Michael F. Shaughnessy
Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, New Mexico

Deborah Mersino is Principal of Ingeniosus and Moderator of Global #gtchat on Twitter. In this interview she discusses the social and emotional needs of gifted children and how parents and educators from across the world are utilizing the Twitter platform to discuss concerns, share resources, ignite advocacy and generate fresh ideas on behalf of gifted learners.

1)      Deborah, I understand that you have a site where parents, teachers, counselors and others can discuss the intellectual, social and emotional needs of gifted…How did this come about?

A simple savvy post on Twitter, which is called a tweet, by parent P.J. Kaiser led to the idea for a new global Twitter chat devoted specifically to gifted issues. At the time, I had already been tweeting gifted education news on a daily basis. Based on P.J.’s suggestion, I started investigating Twitter chats and immediately felt inspired by the potent possibilities of providing a real-time forum for parents, educators, students and advocates to discuss gifted issues each week.

I used #edchat, a weekly chat on Twitter that draws hundreds of educators from across the globe, as a guide. I couldn’t have made it happen without the sound advice I received from scores of individuals, especially Jerry Blumengarten (@cybraryman1) and Corey Alderdice (@innervation).

Since its inception in January 2010, global #gtchat has drawn participants from throughout the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Great Britain, Australia, Canada and the United States. It’s truly about collaboration! The Ingeniosus Web site (www.ingeniosus.net), which provides guidance on #gtchat and “Best of #gtchat” resources, as well as transcripts of the chats, has received more than 87,000 hits in just a few months from 61 countries; these numbers continue to grow. And with nearly 1,000 tweets being devoted to #gtchat each week, Twitter is quickly changing the face of gifted advocacy worldwide.

2)      Is there a specific time that this occurs or is it fairly open and informal?

Global #gtchat takes place on Twitter every Friday at noon and 7 p.m. (EST).  Each session is one-hour long. It truly amazes me that parents in Ireland stay up for the midnight chat to participate. We’ve even got some truly devoted Australians who wake up in the middle of the night – and then again in the morning – to join our discussions! Resources, links and down-to-earth sharing continue to make #gtchat a platform worth exploring.

3)       How can individuals participate? Do you have any tips?

Here are some simple tips for getting started:

·         If you’re not already on Twitter, set up an account at www.twitter.com. (Note: It’s not as tricky as it may seem).

·         Be sure your profile settings are on “public” view instead of “private”; otherwise, your tweets won’t show up during the chats.

·         Search for the hashtag #gtchat in the search box; this will pull up all tweets relating to #gtchat before, during and after the chats.

·         Feel free to be a voyeur for a few weeks. You don’t have to tweet during the chats; however, eventually you’ll likely be inspired to do so.

·         Don’t forget to include the hashtag #gtchat in your tweets when participating. Particularly when you get involved, it can be tricky to remember!

·         If you come into the chat late and want to be active, please introduce yourself, your role (parent, teacher and/or advocate) and your location. Then, I’ll try to fill you in on the questions/subject being discussed at that time.

·         Feel free to ask questions and/or share real-world experiences.

·         Use http://bit.ly to shorten resource links.

·         Check out past transcripts at www.ingeniosus.net/gtchat-transcripts.

·         Give yourself time to adapt and enjoy!

·         If you feel overwhelmed (i.e. don’t know what a hashtag is), visit www.ingeniosus.net/gtchat for more information.

4) How are topics chosen?

Every Monday, I post a Twtpoll, so that everyone has an opportunity to vote on five possible #gtchat topics. With one click, individuals are taken to an online poll, where they can choose their favorite two topics for that week. The topic receiving the most votes is discussed at the 7:00 p.m. (EST) session on Friday; the runner-up topic is discussed at noon (EST) on Friday. If you follow me on Twitter (@DeborahMersino), you’ll get the link to each week’s Twtpoll. You can also access current and past Twtpolls by visiting www.ingeniosus.net/votefortopics.

5)      Are there any topics that are prohibited?

There aren’t really any subjects that are off-limits. We have covered everything from “Back-talking Kids: Asynchrony or Attitude?” and “Trouble Signs: Depression/Anger/Narcissism/Isolation” to “GT Advocacy Polarities: Digging Deep into Divisions” and “Coping with GT Program Cuts: Pragmatic Survival Tips.”

We tend to discourage hijackers who claim outright that gifted education is elitist and/or unnecessary. It’s a given that those participating in #gtchat believe in the value of supporting our high-potential students educationally and at home.

6)      Do you make any broad statement about confidentiality?

Because we do post transcripts, all tweets are in the public domain. If individuals are concerned about privacy, they are welcome to interact with each other via email or Direct Messages (DMs) on Twitter. Sometimes people will use abbreviations, such as dd for “dear daughter” or “ds” for “dear son” but most of the time, we’re sharing openly.

Although I shouldn’t be surprised, I’m often taken aback by how utterly similar our parental experiences are throughout the world. There is a definitive hunger among parents – and educators – of gifted students to connect with each other. Whether we’re chatting about how to best support twice-exceptional students or handle homework battles, we find common ground by sharing our experiences, resources and insights.

7)      What seem to be the most prevalent topics so far?

Finding sanity amid chaos seems to be a prevailing theme! Other favorite topics have included:

·         Finding Age-appropriate Literature for Gifted Kids

·         Math Mania: Finding the Best Sites/Resources/Tools

·         Understanding and Supporting Visual-Spatial Learners

·         Dealing with “Little Lawyers” and Bossiness

·         Role Models: Delving into the Best Biographies for Gifted Students

·         Understanding the Many Facets of Perfectionism

8)      Are various organizations aware of your global #gtchat?

The Gatton Academy for Mathematics and Science in Kentucky (www.wku.edu/academy), a state-supported residential high school for juniors and seniors interested in advanced careers in science, technology, engineering and math, became our first Global #gtchat Sponsor in July! Sponsors like The Gatton Academy will help ensure that #gtchat continues to grow and thrive. Businesses and organizations who become Global #gtchat sponsors not only benefit from delving into the social media realm, but they also reach a targeted global audience while supporting a worthy cause.  More information about Global #gtchat Sponsorships can be found at www.ingeniosus.net/gtchat/sponsors.

Moreover, #gtchat has been quite fortunate to have support from many laudable organizations, including the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) in the United States, which published a two-part feature on Twitter and Gifted Education in its flagship Parenting High Potential magazine. The Davidson Institute for Talent Development in Reno, Nevada, has also been an avid supporter; I can’t thank them enough. Prufrock Press, Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page and the Bavarian Center for Gifted and Talented Children have also done a consummate job of helping spread the word about #gtchat.

9)      Are there certain questions that seem to appear and re-appear?

It’s clear that many #gtchat participants long for the day when their gifted children and teens will receive the educational support they need and deserve. I’ve discussed gifted education being a civil rights issue; participants often address the dire need for more funding and provision for gifted education programming in their district, state, province and/or country. We want and need to create more secure funding, positive support and better advocacy for gifted learners worldwide. Spreading the word and forging relationships with policy-makers, administrators and teachers from Pittsburg to Paris will assist us in these efforts. Social media can – and will – play a vital role.

Asynchronous behaviors, overexcitabilities and intensities also continue to rise to the top in terms of regular dialogue. Parents want to know how to best support their children and teens to thrive, when confronted with today’s uber-busy lifestyles and demands.

10)  What have I neglected to ask?

What if parents and/or gifted educators aren’t technical and/or are unfamiliar with Twitter? Isn’t it hard?

Just as there are many myths about gifted education, there are a multitude of myths about social networking. Twitter isn’t just for tech geeks and it need not be a time-waster. In fact, when used properly, Twitter and #gtchat can provide solace and insights to busy parents and teachers of gifted students from the comfort of their own computer. And it’s free! While it may take a while to grow accustomed to some of the lingo and protocols of Twitter, it’s actually quite easy. Interested individuals can check out the Ingeniosus Web site for tips on getting started and/or email me at deborah@ingeniosus.net. Together, we can make a difference for gifted learners worldwide!