Month: November 2021

Consider our guest and their steps in building a podcast relying on a PLN. Can your PLN be used to help professional development post-course? If yes, how? If no, what limitations exist?

Our PLN undeniably is a huge source in professional development and this was echoed through our video this week. Mo Amir touched on this topic through speaking on his own experiences professionally and personally. For example, Amir spoke on how Twitter had allowed him to expand and create relationships/conversations with those in and around his network (Miller & Amir, 2021). From this, he was not only able to make new connections but as these people began to interact and follow him, more individuals were able to catch light of who he is expanding his PLN and thus his podcast (Miller & Amir, 2021)! I think this is a solid example of how his initial PLN with the help of Twitter, was able to expand and grow his professional development in terms of his podcast. Another thing brought up was reputation. The way you promote/express yourself in your PLN can help advance your professional development. If you are an active individual (in terms of work) who upholds the values of your profession, when interacting with those in your PLN on public platforms, other individuals are more likely to reach out and seek your business/work (Miller & Amir, 2021). This obviously means you must uphold a positive reputation in order to not hold back development. One last note that I believe was helpful in terms of professional development was when Amir brought up how his background in a different profession (poli-sci/business) allowed him to progress professionally in terms of his podcast, which isn’t his main career (Miller & Amir, 2021). Having this different background, and thus network, his PLN was more broadened allowing for growth professionally.  

Can your PLN be relied on to open professional opportunities?

Your PLN once again undeniably can be relied on to open professional opportunities. This was made eminent from the topic of having different backgrounds which Amir brought up (Miller & Amir, 2021). For example, having a broad PLN which includes individuals from vastly different networks, can allow you to open up an extensive amount of different professional opportunities. This is made possible through platforms such as LinkedIn which allows you to connect with people you share similar connections with and then drives the potentiality of receiving opportunities professionally.

Miller, J., & Amir, M. (2021, October 24). Edci podcast – 2021-10-24 mo amir. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgoDet6pwaI.

Open dialogues about media literacy and information can create conflict, why does this happen?

This week’s video helped explain why there is a conflict between conversations about media literacy and information. Julie Smith first explained what media literacy is and defined it as “the critical questioning of all media we consume” (Miller & Smith, 2021). At first, I was confused about what this concept was but with Smiths’ definition, I realized this isn’t a new concept, as we’ve been exploring this idea already for a few weeks, just without its genuine term. Anyways, throughout the video Smith makes note of news media and I think this really solidified and brought up critical examples of how media literacy and information can create conflict. Smith brought up how news media is a business and at the end of the day, the things they are going to publish and promote will be those that get them the most interest (Miller & Smith, 2021). This can lead to organizations like Fox and CNN to be broadcasting things that necessarily aren’t “credible information” at times. This is where the conflict arises. Many individuals are very opinionated and believe their perceptions of information are fact and when media literacy begins to deteriorate and break down someone’s version of information, these conflicts occur (Miller & Smith, 2021).

What is the benefit of having a PLN that values media literacy?

Having a PLN that values media literacy, values questioning, and seeking out the genuine truth (Miller & Smith, 2021). This is something that is so valuable for a network and can create a space for you and others to create a reliable PLN. When coming together with larger groups it’s hard to decipher fact from fiction but by valuing media literacy you can prioritize questioning and allow for your network to be strongly built on fact (Miller & Smith, 2021).

Miller, J. & Smith, J.(2021, June 6). EDCI 338 – media literacy with Julie Smith. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57r3-aEnci0.

Trilling, B., & Fadel, C. (2009). 21st century skills: Learning for life in our times. SanFrancisco: Jossey-Bass.

Before I begin this week, I wanted to make note of the effect I had from this week’s reading and video. While listening to Brad Baker I found myself so attentively drawn in and began wanting to start writing with every topic that arose. I was so engaged in the talk and felt as though I was genuinely there. I also wanted to make note of a few of the individuals Baker brought up. For one, Connie Walker was a familiar name to me as my partner and I religiously watch and listen to anything true crime-related. I have personally followed stories of missing/murdered indigenous women and the number of stories I could name is haunting. His noting of Walker is, in my opinion, so important cause the more awareness we can bring to this prevalent issue, the more coverage and aid we can give to these missing/murdered women. Another individual was Leona Prince, someone I had not heard of before this video. Her Twitter is something I definitely recommend checking out!! As for this weeks’ reading, I found myself so easily engaged as it was so directly relevant to our class. I found myself not feeling lost in the words but instead creating links to our course. This linking kept me so engaged and allowed me to genuinely understand what was being said. One other last thing, in the video when Jesse made note of cancel culture and how we erase rather than allow the individual to reflect and recognize their wrongs, I thought that was relevant and a fair point that I hadn’t really taken the time to think about. Why are we so quick to dismiss instead of trying to offer them the tools to see their wrongs? 

Explore the video provided and reflect on the themes of a PLN in a professional capacity.

Many themes of a PLN in a professional capacity arose from Brad Bakers’ video this week and his professional life allowed for such vital information to be brought up. Bakers’ professional life is filled with, overseeing many indigenous programs, involvement in an anti-racists committee, and being an appointed trustee that oversees land claim issues. A professional portfolio like this allows for such a diverse and mastery of PLN knowledge. To start, Baker mentioned that your professional learning community is your support system (Miller & Baker, 2021). He also noted that those we interact with professionally don’t just support us; they challenge us (Miller & Baker, 2021). This allows us to not only build strong emotional ties to these individuals, but it will enable us to expand our PLN by working harder, reaching out more, and challenging ourselves and those around us. This consequently allows us to become keener to share, listen and participate, which is key to any PLN. 

 Which social media platforms are beneficial in education?

Baker made points on social media that I had never thought of, and these points linked to an abundance of platforms. Baker noted that social media is so beneficial to education as it is a place for an authentic voice (Miller & Baker, 2021). Social media is where individuals can share true stories firsthand. This is so important as firsthand accounts are tremendously more beneficial than second/third-hand stories, as you are receiving the information right from the source (Miller & Baker, 2021). This is also so important as education has been seen to provide pieces of a story rather than the full reality, limiting our learning! Therefore, from this, we can see social media platforms that prioritize individual participation and posting (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) are things in which are beneficial towards education. Another important thing to note is Connectivism, which in short “theorizes that technology is reshaping the ways humans create, store and distribute knowledge.” (Veletsianos & Couros, 2010;2014;). Therefore, with connectivism in mind, technology (social media) is an integral piece to our development and growth in education! A really good quote brought up was “Fostering and maintaining connections is critical to knowledge generation” (Veletsianos & Couros, 2010;2014;), this directly links to social media platforms as social media is how our generation connects nowadays. We live in a world where our online presence is how others see us thus, using social media to maintain connection directly affects our knowledge generation! Another quote that also is important is “Learning and knowledge rests in diversity” (Veletsianos & Couros, 2010;2014;), social media is a super diverse platform, you can find people from anywhere in the world with any job and so many different interests. So, if learning and knowledge rest in diversity, social media is a great platform (no matter the specific platform), for our education. One final piece that I thought was a great point, was directly related to social media platforms in which we communicate on forums and in groups. In our readings, it went on to explain that PLNs are vital for “sustained long-term learning for students and facilitators.” (Veletsianos & Couros, 2010;2014;). Then it went on to say that communities based around the course itself, dwindle and die once the course is over, but communities based around communal learning are those in which benefit and expand our PLN (Veletsianos & Couros, 2010;2014;). This was something I hadn’t thought of but it’s such a fair point. I can name a handful of classes that were not communal learning (especially as it was Covid and online) and I genuinely couldn’t tell you the name of one person from those courses and honestly, I haven’t thought of those courses since they finished. So, therefore, communal learning (which includes social media) is so integral to education and the growth of our PLN. 

 Consider the equality that exists when all have the same platform to engage community dialogues.

Baker notes that when individuals can engage in community dialogues, complexity can be broadcast (Miller & Baker, 2021). This complexity shapes these community dialogues and creates a safe place in which equality can be present. By having this environment in which any individual may speak and be heard, they not only experience equality but it allows for others to begin to feel comfortable to share their experiences whether they be similar or completely different. This also notes to what I explained previously about true stories, by allowing for the real and raw truth to be told, it creates a place of true equality where individuals’ experiences are genuinely accounted for and not dismissed or ignored. Baker spoke towards how social media allows for the Squamish Nation to have their true stories about business, education, athletics, etc. which creates a platform for equality as their voices can be added to conversations, they in the past were not able to speak on (Miller & Baker, 2021). 

Consider as an additional piece, when working with the vulnerable sector, how does social media fit into professionalism and regulations?

When working with the vulnerable sector (students), social media and any
online tools play a big part in professionalism and regulations. In terms of
early development, if teachers are sharing opinions that are seen as
controversial this could directly impede on the vulnerable. As students, we
look up to those who teach us at a young age, and being young we are less likely
to question things. This being the case, if students come across a teachers’
page they will most likely take their opinions as facts. This hinders
professionalism and regulations as their personal beliefs will then be
broadcasted and taught to the students whether it was intentional or not. As we
have said before influencers must take caution when using social media and this
is the same case for teachers, people who are role models, and figures for the
young. The things you say online outside of school still can directly affect
their learning and growth.

References:

Miller, J., & Baker, B. (2021, June 10). Brad Baker Edci 338. YouTube. Retrieved November 5, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5z8iHxW2n4.

Veletsianos, G., & Couros, A. (2010;2014;). Developing Personal Learning Networks for Open and Social Learning. In Emerging technologies in distance education (pp. 109–128). essay, AU Press.