Month: October 2022

How would you create a PLN prior to engaging a social media campaign on a topic of your choice?

Creating your PLN before launching a social media campaign is important because when this social media campaign is launched, there is an audience that can engage with it. This engagement can involve liking, commenting, sharing and reposting. Having this strong PLN before launching a social media campaign improves the chances of it succeeding. As talked about within the Woods (2013) reading, knowing that all PLN’s are different, using Twitter and diversifying your intake of information. Understanding these steps helps get your PLN up and going. I am currently building up my PLN to make it strong before launching a a new campaign with a health and fitness company. My role working for this company will be to engage with my PLN and grow the company within my demographic. Currently I am growing my knowledge within this field of work therefor when I start with them I will be prepared for the task. As I have not started with this company yet, I believe that currently growing my PLN is the best way I can be prepared for this next challenge in my career.

Knowing that all PLN’s are different

• As inspiration from other PLN’s can be very helpful, it is important to know that everyone’s PLN’s are different. Everyone comes from a different background and is taught how to engage with people differently. We have unique skill sets that benefit us in different ways. This directly impacts your PLN as what might work for someone, may not work for you. Understandig how to use your own skillsets to create your PLN that differentiates from others is important. 

Using Twitter

• Twitter is a simple resource that can connect users from around the world. It is easy to share  little excerpts of information with your PLN. Twitter is great because it restricts the amount of character used, which makes the user only convey the most important parts of the information they are sharing. Twitter is very diverse and has everything from politics to sports which makes it appealing for many users. Expanding your PLN through Twitter allows for an engaging look into different fields within society. 

Diversifying your PLN

• Having a diverse PLN gives you a well rounded look into different people that you may not be familiar with. In the long run this helps build connections into different fields of work. You may not know what industry or field of work you may be interested in or involved with down the line. Engaging with other PLN’s outside your comfort zone will open the door to new opportunities down the line.

Woods, B. (2013) Building your own PLN : Seeking new insights and Ideas? Expand your personal learning network. Training and Development. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.dop=ITBC&u=uvictoria&id=GALE|A348998538&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon

Which social media platforms are beneficial in education? 

As talked about from our guest speaker Brad Baker the use of social media greatly benefits the field of education. in the discussion, Miller tells us a story about a time when his peers and him interacted with an indigenous women in northern Canada. This women was using social media (Instagram) to promote and tell a story about her homeland to the public. Platforms like instagram allow the user to educate populations with a photo and a story to go along with it. She mentions that without sites like this and her promoting her experiences, they would not have the same amount of tourists and visits, which in the long run, brings money into their economy funding and helping them earn a living. Our guest speaker Baker and instructor Miller mention in their discussion that information that encompasses indigenous knowledge online is outdated. The power of education through social media is that it is current. There can be real time updates about certain educational issues within society that if posted well, can reach masses online. Education sectors that have a strong presence on social media can gain traction rapidly and get their information out to the public. The tools that we have access too are here to help us connect and share stories in our life.

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

Working with the vulnerable sector can be challenging to navigate. Precautions and understanding of these sectors must be taken to tell stories correctly. As mentioned by guest Baker as an example, indigenous populations are often thought of very simple within certain areas of society. However this is not the case. Indigenous populations are often very complex and there are many topics that people outside of these populations are not faced with and simply cannot understand. Being able to share and educate populations outside of this onto social media platforms takes  professionalism and a deep understanding of the topic on hand. Regulations within the education are important for keeping information valid and online. If regulations are not followed, information will be taken down and discredited. As Baker mentions regarding change in the field of education “For change to happen, you must be vulnerable” (Baker, 2021). People must be willing to put themselves out there and explain their story to the full extent so others can grasp an understanding. It is in these powerful stories that people feel vulnerable to share, that change can happen. 

How diverse is your PLN?

My PLN prior to starting this course was not very diverse and didn’t expand too far outside of my personal reach. The people that mostly make up my PLN are everyone I have gone to high school and my closer friends from university. To widen my PLN reach, this requires being more active in the professional networking areas of society and engaging in making new online connections. Having a diverse PLN gives a person perspective into areas they might not be familiar with which can widen and grow your perspective of how you see the professional world. It is important to meet individuals from all different walks of life. This opens doors to areas and experiences that one may mot have had if they haven’t diversified their PLN. After being in this course just over a month now I can say that I am making the steps forward to diversify my PLN and make new connections. One of these steps is actively browsing new connections on LinkedIn that are outside of my intermediate personal reach. Another one is being an active student on campus, attending networking events like clubs and public speakers. During the first week of class I attended the UVic club fair where I was able to engage in good conversation with like-minded individuals with all different interests. Going to these events and putting myself out there is a great way to diversify my PLN. 

I think that I am slowly learning from diversifying my PLN. As I am only just over a month into paying attention to my PLN and actively making progressive steps forward I think that I have started and will start to see more results down the line. Measuring how diverse a persons PLN can be tricky because what may be diverse to one individual is different from another individual considers diverse. As there is an up and coming election, expanding your horizons on different candidates is a great way to learn and expand your views as an individual. Personally I have been following a few different candidates on professional networking sites to compare and contrast the different viewpoints. As I have recently started paying a strong attention to these changes and new voices, over time is when I think I will really start to understand what information is being implied. 

What is a learning outcome of your PLN and how are you insuring your exposure to diversity and inclusion?

With one year left in my undergraduate degree I would like to expand my PLN as much as I can to give myself the best shot at success for my professional career after university. I would like to engage with fellow classmates in all the departments of my courses to gain a wide variety of connections for the future. Having a strong PLN going into my career gives me the opportunity to connect with individuals down the line in different careers.I think it is important to make connections with individuals outside of your major because these individuals have had a different viewpoint on the world for the last 4-5 studying different subjects. Being able to see different sides to each situation will help me with my exposure to diversity and inclusion. Diversifying your PLN is easy, you must immerse yourself in new social situations and you will slowly see the results. 

What digital platforms are students currently using to develop their professional network? 

Students are using digital platforms to promote their digital identity that are intuitive and easy to use. One of these digital platforms is LinkedIn. This platform gives the user many different options and is the gateway source for building up their professional digital identities. With the many different features on LinkedIn, it helps connect users with a wide variety of skills across a wide range of industries and fields. Personally I think LinkedIn is a great platform for building my digital identity because it gives myself practice writing professional pieces and sharing articles. As students are not involved in the workforce as heavily as someone who is done with school. It is important to build these skills now to develop good habits for the future. 

 What could the student consider in expanding their professional learning network?  

Being on these social platforms allows for students to play around and get a feel for the tools o that when they graduate they have a strong digital identity and the proper skill set to take with them to the work force. Attending campus events such as public speakers and social events is one way to grow your professional network when attending university. Often, you will grow connections in settings that you would have never expected. It is important to put yourself out there, which gives you the chance to make new professional connections. The person you interact with at one of these events could be the one hiring you down the line. 

How does data privacy and security limit and/or promote a PLN?

Data and privacy are two major sectors of a personal learning network. It is important that users promoting their digital identity understand the risks that come with using these platforms. Large companies and corporations often have tools that can search the internet for any information that relates to your identity. Wether this is a social media account linked to your name, or being associated with these other accounts. Everything posted online is trackable. When social media accounts promoting a different digital identity that a personal PLN, it can hinder employment opportunities and future professional relationships. Creating a strong digital identity that also supports and links to a PLN is what employers like to see. This gives them strong confidence that you may be good for a role in a company. Often on social media platforms there are concerns over the use of personal privacy and where personal information will be stored and shared. If we look at public figures on social platforms, we often see that they have one digital identity that aligns with their professional learning network across social platforms. Influential figures will often remain off certain social platforms due to the concern over privacy and security. Creating a strong reputation means being consistent with the content that is posted as well as having the content create discussions and engagement within the followers therefore the users know what is coming from you.