BLOG 1

  • What does it mean to network using social media?
  • How do people learn & engage using mediated platforms?
  • How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?
  • What are the risks & rewards of public communications?

Like a chameleon, networking can look several different ways, and can be done for many different reasons. However, due to the continuing rapid advances in technology, networking has shifted to online platforms. Networking in general, but specifically online, can be beneficial for countless purposes. For example, it can help us find our next job, provide us with new and exciting information, or even offer diverse resources that may serve us later in our career (Krakoff, n.d). Reflecting on these benefits, it is easy to agree that building one’s Personal Learning Network (PLN) is highly valuable. PLN’s can be described as the group of people we interact with regularly, which means the people in our PLN can be people we work with, go to school with, or people we know through others (University of Southampton, n.d). Further, our PLN does not have to be people we physically see face-to-face, they can be people online!

So, what does networking online look like? Networking online can look many different ways due to the variety of platforms there are. For example, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, are all examples of social media platforms that help us connect with others who share similar goals or interests online (Gutierrez, 2016). Social media helps us create a PLN by making it easier to reach out to relevant others, as time zones and physical distance are no longer barriers. Before technology, networking would typically only happen within your hometown or the places you travelled. Now, thanks to technology, I can speak with someone in my field of work living in South Africa by utilising social media. Therefore, social media can broaden our network to beyond the people we would normally be able to talk to.

How we use and engage in social networking also differs depending on the specific platform you use. Many platforms offer a space to communicate and collaborate, whereas others provide online events or educational courses. One can even participate in online seminars where they can learn new information as well as get an opportunity to speak with like-minded others. So, what might motivate one to network online? Well – they might be motivated to participate simply from its ease of use, or perhaps by the potential benefits networking has to offer. Networking is particularly attractive to many, as it offers a positive exchange. By participating, one can gain helpful resources that may advance their career when all that is required is a small amount of effort.

Although there are many rewards to networking online such as the copious number of opportunities to learn new information, there are also some risks that should be considered. As mentioned in Boyd’s (2012) post, by participating in certain things online, we can negatively affect others by giving up information about ourselves, and in turn, them. In addition, we can be ‘figured out’ by algorithms, which can demolish our personal control. Information about our habits, our location, and our hobbies can all be shared among different networks.

Considering all the risks and rewards of online networking, one thing in specific stands out to me as a theme across all of this week’s readings: PLN’s are particularly helpful for changing environments. In Rajagopal, Brinke, Bruggen, & Sloep’s (2011) article, they discuss a professional’s need to be flexible in fluctuating environments, and how PLN’s help us learn the tools we need to be able to do that. In other words, PLN’s help us to adapt in changing environments! Although this concept was mirrored in all the readings, I especially enjoyed The University of Southampton’s perspective. In their post, they discussed COVID-19 and how our world is changing most rapidly right now, which has sparked a need for us to be able to learn from anywhere. Luckily, technology can help us continue to grow as individuals and professionals while still social distancing to slow the spread of the pandemic. I personally cannot think of a better example of how social media and PLN’s aid us in changing environments.

Speaking for myself, over the course of quarantine, I was motivated to network online. While not in school, and not working, I had plenty – or maybe too much – time to contemplate my future career. I came to the conclusion that I wanted to learn more about naturopathy, so I decided to use social media to reach out and network with different professionals in the field. In a time where everything seemed stagnant, online networking provided an opportunity for me to further my professional network and receive insight on potential schooling and careers. Suffice to say, I certainly agree that PLN’s can help us learn in changing times and environments.

 

References

Boyd, D. (2012). Networked Privacy. Surveillance & Society, 10(3/4), 348-350. Retrieved from https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/surveillance-and-society/article/view/networked/networked

Gutierrez, K. (2016). What are Personal Learning Networks? Retrieved from https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/personal-learning-networks

Krakoff, S. (n.d.). The Importance of Networking. Retrieved from https://online.champlain.edu/blog/importance-of-networking

Rajagopal, K., Brinke, D. J., Bruggen, J. V., & Sloep, P. B. (2012). Understanding personal learning networks: Their structure, content and the networking skills needed to optimally use them. First Monday, 17(1). Retrieved from https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3559/3131

University of Southampton. (n.d.). What is a Personal Learning Network (PLN)? Retrieved from https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/0/steps/24644