Key Terms:
- Personal Learning Network (PLN):“a network of people and resources that supports your learning and growth”
- EDCI 338: Social Media and Personalized Learning course offered through the University of Victoria
- TikTok: social media platform for short-form content
- Master’s degree: graduate studies degree completed after an undergraduate degree
- Occupational therapy: a type of health care focused on improving people’s daily lives
- Algorithms: “processes that rank user-provided signals to determine what type of content and advertisements to display to users”
- LinkedIn: an online professional networking platform
- reddit: a network of online communities for people to connect
What Are Personal Learning Networks (PLNs), and Why Are They Important? 🌎
Upon learning what a Personal Learning Network (PLN) is in EDCI 338, I have realized just how important my PLNs are in the pursuit of my personal and academic goals. Many of my personal goals pertain to improving my health and wellness, and my PLNs, particularly on social media, have assisted greatly in my obtaining more health and wellness knowledge. For example, TikTok videos have allowed me to gain knowledge about different forms of exercise (like yoga) and ways to incorporate them into my life.
Arguably one of the biggest benefits of using social media to contribute to my PLNs has been gaining access to information I otherwise may not or would not be able to access. For example, I am able to follow and interact with healthcare professionals I normally would not be able to connect with (or at least, certainly not for free, as discussed in my Blog Post #3).
Additionally, my PLNs have opened my eyes to different information and experiences, and have even altered my desired career path. Up until two years ago, I thought that upon graduation I would pursue a Master’s degree in psychology. However, when I watched a video created by an Occupational Therapist which detailed her daily routine and provided a glimpse into what that job entails, I realized that I wanted to pursue Occupational Therapy instead.
Social Media Dynamics for PLNs 📱
To glean the most from my PLN, I aim to meaningfully engage with content which aligns with topics of interest for me. For example, since I know that social media algorithms are highly sensitive to users’ interests, I intentionally try to make it exceedingly clear what topics I want to learn more about. I recognize that my “clicks” are purposeful and gain me more relatable and relevant material. I will interact with (i.e., like, comment on, or share) posts from creators I believe are reputable and want to see more content from, as the algorithms ensure that those intentional clicks lead to similar articles and posts.
In addition, if information provided is not aligned with my preferences or not what I desire from my PLN, I click the “not interested” button and unfollow creators who post content that does not align with what I want in or from my PLN.
It is also important to note here that I use different social media platforms for different purposes and to suit different digital identity needs. Although many of my personal and professional interests intersect, some areas in particular require a distinction. For example, on LinkedIn, I ensure that I am only connecting and interacting with content and professionals who contribute to my professional (or professional and personal) growth, not just my personal growth. Specifically, I am interested in certain areas of philosophy (e.g., feminism), that is not an area I would like to pursue academically, so I try to keep my research in that topic to my personal social media PLNs (vs. a professional one like LinkedIn).
Long-Term Network Development ➡️
Some ways I can develop and sustain meaningful connections in my PLN over time are by continually and frequently engaging with others in my PLN, as opposed to sporadically or rarely. Additionally, I can ensure that I am continually refining my digital footprint and working to ensure that I am the most responsible, ethical digital media user I can be so that people want me in their PLNs as well. I also think it is crucial to stay up to date on trends and various new platforms to ensure I am participating as wholly as possible.
Impact of Social Media on Learning, Academics, and Professional Environments 👩🏻🏫
Social media has helped me in many academic contexts. One of the most notable is that before beginning university in 2021, I found an Instagram page which was dedicated to posting information from other students entering their first year at UVic. We were able to connect with each other, make group chats based on where we were living (e.g., residence vs. off-campus), areas of study, or hometowns and cultivate interpersonal connections. It was very helpful and comforting to recognize that I was not alone in my fears about taking that next step to post-secondary education. It also allowed me the opportunity to establish many meaningful connections which definitely assisted me in transitioning to university academics. I am a shy person, but because I had that familiarity with some other first year students, when I moved onto campus I was able to easily and efficiently make connections, form study groups, share notes and learn study tips.
Professionally, social media has allowed me to explore and refine potentially suitable career opportunities (as mentioned), and connect with others wishing to pursue similar paths. For example, I follow many occupational therapists and other health care professionals on social media whom I can follow as role models, but I also keep up to date with reddit threads of interest to connect with others with similar goals to me.
Lastly, having an acute awareness of the permanency of digital media is a crucial step to ensure I am an ethical and responsible digital media user. I know that potential employers may see what I post on social media, so I am conscious about what content I share and how I am perceived online as to prevent any potentially negative outcomes.
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