Month: April 2021

EDCI 338 Course Experience

Through EDCI 338, I have had the opportunity to create a reliable PLN. Before joining EDCI 338, my inner circle members were somewhat of an echo chamber, making my opinion, and the others within my PLN have relatively the same opinions. Now, after completing this course, I have had the opportunity to communicate and trust the other members of my PLN. This has really shown me how consistently contributing with the members who I learn with makes an impact on the outcome of my learning. Along with this, I have learned what media literacy is and how I need to question the reliability of my sources. Without knowing your information is coming from a reliable resource, there is no telling if the information you are getting is true. Also, I really liked learning about the importance of having personal and professional social media. Learning this information has really helped me understand how I should only be sharing positive content on my social media accounts. Without filtering the content shared on both personal and professional social media accounts, you can offend others, or potentially hurt your reputation as an individual.

PLN Development & Use of Social Media and Networked Publics

This course has really helped me understand the importance of using a PLN effectively to increase my understanding of topics. Now, I have been able to communicate and collaborate with a reliable PLN through this course on matter most. By collaborating with them, I have noticed how my understanding of topics has increased, and my understanding of course content has increased. This opportunity to collaborate with the members of my PLN is unlike other courses I have participated in and I can honestly say it has increased my learning outcomes. Going forward, I will be focusing on the development of my PLN so I can challenge the understanding of the others within my PLN. As I wasn’t aware of how to develop my PLN prior to this course, I have learned how using social media and networked publics can increase my knowledge.

How I Plan to Use my PLN Into my Next Steps in Life

Taking the newly learned information from this course and putting it into my livelihood is something that I intend on doing. Making sure the individuals I collaborate within my PLN are reliable is one of the first things I will work on. As mentioned before, I find my inner circle of friends are somewhat of an echo chamber, which makes us not have many conflicting opinions. To make sure that I am progressing my PLN, I will challenge the knowledge and opinions of my peers. This will result in a progression of my knowledge along with the knowledge of the members of my PLN. By learning from the opinions and experiences of the others within my PLN, I will be able to expand my knowledge on numerous topics.

Consider how you can use the PLN interactions of this course to further your digital identity post-term.

Throughout this course, I have had the opportunity to communicate and interact with the other members of our EDCI 338 course. Now, as we are wrapping up the semester, I can reflect on all of the areas that I have furthered my digital identity. First of all, it was relieving to see that all of the members within my PLN on matter most were constantly active. Without seeing the members active regularly, I would not have been able to develop a reliable PLN. That is why I made sure I contributed to my group members as I knew that going into the final portion of the semester, members would not want to work with me on the final project. As I was communicating with the members of my PLN, I was able to trust the opinion of my group members, as they trusted me also.

What does it mean to have a digital identity in your industry of choice and can your current PLN be used to help professional development post-course?

The takeaways from this course are important as I learned so much about my PLN. With that being said, I have always focused on having a positive digital identity for both my personal and professional life. Having a professional social presence will ensure that I am not talked negatively about by my peers, or viewed as a negative influence by future employers. Currently, my PLN has helped me develop a more professional presence. By consistently communicating, I have developed a reliable PLN, which I will take with me throughout my life. Without having a reliable PLN, you cannot trust the opinion of the others you communicate with.

Additionally, as you progress through the steps of your career, can your PLN be relied on to open professional opportunities?

I believe that my PLN has become more reliable since the beginning of the semester. I have been more careful of who I communicate with, how I communicate with others and make sure I am contributing in my PLN. As I have been in other courses where there are members who say little to none, I have noticed the importance of contributing in a PLN. Progressing through my career, the members of my PLN outside of school have been helping me progress towards professional opportunities. As they are also highly educated, I can trust their opinion and they can help guide me down a safe professional path.

What is media literacy? Why is it important? Why is it dismissed?

Media literacy is defined as a framework that allows people to access, analyze, and evaluate the information given to them (Trilling, 2012). In our society, understanding the meaning of videos, memes, and other forms of media literacy, as we are surrounded by it on a daily basis. Through media literacy, people are able to express their feelings towards a topic and we are to judge it. Media literacy is important because it can lead to false information a lot of the time. Often, the media is easily manipulated, which makes it hard to really know what information is reliable. This spread of false information is dismissed by our society because it is such a predominant act that happens on a regular basis. So it has become somewhat common for people to be media illiterate.

Why should you aim for varied views but the factual consensus in your PLN?Open dialogues about media literacy and factual information can create conflict, why does this happen?

Having varied views within your PLN will help individuals develop a more factual opinion. Without having a varied, reliable PLN, people will be in an echo chamber which means you will only hear one side of a story. Although a diverse opinion within a PLN will require a significant amount of debate, the information learned at the conclusion is really informative. Especially when considering media literacy, people can be led to have false opinions on topics, which can create conflict within a PLN. Despite conflict involving people who are trying to prove their point, you will really be able to get a firm understanding of where they are coming from. This gives people the chance to grow their perception of topics and make new connections with others to comprehend what they have to say.

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

Having a PLN that values media literacy means that you will not be mislead by the information you learn from social media. Having a media illiterate PLN will have negative aspects as you will not have a reliable PLN. Throughout this course, we have talked about the importance of building a reliable PLN, which means the members value media literacy. Having a PLN that values media literacy will avoid the spread of false information and false opinions.

References:

Fadel, C, & Trilling, B,(2012), 21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times.

Explore the video provided and reflect on the themes of a PLN in a professional capacity – how does a PLN give power to messaging for an individual or community?

After watching this week’s video, I learned a few things about how messaging influences a PLN. Jesse stated in this week’s video “your professional learning committee is your support system” (Miller, 2021). With that being said, the individuals within your PLN should be there to help you in almost any instance. For example, if I needed an opinion on a blog post I am doing, I could message the learning committee within matter most and get some feedback from my classmates. By messaging others in our PLN, we will not only learn from the teacher, but we will also get information that can be learned from the others within our PLN. Especially in this EDCI 338 course, I know that almost everyone within our PLN is reliable and will give me helpful information when I ask them about the course content. The individuals you work with within a PLN will be the ones that will help you.

Education occurs in so many environments beyond the classroom, how does social media help expand education and associated needed communications?

When doing this week’s reading, I came across a quote on connectivism that really caught my eye for this topic. Veletsianos states that “learning can be managed through the better understanding of emerging technologies and their relationship to knowledge networks” (Veletsianos, 2010). When seeing this quote, it reassures me that social media expands through education associated with communications. As social media influences communications in environments beyond the classroom, this will develop a more complete understanding of a student’s knowledge. For example, in our EDCI 338 class, we are influenced to socialize with our classmates in order to maximize our learning outcomes. Within this course, I have made a few friends who I communicate with outside of matter most to ask them questions on our work. Without social media communications, we would not have the opportunity to learn so much from our classmates and would be stuck getting assignments started.

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?

When watching the video on Brad Baker, I really liked when he said “[in my PLN] we don’t only support each other, but we also challenge each other” (Baker, 2021). By challenging the members in your PLN, you are pushing them towards new understandings and things they haven’t yet thought of. When participating in community communications, your PLN should be challenging your understandings. The more input the members of your PLN give on that topic, the more you will debate, which will result in a coherent understanding of a topic. On top of this, having a diverse and reliable PLN is the most effective way to get a proper understanding. Without hearing various opinions, there will be somewhat of an echo chamber and you will not be learning anything new.

How does the use of PLN raise awareness opportunities in education?
What is the role of social media in education?

As stated in the previous paragraph, Brad Baker uses his PLN to challenge the members along with support them. Once you have developed a reliable PLN, it is important to give your input within your PLN. For example, Baker uses his PLN to raise awareness for anti-racist movements here in BC. Your PLN can be designed to spread awareness just like this and it is effective as it spreads a positive message to others. The use of social media can also influence awareness as people such as Brad spread the positive messages they have on their social movements.

In education, social media plays an important role. Not only does it allow others to communicate with their classmates, but it gives them the opportunity to spread their message in the way they want it to be perceived. So, when using social media for education, it can really make the message someone is trying to get across effective. Communication on social media also benefits education. As social media has so much information within it, the users will always be able to share their opinion on a topic, as well as share it with others for discussion. This will further develop people’s understanding of what is happening in our society and educate students more.

What are some problems with social media communications in education settings?

As within countless PLN’s, social media proposes problems with communications in education. Not everyone’s opinion will be the same, so people will have some heavy debates on certain topics, especially in an education setting. As we are all trying to get a better understanding of something while getting educated, a topic with conflicting views is bound to happen. Although conflicting opinions may be seen as a bad thing, it can help contribute to a better understanding of a topic. As there is always a few sides to a topic, hearing what either side has to say can help develop a better understanding of that topic. Having conflicting opinions is common within PLN’s, and I know that I argue with the members of my PLN on a daily basis. This has helped me understand the topics I talk about with my PLN members more thoroughly.

References:

Miller, Jesse. “EDCI 338 – BRAD BAKER.” YouTube, uploaded by MILLER, 04 Mar. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy63SmEpvCw.

Veletsianos, G. (2010). Emerging Technologies in Distance Education. Retrieved from https://www.aupress.ca/app/uploads/120177_99Z_Veletsianos_2010-Emerging_Technologies_in_Distance_Education.pdf

Identify the risks and benefits of engaging with a public audience in a media space–what are the risks for a public figure or person in a position of trust (educator, lawyer, government official)?

Engaging with a public audience on social media provides our general audience allows everyone to express their feelings on a topic. When engaging with the public, there are several benefits and risks to consider towards the rebuttal on a topic. When considering the benefits of engaging with the public, it is noticeable how your engagement can build new connections and knowledge on a topic. Getting opinions from people outside your PLN will help you see how they view the topic, and often it will help you get a new understanding of a topic. On the contrary, the risks of engaging with the public can at times outweigh the benefits. When posting content with the public, it is important that the information will not be misinterpreted. Often, when information is misinterpreted by the public, there can be negative feedback given back to the individual from the public.

Public figures in specific need to keep in mind the risks of engaging with the public. As stated by Jody Vance in this week’s podcast, “I am my brand, unlike some people who have to be more cautious” (Vance, 2021). This specific quote tells me how people need to understand their ‘brand’ and understand the importance of being cautious on social media. For public figures, or people in a position of trust, the content you are posting is constantly under a microscope as the content you are sharing should not be intended to offend others. Owning your brand is also important as sharing your opinion on important topics should be kept appropriate and on topic.

How do notable individuals use social media?

Whenever I am using social media, there are always noticeable individuals who use their social media effectively. For example, there are plenty of influencers who pop up on my Facebook and or Instagram on a daily basis that are promoting something or fighting for a notable cause. These people who have been successful public figures are inspiring to me as I myself one day would enjoy being an influencer for the greater good. By using social media in a positive way, people of all ages, races, and gender will support the content you are sharing and you will make an impact on our society.

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

When being in the public eye in a PLN, there are various benefits. First off, when gaining the trust of the members of your PLN, you will receive positive feedback from the others within the PLN. Some influencers can even get the support of sponsors who will pay them to be a public figure and support their product and or cause. By being in the public eye and having a PLN, it will be noticed that a lot more people will be invading the individual’s privacy as they want to know everything about them. Despite this, a lot of people like being under a microscope and enjoy being a public influencer; I know that I would enjoy a role similar to this.

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

In a workplace, there is always an online community that comes with benefits and restrictions. I know for a fact that at my current workplace, we suggest to our employees that they should refrain from taking photos and or videos in our establishment, especially when they are doing something inappropriate. Our social media rules are not too demanding, but they do in fact require employees not spread a negative message about our establishment. By limiting the amount of social media presence our employees spread about our establishment reassures that our customers will not get a negative message of what we do and who we are.

On the contrary, we do in fact influence employees to spread positive news of Dairy Queen. When they have something positive to say, we actually influence them to spread the news that they received an award within our establishment, or our newest promotions. Along with this, we have a Whatsapp group chat going at both of our stores so our employees hear the latest updates from our managers. Whatsapp also helps our employees talk to each other so they can build a better relationship outside the workplace, or change shifts when they can’t make a shift.

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

Building a reliable PLN is one of the most important things to consider on social media. With that being said, you should always consider where you are getting your information from. Getting information from sources like the news, peer-reviewed articles, and other primary resources is an excellent way to build an educated opinion that can be trusted in a PLN. On the other hand, the information that is often found on social media is not typically accurate. Sources such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc have been proven to not be very reliable as their information is not checked to be accurate. By building a PLN that has reliable information, you first need to be able to trust the others within your PLN. This will develop towards learning vital opinions that can enhance your view on topics.

How do those, who are veteran storytellers, minimize the risk of sharing misinformation?

Making sure that you are not spreading false information is a vital thing for storytellers and everyone to keep in mind. At times, sharing misinformation can be offensive and can ruin the career of individuals. By keeping an eye on where you are learning your information from and doing additional research on that topic can refrain yourself from spreading misinformation. The largest risk of spreading false information is to do with the source. By adding references and showing people exactly where you got your information from, you will be defending your stance and can help avoid being labelled as someone who is spreading false information.

References:

Hirst, M. (2018). Social Journalism and the Gig Economy. Navigating Social Journalism: A Handbook for Media Literacy and Citizen Journalism. Ch. 6. (pp. 142-143). New York, NY: Routledge.

Vance, J. (February 28, 2021). EDCI 338 – JODY VANCE. YouTube. https://youtu.be/dgZOJgJkdyI