Category: EDCI 338

 Professional Learning Networks

My professional digital identity as of now has improved in the last couple of years, and now I have moved more towards outlets like Linkedin. I like to think that platforms like Brightspace and Uvic domains are all getting me towards my professional goals. I like to think of my education as my profession as well. While I use my personal social media accounts more consistently used than my professional ones, I can make a connection to how important it can be to help me network and build my future career, especially with my personal take on what I define as my current profession. I think one way I could broaden my PLN is to be more active on LinkedIn and be more open to building my connections on the platform. That could be connecting with more professionals in the areas I am interested in and engaging more in psychology and future  career content online.  Being a student myself, many others like me use platforms like LinkedIn, Microsoft Teams, and discussion boards or blogs as we use for this class, and even crazy enough, Instagram to build professional relationships. They can also be used to collaborate with others and open future career doors. This was looked at in research by  Staudt Willet et al. (2024), who looked at the use of these platforms for students at post-secondary, working toward becoming teachers. They found that these social media platforms have helped students in expanding their PLN’s with people in the same field and a support system from people who understand. With the end goal of focusing on collaboration, mentorship, and even professional development when they started in their teaching careers.     

Diversity and Inclusion in PLNs

My PLN has opened up opportunities to hear and learn from many diverse voices. I have been able to engage in content from people of all different backgrounds, cultures, and communities, which has given me the ability to understand a variety of ideas and viewpoints that are different from my experiences. I am able to abandon a naive mindset, and actually, from these individuals’ experiences, it is an amazing reminder of how important inclusion and respect are in conversations that need to and can be on these online platforms. When we have a diverse PLN, this can help us become more open-minded to people’s experiences and ways they live their life, whether that be based on culture, socioeconomic status, physical ability, and so much more. Research was published by Montgomery in 2018, and focused on ways social media is being used as a new tool for people and groups who are underrepresented to connect, communicate, and can even be used as an advocacy tool.    

Challenges and Risks of Social Media in PLNs

In my everyday life, when and if I post online, I’m not only mindful of single individuals viewing my accounts but also the professional or even future employers. As of now, I have my account private. This is to help me  protect myself and my image. With a public account, anyone can follow, whether that be a friend, family members, a fake account, or even accounts that could be damaging to my image and that don’t align with my personal views. One of the things that I am mainly focused on right now would be future employers and what they can see on my accounts. Imagine them looking through a group of applicants, and their digital identity could be the reason you do not get the job.  Your digital identity can have a real impact on your future opportunities. While people use social media to connect, it can also bring challenges because posts can be misunderstood, easily sent from person to person, and could even damage your reputation. I think social media has so many positives, but it also comes with some downsides or challenges. It is an amazing tool for people to learn from each other and stay informed about current topics around the world. This can be backed up with research by Carpenter and Harvey (2019), who looked into the challenges educators face when using social media personally and professionally. They looked at stress and online pressures, conflicts or negative interactions with others online. They found that these can lead to emotional strain, self-judgment, and privacy concerns with who is viewing their accounts. While they note that social media can be beneficial to their PLN’s, it can also impact multiple aspects of their lives.

Carpenter, J. P., & Harvey, S. (2019). “There’s no referee on social media”: Challenges in educator professional social media use. Teaching and Teacher Education, 86, Article 102904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2019.102904 

Montgomery BL (2018) Building and Sustaining Diverse Functioning Networks Using Social Media and Digital Platforms to Improve Diversity and Inclusivity. Front. Digit. Humanit. 5:22. doi:10.3389/fdigh.2018.00022 

Staudt Willet, K. B. (2024). Early career teachers’ expansion of professional learning networks with social media. Professional Development in Education, 50(2), 386–402. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2023.2178481 

In my personal learning network, I would say there is a variety of professional and personal sites, apps, and websites I use. The platforms that I use most (and that appear in my screen time the most) are Instagram, Safari (for Brightspace), TikTok, YouTube, Apple Music, and Gmail. Some of these apps I use mainly for personal use, while others are for professional use. There is also a merge of education for my professional life/school, and my personal education. This project was a great way for me to visualise this better and realize how the things that we use online is an amazing multitool and how it has built and influenced my digital identity.  Creating this Visitor and Resident map showed me that I use platforms vastly differently, and it all starts from what my purpose is. Brightspace, Google Docs, and Outlook are more towards the visitor category in my map because I mainly use them for my studies and education. On the other end of the spectrum, apps like Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and Apple Music are more aligned with my resident identity because my usage of these apps focuses on my ability to interact with people, engage in my interests, share content, and absorb new information. When using these and engaging with people via a digital platform we all do this differently depending on our goals, how we participate and what interaction people are seeking online. When I dove a little deeper into this thought, the research from our linked article from White and Le Cornu (2011) made a connection to how people’s online engagement is not fixed but is more similar to a continuum. This moves from “Visitor” and “Resident”. This article mentions and leans towards how people use digital spaces differently, and is all based on the specific context and why we are using the platform.

White, D., & Le Cornu, A. (2011). Visitors and Residents: A new typology for online engagement. First Monday.
https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3171 

What does it mean to network using social media?

In the day and age where the internet consumes our lives, we can look at this as a negative, but also a positive. One of those positives would be this exactly. Using Social media as a networking tool helps us continue making connections beyond just in person. These could be in educational and even professional contexts. It breaks distance barriers, allowing people all over the world to communicate, reach a larger audience, and consistently learn from each other, and quickly accomplish these tasks.  

How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?

When looking at networked publics, these are different digital spaces that help groups of people connect and share content. A way that social media continues these patterns is through algorithms and common interests of viewers. One example I am thinking about is how many times I look at my shared videos from my sister. Most of them are videos that I have already seen or even sent her. There are many reasons that people will participate in Networked Publics. Some of them are someone’s personal or professional growth. Showcasing their talents, ideas, and helping build their careers on a different level. There are so many examples of this, but one that comes to mind is upcoming musical artists posting their covers or original songs on social media to boost the audience and engagement, all to help the sales of their released music. Another would be a way of personal expression. You can curate a social media platform and show the viewer who you are. This could be a persona of you or the real, raw, authentic version of yourself. Social media can also be used as a form of validation. Seeing the likes, comments, and interactions with a post can be a motivational factor. 

 What are the risks & rewards of public communications?

The rewards of public communications can be so amazing when they work. Some include access to better securing employment or continuing education in any field, boosting your target audience’s confidence in your profession, or building supportive connections and partnerships. But on the other end, you can experience the risk or the consequences. With the age of AI expanding fast, there can be concerns of privacy. Although even before AI, I can think back to a time where guest speakers from high school would  would stress the fact that the internet is forever. Under this category would could see audiences misunderstanding messages or the context of what they are viewing. Similarly, this could lead to grey areas which can be damaging to the publishers reputation. 

Digital Identity

What is a digital identity?

A digital identity isn’t just what you post on Instagram, it is a multifaceted system. Under this umbrella, we can see this as the content that you post, but also information and the online behaviours of each and everyone of us. This can be a person’s username, profiles which include pictures and videos, community or support groups you engage with, and even all the way to your search history. These do not just exist to share your online persona, it can also be an influential tool. These influences can be seen in employment, academics, social relationships, and even experiences as a consumer.     

How do personal versus professional approaches to digital identity affect social media use?

In my personal life, my digital identity helps me connect with family and friends. I can use it as an entertainment or creative tool. At 11, I got my first device, while I did have my favourite shows or YouTube channels I liked, my most used app was Imovie. I loved creating little short films or trailers for little craft projects I had made. Professionally, my digital identity involves websites like linked-in to advance my future job opportunities as well as to network with like minded people in a professional environment. Another would be our class use of websites and university sites like Brightspace helping students work towards getting differing levels of achievements. The specific effects could be what they post and where they post it, different security or privacy settings put in place, and the way these messages or posts are delivered to the audience. In professional use post and content could be more polished and targeted to specific audiences, whereas with personal use, it could be more relaxed and what you want to post, not what an audience would like.   

How do digital identities converge in networked publics – what are the impacts and/or benefits?

Places where these identities intertwine are audiences, what you post, and where you post it which can be viewed by anyone. Again, the internet is open, but also forever. This merges with how posts intended for specific audiences can be seen by others and taken in a multitude of ways. When posting, commenting or using the internet in any way can become an obsessive thing. Making sure you are curating the “perfect post” can cause feelings of pressure to make it seamless. This can lead to negative thoughts or could even take a toll on your mental health. The constant comparison to other people or professionals can leave feeling anxiousness, stress, or even lower self-esteem more prevalent. An example that I think could relate to this is a person who is working in the political sphere or a law enforcement officer. This is because their online presence is carefully curated and closely monitored by the public. What they post could positively or negatively affect them. 

Sources       

Personal Learning Networks.” Shift eLearning, https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/personal-learning-networks. 

“Understanding Personal Learning Networks: Their Structure, Content and the Networking Skills Needed to Optimally Use Them.” First Monday, vol. 17, no. 9, 2012, https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3559/3131.

Spracklen, Karl. “Identity-Making and Social Media.” The Digital University, edited by Michael Thomas et al., Palgrave Macmillan, 2014. SpringerLink, https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137405876_6. 

Stoller, Eric. “What is Digital Identity?” Eric Stoller, https://ericstoller.com/blog/what-is-digital-identity/.

World Economic Forum. The Value of Digital Identity for the Global Economy and Society. Davos Press Conference, 2019. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-V7lyxrOmw.

Hi everyone, 

My name is Hana Blaicher, and I am a 4th-year Psychology major, minoring in Business at UVIC. I was born and raised on the island, but have lived in 11 different houses. I’ve lived as far as Cowichan Bay and as close to UVIC as Gordon Head, just 4 minutes down the road from campus. I have been working as a lifeguard, Swim Instructor, and receptionist for the past 5 years at a local rec centre and love it. 

One of the things I have been doing the longest is playing Rugby. From 9 to 22 years old, I have been having fun on the field. It is one of my favourite things, and I have had the privilege of playing with some of the same people for the last 10 years. When I’m not playing rugby, I am busy outdoors or driving up the island. Of my friend group, I am always the designated driver 1. Because I get really car sick, and 2. because it is one of my favourite things to do. My love for exploring the island started from a young age, with Sooke Potholes being one of the places I can remember the most. If you have not had the chance to visit this beautiful park, it is a 50 ish minute drive and has some of the coolest rock formations, and you guessed it, potholes everywhere. One of my other favourite locations is Tofino or Hornby Island. Now these two are a bit of a trek, but don’t let that discourage you. Tofino being a 4.5-hour drive, and Hornby island is “just” a 3 hour drive and 2 ferries away. The lengthy travel time is so worth it. One of Hornby island’s gems is a beach called Tribune bay with some of the clearest water you will see on the west coast (look it up! It won’t disappoint). 

When I’m not out exploring, I am working toward my goal of being a Clinical Child Psychologist. Psychology was something that has always fascinated me. I took AP psychology in Highschool and originally planned to go to Dalhousie in Nova Scotia to complete my degree. That plan changed due to being the prime grad class of Covid-19 pandemic. I decided instead to take a gap year and redirect my studies somewhere else, ultimately choosing UVIC. My experience at UVIC has been full of fun and being able to do everything I love doing on the island all while continuing learning & growing my knowledge in school, work, and life. 

To end this intro off, I thought it would be cool to leave you with a fun fact. That being said, I was born with a built-in best friend, aka I am an Identical twin.  No, we both don’t go to UVIC. She continued her studies at Camosun. No, we can’t read each other’s minds, but we do finish each other’s sentences, so some could say we do. Yes, we have played tricks on people. Our 2nd grade teachers didn’t notice we switched classes, but the students sure did. That is one thing we have done and decided we don’t ever need to do again, at least not  purposefully. Funny enough, we both work at the same recreation centre, and when people see me at reception and then go into the pool and see her, lifeguarding or teaching a water fit class, they immediately think that I can change my outfit really quickly or I’m just working all the time.