Blog 9

• Community communications go beyond blogs and social media shares, how does a PLN help and hinder the development of thoughts and ideas in public discourse – especially when addressing our differences? How can a PLN be curated to minimize bias and expand knowledge of the lives of others?

As we have discussed throughout the term, PLNs can be an incredible tool to learn and grow as both a person and professional, but only when used properly. For example, having an exclusive PLN can hinder discussions and opportunities by excluding a wide variety of voices and perspectives. When a PLN is exclusive, you may miss out on several beneficial learning opportunities. On the contrary, when a PLN is inclusive, you will hear from several different perspectives other than your own, which will help to limit bias. Not only will it decrease your biases, it will also help you learn about someone or something you had little to no knowledge of previously. This week’s reading offers a commendable example of the hashtag being used to allow a compilation of different voices and perspectives discussing the same topic (Meikle, 2016). To support this claim, over the course of the term, nearly all of our guest speakers have listed Twitter as one of their most effective PLNs, and further, listed searching hashtags as a great way to connect with other people interested in similar things. PLNs offer a great opportunity for learning, but they are optimized when you create an inclusive environment. Not only should we ensure our PLNs are inclusive and that everyone has a seat at the table, but also that it is a safe space for people to share their experiences and stories. This component is especially important when discussing differences. When discussing differences, I think it is important to become a better listener. This is an opportunity to hear and learn, and to understand that everyone has their own individual experiences. Even our blogs are a great example of hearing from other perspectives. Each week, we all read or watch the same resources and answer the same prompts for our blog. However, whenever I read my colleagues blogs, I am always left thinking, “that was such a great point or connection, how did I not think of that!” It demonstrates the learning that can occur just by hearing someone else’s take on the exact same topic.

• How does the identity of who you are, fit into your PLN? Do you include professional and personal boundaries?

 One’s identity and how much of it they share online is a personal choice, and also depends on their career. For example, our guest speaker this week, Harrison Mooney, is currently writing a very personal book, so his identity is a very important piece of his work (EDCI 338, 2020). Harrison also enlightened us on the different benefits and drawbacks of how much people know about you. For him, having the tone of voice and name that he does, he explained that many people assume he is a white male. When this happens, people tend to speak their whole mind even if it is inappropriate or offensive, and when people know that he is black, it sometimes limits the answers they give (EDCI 338, 2020). An article by Aresta, Pedro, Santos, & Moreira (2012) claims that sharing your identity online reveals the sum of a person’s experiences and skills, and that by sharing your identity you allow for a more honest reputation, which promotes more valuable collaborations. In Harrison’s case, by sharing his identity so candidly in his book, he creates a more honest, personable, and relatable product.

Creating professional and personal boundaries is another personal choice that also depends on one’s career. Thinking of Harrison’s case, I believe he benefits from telling his whole story having very few personal boundaries. By doing this, he allows for a very real and raw telling of his personal life experiences in an effort to teach others. I imagine if he sugar-coated parts, or left details out, his story would not have the same effect as it would if he told each personal detail. Opposingly, people in health care would want to have many more personal boundaries. An article by Gagnon & Sabus (2015), discusses the clear ethical concerns health care professionals face online including patient confidentiality. In addition, police officers or lawyers need to protect their personal identity online for safety precautions. Although there are both ethical and safety concerns when using social media and sharing your identity, social media also provides opportunities for professionals to contribute and share information, correct misinformation, and speak to any fallacies (Gagnon & Sabus, 2015). The article went on to suggest that professionals using social media or online PLNs should define their goals such as gathering information, connecting with others, or developing a personal brand. Lastly, Gagnon & Sabus (2015) advises for professionals to know how to utilize social media features to control interactions, and to regularly monitor their online identity by searching their name.

References

 Aresta, M., Pedro, L., Santos, C., & Moreira, A. (2012). Building Identity in an Institutionally Supported Personal Learning Environment – the case of SAPO Campus. PLE Conference.

EDCI 338 (2020, Nov 8). A01 Harrison Mooney [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/elKNQpz0RrI

Gagnon, K., & Sabus, C. (2015). Professionalism in a Digital Age: Opportunities and Considerations for Using Social Media in Health Care. American Physical Therapy Association, 95(3), 406-414.

Meikle, G. (2016). Convergence and the Limits of Citizen Journalism. In Social media communication, sharing and visibility (pp. 69-92). New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.