These days it seems like everyone’s twittering about Twitter, and in this new weekly column we delve behind the stories of some of our favourite Shropshire tweeters to find out more about them.

This week we’re taking an in-depth look at the twitterings of a Shropshire Headteacher with a difference.

John Rowe, who posts regular updates from @jsrowe, is the tech-savvy Headteacher at St Mary’s CE School in Albrighton.

He joined Twitter to keep up with technological developments in education.

“Ninety nine per cent of the people I follow on Twitter are teachers, both in this country and all over the world,” he says.

“As a teacher, you learn a lot by getting out and seeing other people’s classrooms, and Twitter is an ideal platform to do that – we can share links, ideas, lesson plans, resources and technology.”

John’s interest in e-learning has led him to make clever use of blogs, podcasts and social networking sites to enrich the learning experience for primary school children.

He set up a school blog for pupils, parents and staff at St Mary’s, which has been shortlisted for a national blogging competition.

“I wanted to keep staff and parents updated on the school’s activities, as well as sharing the childrens’ work with the wider world and encouraging interaction.”

John says one of the main benefits to putting their work online is that it’s there for all time, rather than being displayed for a few weeks in the school.

“It also introduces them to the concept of being published – it’s very exciting for them when their work is seen and commented on by children and schools in other countries.”

John believes social networking sites do have a place in modern education and feels that the internet can engage and empower children, but agrees that teachers and parents should be mindful of risks such as cyber-bullying.

“It’s important to be aware of these things but if you restrict access to technology, it’s a bit like doing road safety lessons without taking a child to see a road.

“What we want to do is maximise the benefits for learning whilst at the same time teaching children safe practice online.”

Twitter has also proved an extremely useful way for pupils and teachers to follow some of the school’s larger projects.

Dave Tinker, the Deputy Head at St Mary’s, is currently twittering from their partner school, Nasioya, in Kimilili, a small market town near the slopes of Mt Elgon in the Western Province of Kenya, close to the Ugandan border.

  See more pictures of Dave’s trip in our gallery.

He is spending two weeks in Kimilili as part of a twinning project organized through the British Council and the Diocese of Lichfield.

Dave has been posting regular updates about his trip, from presenting children in Kimilili with gifts from the Wellington News and the Telford Hornets to meeting a community of nuns and watching local athletics.

“We’re following his journey on Twitter and it’s great to be able to share his experiences,” says John.

“We’re working hard to build close relationships with Nasioya School and we’re hoping to receive their teachers at our school in the future.”

You can follow Dave’s Kenyan journey on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mrdtinker  

By Lara Page