Month: June 2022

Blog #6

https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/oextend/chapter/extend-cultivate-a-pln/

Introduction

As I move onto the next chapter of my life, I am unsure about many things, for instance where I will be working, in addition to whether or not I’ll still be in school (graduate school, specifically). However, despite all that uncertainty, there are a couple of things that I know will remain constant and in truth, it is due to this course that I can confidently say those words. Let me explain, prior to being in this course I more or less was mindless toward the skills and opportunities, I could be learning and taking away from PLNs, moreover, I was also being mindless towards the different views, perspectives, and ideas that other individuals and their PLNs could offer not just myself but everyone I know.

Bridging the Gap

I think about how my outlook towards my PLN has changed, mainly from being “self-centered” and more so how I would use my PLN for my own individuality and individual gain and not expand beyond my one-sided view of that. There are gaps in information, points of view, and perspectives that I would like to bridge. As someone who has been given a multitude of opportunities that many don’t get such as not only getting to travel to another country but also getting the chance to study at some of the highest and most formative levels of education (Highschool, and University)  it would be a disservice to not only not share what I have learned but also not share what my friends, teachers and other PLNs have taught me.

Future Plans

As an international student studying in the realms of Psychology and Education, I tend to use my PLNs to bridge the accessibility of information (academic, and non-academic). Just seeing the benefit of what I could learn and have learned from being here (Canada) is immense and incredibly invaluable. In addition, what individuals I know could learn back home (Dubai) is also very important to me. All that needs to be done is for it to be available and put at the forefront and I know the usage and utilization would thrive. They are calling this age the technology age and rightfully so, with all of the technological advancements, the metaverse, information, and endless possibilities for PLNs. My intentions moving also includes not just looking at social media as a form of getting information about what’s happening right now and what’s popular, however, I plan to take some time and dive a little deeper into the perspectives of those who have a social media presence like myself. This, without hesitation, is my biggest takeaway from this course and in my honest opinion, it might be one of the most important lessons that I believe could have been learned especially during this time in history known as the technology age.

Blog #5

https://twitter.com/advcircle/status/663772342011604992

  • Community communications go beyond blogs and social media shares, how does a PLN help and hinder the development of thoughts and ideas in education discourse?

PLN contributes to the growth of concepts and opinions in discourse by establishing a global network of communities. PLN fosters the development of ideas in discourse by bringing together people from all over the world. Baker acknowledges Leona Prince in the video, a strong female parent who uses social media with a lot of “feelings and emotions”. She not only posts and shares information, but she also connects with people emotionally which helps to develop a community. Another great influencer, Baker mentioned Negon Sinclair, an indigenous leader who is a leader across the country around truth and reconciliation and gains indigenous voices’ perspectives.

  • How do educators create discourse?

Educators create discourse by inviting individuals to discuss topics they are passionate about doing so makes them engaged in the conversation and brings more to the table of discussions.

  • Which social media platforms are beneficial in education?

As technology and social media take over the world, there are so many great platforms to use for education. Students and teachers have access through any device to gain insight on connecting with different learning groups. Some great tools are TedEd – which offers TED Talks but with visual animations, WordPress – web communication with lessons for students, and YouTube – which I personally use the most as it has almost anything and everything you might be looking for.

  • When working with the vulnerable sector, how does social media fit into professionalism and regulations?

I believe those in vulnerable sectors such as health care professionals can use social media to empower their personal learning networks. They have access to resources and information out of reach for most people, so they are able to increase awareness, and provide real health information to their nearby and far communities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fby_VgVpno

Resources:

Resource:
Chesser, L. (2022, April 6). 25 Awesome Social Media Tools for Education. InformED. https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/social-media-tools-for-education/

Miller. (2021). Brad Baker EDCI 338. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5z8iHxW2n4&feature=youtu.be

Blog #4

https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/opinion/europe-should-put-data-at-the-service-of-society/

  • How do notable individuals use social media?

Individuals use social media to share their thoughts, ideas, information and most importantly create communities and build connections. Notable individuals are individuals that are important figures to society, and they use social media to keep them relevant, self-promote as it is one of the most effective ways to do so.

  • What are the benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN?

The benefits of being in the public eye through having a personal learning network is being able to embrace your authenticity and to create connections with like-minded and diverse individuals. It helps employers have an insight to whom they are hiring solely based on their internet search, through blogs, communities, and social media activities. Notable individuals being in the public eye comes with some benefits as they are more likely to come across great opportunities and most importantly when they want to speak about topics that means something to them, they bring more awareness to it. A great example is the Palestinian-Dutch model Bella Hadid she continues to speak and raise awareness for Palestinians on Instagram and is vocal with her viewpoints on Muslims society’s.

  • Building community with online tools provided by the employer can be limiting, what are the perceived restrictions and benefits?

The perceived benefits that can help when building an online community through an employer has benefits but more often is limited. Some benefits may include employers have insight on their targeted audience needs which increases and improves customer loyalty. A restriction may include the limitation of what you can post on the company’s  social media platforms.

  • Delivering information in a connected society requires verifiable resources, how do build a PLN to rely on?

It is important to develop relationships with trustworthy and verifiable resources. It is critial to create connections with people you know are that are always trustworthy and are not just telling you lies and giving you incorrect information. To make your PLN reliable and verifiable, you must first establish a good reputation by connecting with others who are reliable and verifiable.

  • How do those, who are veteranstorytellers, minimize the risk of sharing misinformation?

Minimizing risk in misinformation sharing is related to the concept of having reliable and verifiable resources within your PLN. It is critical for an individual to ensure that they are not simply spreading their beliefs and false facts when they should be sharing reliable information. A good way to reduce the risk of spreading misinformation is to ensure that your own resources and sources are reliable, as well as having a publicist or other individual go over and edit their work.

  • How to best address negative replies and critiques reflective of your own personal values and employers social media policy?

Every individual who uses social media platforms will receive negative responses and critiques at some point. How we respond to these responses and critiques reveals a lot about ourselves. Personally, I believe it is more effective not to respond to such responses and critiques, or to respond kindly and politely if you do. I believe that responding negatively or inconsiderately is terrible and reflects poorly on yourself and your employer. It is a waste of time, and it is preferable for individuals to try to ignore it and move on.

Reference:

Hirst, M. Navigating Social Journalism. New York, Taylor & Francis, 2019.

Blog #3

https://inkfactorystudio.com/blog/diversity-and-inclusion-training/

  • How diverse is your PLN? Are you learning from a variety of diverse voices & are you expanding your understanding of the views of others?

My current PLN is diversified. There are individuals of various ages, nationalities, gender, and sexuality. This allows people to freely participate online. I follow people with the same interest which allows us to build stronger connections with like-minded individuals but as well I am open to discussions with diverse voices as it helps me understand the views of others coming from all over the world. By having others express themselves and contribute to their ideas, I find it interesting to see how they view things from their POV. This allows me to expand my own knowledge-creating an open-minded conversation with those who have different ideas, this supports me to engage in new interests.

  • What is the learning outcome of your PLN and how are you ensuring your exposure to diversity and inclusion?

Diversity has the potential to broaden my perspective on inclusion by increasing my understanding and appreciation. A diverse PLN is the most effective way to increase inclusiveness. By actively following people of various age groups, gender identities, beliefs systems, and regions can all contribute to greater inclusivity. The outcome to my PLN learning is to simply be transparent with my views but to also listen to those around me discussing their perspective this allows members to share their perspectives and experiences in a safe place, broadening my horizons and personal growth.

  • How does social media engage & challenge in communication?

Social media engagement has become an essential component of any marketing strategy as social media platforms evolve to reward genuine social interactions. With regards to its challenges, The rise of social media has altered the world’s view of communication. The increase in communication speed has sparked a revolution and a desire to share mattes among people all over the world, providing an inside look at distant locations and spreading digital messages.