Month: June 2021

For our final project, our group decided to expand on the many ways social media can be used for a PLN and how to utilize these tools to expand your knowledge. We focused our attention more on the three platforms; Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. We used these to show how the platforms can be used for professional learning, business use, personal use, and academic use. We discuss how various features on social media apps can be used and what they could be useful for in expanding or enhancing your PLN. We cover what the model for PLN optimization for educators looks like and how to make a presence in the PLN. We identified how technology tracks and uses personal data, including tech companies. 

Throughout this class, I have learnt various things such as expanding your PLN to create an unbiased environment. Having diversity and inclusion in your PLN creates a place to share various opposing ideas/thoughts, expand your own views, reflect on your ideas, etc. I have learnt that social media can be a great tool for learning and to make sure that the information is true and unbiased before believing the content right away. Social media isn’t meant to be used as your only source of news, you need to be watching the news and comparing the courses to eliminate bias and false information. I follow many accounts on Instagram that share educational content related to my field of study, some ‘fun’ entertaining accounts meant to make me laugh, and some accounts that influence my fashion hobby. 

This course has really taught me there is more to social media than just family and friends content. There are various ways I can use it to learn, expand my knowledge, views and ideas. I have also been more aware of the content I post on my account, making sure that I use my voice the way I meant to use it. 

Social media allows various people to speak on their concerns, share their thoughts and opinions on current or past events. People nowadays, don’t have to enter through professional media outlets to have their voices heard. They can share on their own platform and reach a large audience. People can share first-hand experiences through messages about the real story (Baker). There is so much power in the hands of the public online, each person has their community or audience that will interact with their content and support their causes. 

The use of social media allows educators to build a PLN. Within the network, members can support each other and engage in a productive conversation which can be a healthy/positive contribution to society (Baker). This could mean leaving a positive comment or sharing the content with others in support of the individual. These channels can be used to spread awareness especially in rural communities (Baker). PLNs assist in “bringing in an understanding of an individual’s story and their family’s story” (Baker).  For example; an indigenous influencer @shinanova on Instagram and TikTok share her culture with her large audience of 523,000 followers. She displays her talent of throat singing from her Inuk culture. In her PLN people are gaining awareness of the Inuk culture and experiences in Canada from her as a local. 

It’s important to change people’s views because we were always put down. We were always told what to do and what not to do. The message I want to send to the Indigenous youth is that you are capable of anything. Don’t let anyone take away your identity. You are beautiful.

@SHINANOVA

Various social media platforms such as; Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, etc can be used by educators to control the context and delivery of content. Having a diverse PLN contributes to less biased information.

References Baker, Brad. “Brad Baker EDCI 338”. Youtube.Com, 10 June 2021, 3:00-15:50, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5z8iHxW2n4. Accessed 18 June 2021

(Illustration by iStock/axel2001)

Consider how you would curate your social media with a critical public audience.

Using social media you can quickly reach a vast amount of people all over the world with ease. When using social media it is critical to share relevant and accurate information with your audience. Your following is primary made up of people with similar interests and ideas therefore, to keep everyone engaged the content needs to be aligned with the community you share. It is crucial that you engage often with your followers and provide value in the content you share. For example; re-sharing content isn’t as engaging to your audience, but adding your own thoughts and ideas to it will attract more conversation. 

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)?

Being a notable person and have a large following on social media exposes individuals to more attention. A notable individual may use social media to connect with others all around the world with similar interests to share idea and get inspiration from in the same media space (Smith). Interaction with people online with similar interests allows you to learn about more interests and gain knowledge first hand from others. 

There can be negatives with people of trust engaging with the public online. If the public observes bad behavior or dishonest behavior from the individual, the public on social media will pressure them to make a statement online. Some people have lost jobs, businesses, or even credibility from their behavior in person or online after the public eye shines light on it. This can all be a good or bad thing, it’s good to hold people accountable for their actions or at times the individual can benefit from the attention. However this all being said, it can also be dangerous if public figures who hold trust in the public spread mis-information or outrageously false claims. It is very important that these individuals share accurate information or they could be a danger to the public and lose public trust. 

Consider how to best address negative replies and critiques reflective of your personal values and employer social media policy?

Social media profiles can act as a platform to expose one’s brand and one’s strengths (Vance).  The best way to respond to negative replies is to be mindful of what you say back, always consider that future employers can view you social media to get an idea of who you are. Remain professional and avoid swearing, be kind, respectful, and use evidence to support you response. 

Open dialogues about media literacy and factual information can create conflict, why does this happen?

Media literacy is the constant critical questioning of the media we consume (Smith). Media enables people to learn a lot and discover new information to confirm or support one’s beliefs (Smith). It determines not only how we view ourselves but also it determines  how we view others (Smith). This can be negative or positive for the individuals looking for the information to reassure their beliefs. One can find information that supports their ideas/views but, it will be difficult for them to be open minded about opposing ideas or people with opposing views. Media sometimes enables people to pick and choose what information they want to open their minds to. It becomes very hard for people to change their views when there isn’t a motivation to consider opposing information.

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

I believe that a PLN that values media literacy would have more meaningful connection and interaction with a large audience. Having a PLN is meant for discovering new ideas and views while reaching out to a community online. A PLN that values media literacy allows individuals in that community to gain accurate information. There is so much information being consumed on social media which makes individuals have a hard time telling what is true and what is false, which is why media literacy in a PLN is so important (Smith). 

References 

Smith, Julie. “EDCI 338 – MEDIA LITERACY with JULIE SMITH”. Youtube.Com, 6 June 2021, 3:00-27:40, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57r3-aEnci0. Accessed 11 June 2021.

Vance, Jody. “Jody Vance – Media Voices”. Youtube.Com, 6 June 2021, 9:00-27:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-NnpQJdl0A. Accessed 11 June 2021.

How does social media use in public discourse potentially challenge advocacy communications?

There are plenty of benefits with advocacy on social media platforms however, there are also various challenges. Social media allows user to spread their message to many groups of people quickly but, this also means that misinformation can spread just as quickly. Some social media platforms have adapted a functionality that flags possible misinformation or possible biased, this functionality is called fact check. Users will see a on a post for example; a badge that says fact checkers have this to say about the content and it will proceed to say why they flagged it.  

How diverse is your existing PLN?

My PLN includes information related to healthcare and health information technology. I took the course EDCI 339 and from that course, I made an Instagram account to build my PLN. I followed mainly health authorities and some Canadian health organizations. The information is diverse from each other in terms of new ideas and innovation however, it is all related to each other. My current PLN is mainly containing people living in Canada or who have an interest in the Canadian healthcare field and primarily B.C. Having a more diverse PLN can be very beneficial to hear alternate views and introduce ideas that you may have not thought about before. I believe that in my PLN it is encouraged to invite inclusion to improve healthcare in B.C. we need many voices to engage on how we can improve what we do. 

In your PLN, are you learning from a variety of voices?

I follow a variety of health authorities in B.C. and Canadian health technology organizations (such as; digital health Canada) that consistently update on new information. I do particularly like when accounts leave a link in their bio for the information they shared in their post. 

How does social media engage in advocacy communications?

Social media is a great way to reach a mass of people very quickly in any part of the world. It can be a clamorous way to spread information about a cause. It can promote discussion, reinforcing relationships between supporters among union leaders and supporters.