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