbett
    This developer and educator focuses on the learning potential of games and social media, sharing expert advice and articles he believes will push the boundaries of tech in the classroom.
12. Steven W. Anderson
    One of Edublogs’ Twitterers of the Year recipients co-created #edchat and predominantly writes, talks, and researches effective strategies for web 2.0 phenomena and ephemera as educational tools.
13. Shelly S Terrell
    Another creator behind #edchat travels around the world teaching social media and blogging to educators hoping to connect with other classrooms and professionals alike. She also authored The 30 Goals Challenge outlining a recommended method of growing familiar with online networking.
14. Vicki Davis
    Flat Classroom Project co-founder Vicki Davis (alias “The Cool Cat Teacher”) enthusiastically embraces all things education technology and student-centric.
15. Howard Rheingold
    When it comes to online education, Howard Rheingold’s pioneering spirit began exploring its potential long before many households enjoyed an internet connection; it’s safe to assume he knows quite a lot about edtech.
16. Ryan Tracey
    (Almost) all e-learning, (almost) all the time. Read enthusiastic blog posts and carefully curated articles centering around trends and topics in online education.
17. Alec Couros
    University of Regina’s Alec Couros merges new media and education together for exciting research on how emerging technologies better engage students of all ages and abilities.
18. Audrey Watters
    A “recovering academic” and writer muses on education technology, linking her audience with her own personal commentary and the latest news on the subject.
19. Andrew Miller
    Game-based learning and edtech fascinate this blogger, educator, and consultant, who boasts quite the following for his expertise.
20. Diana Dell, Ph.D
    The owner and operator of Gamequarium also makes a name for herself consulting schools and individual teachers wanting to know more about the best ways to harness available edtech.

Higher Ed

 

21. Chronicle
    The Chronicle of Higher Education stands as one of America’s leading resources on college and university trends both within the country and across the world.
22. Nasima Riazat
    #PhDchat started as a meeting spot for doctoral candidates to share and discuss their research. It has since grown to include a wide range of academics asking questions, dishing out answers, and exploring their leadership potential. Moderator Nasima Riazat is responsible for this social media success story.
23. Biddy Martin
    Amherst College is one of America’s leading liberal arts colleges, and its president quite enjoys sharing the experience of leading it over Twitter.
24. Tom Whitby
    Education professor Tom Whitby especially appeals to followers looking for a few god tips about technology integration and networking.
25. Women in Higher Ed
    Ladies may outnumber men on campus these days, but they still don’t enjoy equal footing when it comes to both safety and scoring primo professorships. This journal sheds light on the current issues and offers up solutions so everyone receives the same opportunities.
26. Aaron Porter
    The former president of the National Union of Students in the UK now acts as a consultant for higher education institutions looking to do right by their enrollees.
27. Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega
    Professors needing inspiration about how to engage with students via social media should definitely turn towards this environmental politics expert for inspiration.
28. Prof Patrick McGhee
    University of East London’s vice-chancellor belongs to multiple organizations devoted to improving higher education in the UK.
29. Higher Education
    When it comes to higher ed professionals seeking Twitter buddies with whom to talk shop, The Guardian provides one of the leading hubs.
30. TimesHigherEducation
    Though based in London, The Times’ Higher Education section is one of the best resources on global news relating to college and university life and practices.

Nonprofit Organizations and Activists

 

31. Sir Ken Robinson
    Globetrotting education advisor Sir Ken Robinson is a tireless advocate for reform, particularly when it involves encouraging creativity and innovation.
32. Jose Vilson
    This New York-based middle school teacher and data analyst serves on numerous boards devoted to diversity in the classroom and including social media, social justice, and civic engagement and an integral component of education.
33. Gates Foundation
    While the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s modus operandi includes more than just education, it still remains an amazing philanthropic cause building and/or supplying schools around the world.
34. Natthapoj Vincent T.
    He took his Oxford and Cambridge pedigree and applied it to the Global Student Education Forum, a nonprofit, student-oriented organizations for college kids across geographical and cultural divides to debate and discuss education policies in detail.
35. NUS UK
    The National Union of Students is based in the United Kingdom, but represents the interest of enrollees at schools in many other countries and regions through localized chapters.
36. Rania Al Abdullah
    Jordan’s Queen consort devotes much of her time to promoting education initiatives both in her home county and overseas. Some of her contributions include a children’s museum, an excellence in teaching award, scholarships, and grants to renovate public and private schools alike.
37. IIEglobal
    Since 1919, the Institute of International Education has nurtured relationships between schools around the world with the hopes of promoting a safer, more harmonious global community rich in learning opportunities for all.
38. Randi Weingarten
    Although Randi Weingarten acts as the President of the American Federation of Teachers – and obviously tweets about related issues – she also concerns herself with addressing the safety and efficiency of hospitals.
39. Equal Education:
    outh African education reformers have banded together to form the Equal Education initiative demanding more inclusive schooling without compromised quality.
40. StudentsFirst
    Public schools in the United States need some serious love and support, and StudentsFirst founder and CEO Michelle Rhee believes the best strategy for saving them involves … uhhh … exactly what the organization’s name states.

Policymakers and Government Organizations

 

41. Arne Duncan
    As the US Secretary of Education, it’s safe to assume that Arne Duncan holds just a liiiiiiiittle bit of influence over the American public school system.
42. US Department of Education
    They dictate how public schools in the United States run. That’s kind of important for millions of people, not to mention it offers up some examples both of what to do and what not to do for other nations seeking solutions.
43. Justin Hamilton
    He serves as the Press Secretary to the aforementioned Department of Education, offering up news about the latest policy decisions impacting American schooling.
44. Education Nationale
    Follow the latest policy news from France’s Ministere de l’education nationale and learn what the government has in mind for keeping its students educated and its teachers satisfied.
45. Engage for Education
    Scotland introduced the Engage for Education initiative to encourage its citizenry to voice its opinions about how to improve the schools using social media and other technological outlets.
46. DfE
    Sigh. Yes, England’s official Department for Education feed is about more than just not getting any pudding if you don’t eat your meat.
47. ACECQA
    It may not boast as many followers as some of the other Twitters listed here, but the Australian government itself runs this feed about its early childhood education research and policies.
48. OntarioEDU
    With tweets in both English and French, Canadians in Ontario (and other visitors, of course!) can easily keep track of the latest news regarding the province’s education policy changes and proposals.
49. MOE Singapore
    Singaporeans and education policy junkies alike should subscribe to the Ministry of Education’s Twitter feed and learn more about how its government outlines the school system.
50. Sara Mead
    OK. So she isn’t a policy maker. But following a policy analyst will likely help you make better sense of what routes the designated decision makers might take.

Source > http://edudemic.com/2012/10/worldwide-education-twitter/