In today’s world, we are surrounded by media almost all day, and only a few of us possess a comprehensive understanding of media’s profound impact on our society. To distinguish this noise, analyze what we see in media, and determine its accuracy, we can use Media Literacy.
Media Literacy is the ability of individuals to critically analyze stories, messages, and narratives presented in the media and determine their accuracy or credibility ( Allison, 2010). It is not limited to traditional media such as television and radio but includes social media and websites.
It’s important to be media literate so that you can think critically and analyze the messages you receive from media. By doing so, you can better understand the reasons behind the messages and the motives of those who share them. Media literacy also encourages people to question what they see and to seek out sources for the information they consume. This helps individuals be more mindful of their media consumption and achieve a healthy balance between their media presence and their personal life. Moreover, media literacy fosters cultural awareness by encouraging people to learn about different perspectives and cultures. By seeking out credible information, individuals can educate themselves about other cultures and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Media literacy is often overlooked due to a lack of awareness. People tend to believe everything they see in the media without questioning its validity. Additionally, some individuals may refuse to consider alternative viewpoints and instead rely on information that supports their existing beliefs. On a larger scale, the media industry may not prioritize promoting media literacy as it could potentially harm their interests by increasing public awareness.
By incorporating media literacy into my Personal Learning Network (PLN), I am able to develop critical thinking skills that allow me to effectively evaluate diverse situations and information. This skill also promotes the use of logical reasoning to support arguments. With media literacy, I am able to be a well-informed participant in my PLN, which enhances engagement. Additionally, embracing cultural diversity within my PLN by listening to different views and perspectives enables me to foster a spirit of respect and openness among members. This enriches my personal growth and strengthens our connections with one another.
Reference
Allison, M. (2010). Review: Digital and Media Literacy: A Plan of Action (2010). The Journal of Media Literacy Education. https://doi.org/10.23860/jmle-2-3-7
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?
Personal Learning Networks (PLN) help the development of thoughts and ideas in education discourse through learning from different individuals. Hence, a different perspective because PLN is used by different people where they share their ideas and research. Using this community communication allows people to share these ideas and learn from one another, thus, developing new thoughts and ideas. Moreover, PLN helps engagement and sharing of knowledge. However, PLN can hinder the development of thought when there is an overload of information, and this overload can make it difficult to sort the required information and make it harder to develop information.
How do educators create discourse?
Achieving a successful discourse requires encouraging questions and asking knowledge; this allows engagement in class where students can feel safe to ask questions, allowing students to learn better. Moreover, group work also creates a successful discourse where individuals interact with one another and share their knowledge.
What is the role of social media in education?
Social media help access information where it provides a vast amount of information that students and instructors can access. This allows educators to share their experience and knowledge, as the study by Alec Couros emphasized the influence of the open movement on educators’ perceptions (Veletsianos, 2010), emphasizing collaboration and openness in education. Moreover, students can explore tutorials and online courses, allowing them to learn beyond the classroom. Furthermore, social media allows educators from different parts of the world to share their knowledge of teaching. This can help educators to adopt new teaching styles they learn through social media. My mother is a math teacher, and through social media, she learned new teaching techniques that she used with her students!
What are some problems with social media communications in education settings?
The main problem would be privacy. Almost all social media collect personal information. Thus, educators must use these social media in a way that does not impact the student’s privacy.
Which social media platforms are beneficial in education?
In my opinion, YouTube is very beneficial in education—the vast educational content with a wide range of educational videos and tutorials on almost everything. Moreover, many people learn better through visual learning, and YouTube provides a setting where people teach topics through animation, which help simplify the information and makes learning more enjoyable. In the book Emerging Technologies in Distance Education, Social cognitive theory (SCT) suggests that individuals can learn through observing others and adopt this knowledge positively (Veletsianos, 2010), which can be found through learning from YouTube.
How does social media fit into professionalism and regulations when working with the vulnerable sector?
Working with vulnerable sectors such as children and the elderly need a high level of privacy and confidentiality. The discussion on social media should not include personal or sensitive information; children and older people need to be educated about the privacy issues regarding sharing personal information on social media. Moreover, individuals working in the vulnerable sector should be trained and follow ethical guidelines, which include how educators/professionals need to behave in the vulnerable sector where you need to provide a safe environment to others.
Social media have become an essential part of our daily life. Many individuals, such as influencers, use apps like Instagram to build a personal brand. Influencers engage with their follower by sharing their personal life; this helps followers to connect on a personal level with the influencer. This can build trust that can be used later to advertise a product, and because followers trust this influencer, they would purchase products that influencers advertise. Moreover, notable individuals, such as politicians, can use social media to influence people’s opinions regarding elections. Furthermore, other notable people can use social media to advocate to raise awareness for a cause. Thus, social media is used differently by different people. It is up to the follower to distinguish who to follow.
The benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN
The benefit of being in the public eye and having a PLN can have several benefits. First, notable individuals can advocate what they believe in and gain so much support because of their strong presence in the public eye. Second, individuals who share PLN can share their expertise, insights with the public who follow them and listen to them. This develops a more extensive network and different perspectives about a certain topic. Moreover, being in the public eye and having a PLN can be a reason to inspire others to follow your leads and continue the work you do since they observe your achievement and success through your PLN.
The limitation and benefits of Building a community with online tools provided by the employer
These tools might be limiting because the platform used by the employer might not be up to date and does not contain the features that are needed to build a community. This can be through using complicated social media that restrict all ages of the community from accessing the information provided and thus limit access.
On the other hand, this can be beneficial in terms of building a community. If the right online tool is used, this can lead to building a community in a platform that can be served as a hub where resources and expert individuals are in these platforms. Thus, this will allow people to develop relationships with people in their field that can help them develop their careers, as Sophie Lui mentioned in her podcast (EDCI 388, 2023). Although it will be restricted to specific individuals who share the same interest or specialty, building a community that can work together on building a network based on shared interests and knowledge can be better. Although it is not for everyone, it still can indirectly benefit the general public.
Delivering information in a connected society requires verifiable resources, how to build a PLN to rely on?
A PLN that people use to get credible information can be achieved by seeking credible individuals who are experts in the field of interest. Sharing the background of the people you cite information allows people to rely on your PLN and consider it credible. For example, although Wikipedia contains many credible sources, it also contains many uncited information. Thus, Wikipedia is considered an untrusted encyclopedia for all branches of knowledge.
How do veteran storytellers minimize the risk of sharing misinformation?
Veteran storytellers minimize the risk of sharing misinformation through research and fact-checking the information before using them. Also, citing the sources they use to obtain the information to clearly indicate this information as a reference shows how credible their work is.
Community engagement can be defined as an engagement that brings people together who share the same interest. Social Media engagement can be seen when people create and share their content with others. This content can be photos, videos, or posts. In social media, people can also share helpful information and news about what is happening worldwide. It can provide an analytic tool to engage with others. Thus, social media is both for and by the public (New Vision for Public Medi, 2011)
Social Media Challenge Communications
There are some social media challenges, such as information overload. Great information about the same topic can make it challenging to find accurate information. Many individuals post information about the same topic, but some information can be misleading because it can be based on personal opinion rather than research-based. This can cause challenges in communication as it is difficult to find what you are looking for. Other social media challenges can be if social media is not checked regularly for any discrimination or hate speech; it can lead to inclusivity and negatively affect the communication on that social media.
Thus, it is essential to have policies about the expectation of employers’ social media communication. This includes expecting the employees to maintain high professionalism when they need appropriate language or content on social media, as these employees represent this organization even outside the workplace. A friend of mine was volunteering with Lebonan Red Cross, where volunteers were asked to stay away from politics on their social media platform as this affects the work environment between employees in one way or another.
Personal Learning Network (PLN) can be built using social media. This can be achieved by identifying influencers and communicators in the field of interest. In my case, it is the pharmaceutical industry, specifically drug maintenance. Following influences in this field will allow me to gain valuable insight related to the pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, commenting and participating in live discussions run by influencers in this field will allow me to engage, share my thoughts, and ask questions, thus expanding my network.
My PLN amplifies the views of others.
Although I have not started a PLN yet, I want my PLN to amplify the views of others. My PLN should be based on sharing and exchanging knowledge with individuals with similar interests. This knowledge can be from articles or other ways I have yet to be exposed to. This will expand my perspective on the topic and allow me to build my PLN.
Clark, J., Aufderheide, P. (2011). A New Vision for Public Media. In: Jansen, S.C., Pooley, J., Taub-Pervizpour, L. (eds) Media and Social Justice. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230119796_5
How are you building a network of individuals who are dynamic, reliable, and participatory?
To establish a network of individuals who are dynamic, reliable, and participatory, it is important that the people in it establish shared values and have strong communication. This will help the network to grow in a healthy way where the member of this network gains from each other beneficial knowledge. Thus, this helps the network to continue.
During my second year at UVic in 2021, I was the general coordinator for a club where we helped new students who come from the middle east and Africa to settle in Canadian universities and Victoria. Part of my duties was encouraging students to volunteer in this club. A successful way of tackling new volunteers was sharing with students in classes about the great cause this club does. The students who joined this club were individuals who had a passion for helping refugees and shared similar values with each other. That year, we made a great team of volunteers who helped students to feel welcomed in their new country. Not only volunteers and new students worked together, but they got to know each other. This helped to build a dynamic network where people learned about each other passions, hobbies and goals and relied on each other to make the first year successful. Two years after, the volunteers are still participating by sharing various opportunities with the new students and keeping them in touch with a larger network. This is an example of how sharing the same value and strong communication can help to build a network of dynamic, reliable, and participatory individuals
Are you leveraging healthy relationships from your PLN for growth?
I have not yet built a PLN, however, it would be essential to build a healthy relationship with a network. Bianca Woods shared that using PLN helps to learn new ideas and increase your knowledge about certain topics (2013). This knowledge can be achieved through healthy relationships from PLN and thus can allow me to grow as a person and grow my knowledge about the pharmaceutical industry.
How would you create a PLN prior to engaging a social media campaign on a topic of your choice?
Since I am interested in the pharmaceutical industry, my campaign topic would be about drugs and medications pharmacists can prescribe now in BC. I would start my PLN by identifying who are the individuals I want to network with, discuss, and share insights regarding this field. Moreover, before announcing the campaign it is important to establish a solid presence on social media as Sophie Lui shared that ” social media will be good for me for a couple of reasons, it will keep me relevant and in the public eye ,” This can be achieved by engaging with individuals through commenting on the post, sharing articles, and sharing opinion related to the campaign topic. Furthermore, attending webinars and events where connecting with individuals and expanding network can be achieved. Also, share with PLN what the campaign goals are to help better approach the campaign. All of these steps can help build and expand the knowdelege about the campaign topic
Miller. (2022). Sophie Lui – EDCI338. [Vidoe]. YouTube. Retrieved June 25, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfcXgKLzOVM.
Woods, B. (2013). Building your own PLN: seeking new insights and ideas? Expand your personal learning network. Association for Talent Development (ATD). 67(11), 70+. doi: https://go-gale-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/ps/i.do?p=ITBC&u=uvictoria&id=GALE|A348998538&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon
I plan that my PLN includes information related to the field of pharmacy and information about policy changes, clinical updates, drug safety, and the role of pharmacists in health care. I want my PLN to focus mainly on the pharmaceutical industry in Canada. The information is diverse from each other in terms of ideas but is related to one another as they are all related to the pharmacy profession.
Being a student in medical school back home and coming here and studying Chemistry for Medical Science, I developed a passion for knowledge about drugs and medication. This passion guided me to apply to pharmacy school. Thus, My PLN is for people who are interested in health care and mainly in the pharmaceutical industry. I plan that my network includes people from around the world and not only in Canada as this will help introduce new ideas and learn about other techniques used in different countries that can be beneficial to pharmacists in Canada.
Are you learning from a variety of diverse voices and are you expanding your understanding of the views of others?
For my PLN, the information is mainly from the Canadian Pharmacists Association, BC Pharmacy Association and Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists as these websites represent healthcare authorities and the pharmaceutical industry in specific where they share recent drug approval, expert advice on ethical or legal issues and the latest update about drug prescription. The websites I am using are very helpful to talk about different topics that are all related to the pharmacy industry, however, maybe reviewing websites from other countries such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can also expand my understanding of the pharmacy industry.
What is the learning outcome of your PLN and how are you ensuring your exposure to diversity and inclusion?
From the previous blogs that I wrote, I developed skills on how to develop my PLN where I learned that a network of people and resources can support my learning, thus, can help me in my professional development.
The outcome of my PLN is to share information, resources, and policies about the pharmaceutical industry where I am specific in terms of the main topic I plan that my PLN includes information related to the field of pharmacy and information about policy changes, clinical updates, drug safety, and the role of pharmacists in health care. I want my PLN to focus mainly on the pharmaceutical industry in Canada. The information is diverse from each other in terms of ideas but different topics that are related to one another as they are all related to the pharmacy profession.
The article ‘One without the Other,’ by Shelly Moore shares the issue of how inclusive are we. Shelly shares that ” Inclusion is not just about students with special needs; inclusion means everyone – but actually everyone.” (2017)This sentence summarizes how narrow we look at some issues. Although I am from a minority group in Canada, the first thing that comes to my mind when we talk about inclusion are people with special needs. Although it is more than that. Inclusion is creating an environment that embraces the diversity of individuals where these individuals have equal opportunities. Since I am interested in the pharmaceutical industry, inclusion there include equal employment opportunities; this includes a workplace that fosters different cultures and promotes respect. Diversity and inclusion go beyond only hiring people from different backgrounds, it also includes establishing policies that prevent discrimination. Moreover, inclusion includes adopting a patient-centric approach where patient support programs consider the diverse needs of patients that come from different backgrounds.
How likely individuals are going to continue with their created content and their network?
Hermida, in “Tell Everyone: why we share and why it matters” shares that people’s choices to share content are influenced by others (2014). Some people share because they want to share knowledge like a person they saw on the internet. Others like to share gossip because when they share that they feel they have present in this world. However, creating content requires many factors including and not limited to: passion and a supporting network. For individuals to continue creating content, they need to be passionate about what they do for it to continue. Usually, people who share content for financial benefits solely, do not pursue creating content for long because it takes time to build a network and their main motive is not the knowledge but rather, the financial benefits. Moreover, supporting networks motivate individuals to continue sharing their content. If no supporting network is available it would be difficult to continue sharing because there is no purpose!
Reference
Moore, S. (2017). One Without the Other: Stories of Unity Through Diversity and Inclusion. Portage & Main Press.
Hermida, A. (2014). #Telleveryone : why we share & why it matters. Doubleday Canada.
Personal digital identity is a specific digital identity associated with an individual person. It refers to the online presence that a person identifies in the digital world. Personal digital identity typically includes Social media profiles such as LinkedIn, which provides a digital identity and helps individuals to connect with others online.
Professional digital identity, on the other hand, represents an individual’s online presence that is specifically tied to their profession.
Usually, there will be an overlap between personal and professional digital identities, however, individuals often maintain separate online personalities between personal and professional digital identities for the purposes to manage their online image appropriately in different contexts.
Using Visitors and Residents mapping showed that I mainly use Instagram for personal use while LinkedIn for professional use. This is true because I have different online image depnding on the platform I use.
What digital platforms are students currently using to develop their professional network?
Students, nowadays, use different platforms to grow and maintain professional relationships with their peers and larger network. For example, LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that helps students to connect with classmates and professionals. Moreover, it is a great way to search for job opportunities related to the field of interest. Facebook Groups also offer groups focused on specific industries which allow students to join groups and connect with their peers who share the same interest.
What could the student consider in expanding their professional learning network?
Students can expand their professional learning networks by first defining their professional goals and interest that they want to connect with their PLN. Also, Engaging in online communities such as social media groups on their areas of interest can help the students to build a relationship and expand their networks. Moreover, using LinkedIn to connect with professionals by reaching out and asking for Informational interviews. This can help students to learn more about the industry they are interested in and potentially build a mentorship relationship. last but not least, using LinkedIn to connect with professionals
How do data privacy and security limit and/or promote a PLN?
Data privacy and security has an crucial effect on Professional Learning Networks (PLN). Some of the limitations include restrictions on access to certain resources. Data privacy will limit access to certain databases which might contain personal information such as in health care system where it is essential to have data privacy to protect patients’ personal information from being hacked. Moreover, data privacy promote trust and confidentiality. For example, having strong data privacy and security build trust between health care institutions and patients and this building trust within PLN
In your network how can you create a digital identity/ reputation?
I can create a digital identity by using the resident mode method where I share thoughtful content that aligns with my professional goals and expertise. Since I am interested in the pharmaceutical industry, I can share articles, blog posts to showcase my knowledge on the healthcare system by making sure that everything I am sharing is well researched to reach the target audience.
Also, using a consistent profile picture and bio to help people recognize and connect with my digital identity.
Moreover, being authentic and transparent and showing my personality in a professional manner
Building digital identity takes time, but it is important because it would be one of the main things employers will consider before hiring you, so it is important to maintain professionalism and respect while being authentic to your digital presence.
Reference
Privacy, Ethics & Security in Digital Spaces Developing Awareness of Privacy Regan, P., & Jesse, J. (2019) https://digitaltattoo.ubc.ca/quizzes/privacy-and-surveillance/
The Digital Visitor and Resident Continuum White. D. (2017). V and R Mapping. Retrieved from http://daveowhite.com/vandr/vr-mapping/
What is a Visitor/Resident (PDF) http://experimental.worldcat.org/vandrmapping/assets/documents/VRAMappingInstructions.pdf
The definition of digital identity can be difficult to explain as it has many layers. According to Binary Tattoo, ” Our digital identity is the permanent collection of data about us that is available online.” Every time we post a picture, a video, or even a comment, we are adding to the digital identity that we have online. It is important to distinguish between the user and digital identity. A user refers to the individual that operates a website/ blog to whom the digital identity is assigned. The set of links users keep in the network is considered a social graph that reveals information about the individual’s identity (Writing Cooperative).
How do personal versus professional approaches to digital identity affect social media use?
People use separate accounts for their personal and professional life. For example, many people use Instagram to share their social life, trips, and hobbies while using Linkedin to share all their experiences in one spot for employers to check their work experience.
It is important to distinguish between using social media for personal or professional use. The personal approach to digital identity using social media is where individuals share their personal life, adventures and lessons they learn with their friends and surrounding community on the internet (Identity-Making and Social Media). Thus, sharing your personal life as your digital identity.
However, professional approaches to digital identity can be achieved by establishing a positive digital presence by joining and optimizing their social media presence, such as LinkedIn. This can be achieved by having positive photos and comments on social media and sharing an E-portfolio containing blog posts of their personal learning and issues related to their profession. These will allow for positive feedback when employers look at your social media platform since many employers check candidates’ social media before hiring them. Zippia says, ” 54% of companies have eliminated a candidate based on their social media feed alone.” Thus, a positive digital identity is essential in the workplace. A couple of companies contacted me through my LinkedIn account, where I share my work experience in one spot, which allows the employer to learn more about me and offer me a position at their company.
Thus, it is important to remember that your digital identity is not just something you can change; it is a tattoo that will stay for the rest of your life!
How do digital identities converge in networked publics – what are the impacts and/or benefits?
Through social media, people can quickly connect with others around the world. Since digital identities are represented by “ you are what you share,” people with similar ideas and commonalities can connect and learn from each other. Moreover, individuals also share their digital identities with the networked public. For example, many clinics use digital identity to register patients for consent and doctor appointment (Education for Health (Abingdon, England)). This is helpful in terms of saving time, where patients can do it from any place, and they only need a device and internet. However, this means that people’s information and online activity are online, and others can access it. This can lead to dangerous consequences if this healthcare system is not protected.
My Social Media Present
My digital identity is informal and formal, depending on the social media platform I am dealing with. For example, on Instagram, I am very informal; my digital identity represents what I like to do in my free time and share my hobbies with close friends. On LinkedIn, my digital identity is more formal and with a broader audience. I only share posts regarding my achievement and what skills I gain with professionals. Learning how to use WordPress can help develop my professional digital identity to be able to share PLN
How are you defining your digital identity? – BINARYTATTOO – data privacy & compliance. BinaryTattoo. (2021, August 9). https://www.binarytattoo.com/about-us/
15+ Essential Social Media Recruitment Statistics [2023]: How effective is social media recruiting?. Zippia. (2023, May 12). https://www.zippia.com/advice/social-media-recruitment-statistics/#:~:text=What%20percentage%20of%20employers%20check,their%20social%20media%20feed%20alone.
Orihuela, J. L. (2023, March 2). Digital Identity and Social Networks. Medium. https://writingcooperative.com/digital-identity-and-social-networks-8726a80ee725
Identity-making and Social Media. (n.d.). Digital Leisure, the Internet and Popular Culture. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137405876.0007
Mahboob, U., Jawed, S., & Yasmeen, R. (2019). Digital Professional Identity: Dear Internet! who am I? Education for Health, 32(1), 33. https://doi.org/10.4103/efh.efh_232_1
Humans are network individuals where they live and learn in a network society. These individuals interact with people, digital devices, information sources and services through this network. Individuals mainly start looking into personal learning networks (PLN) through the pandemic. They use PLN to learn professional learning and derive knowledge. The PLN was developed by building and maintaining connections that allow the person to learn from other resources and help develop their own personal learning network.
What does it mean to a network using social media?
As humans, we are network individuals. We learn and live in a network society. People use networks to interact with people they prefer, digital devices, and gather information. However, the network can also be used to develop our network skills and digital literacies (website). This can be achieved using social media, where technology offers some support in developing relationships through connecting with people on social media such as networking on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?
Networked publics allow people from different expertise to interact with one another. This type of networking allows for the possibility to ask advice from people who have experience and are knowledgeable. Nevertheless, reflecting on work in a broader perspective than day-to-day help to be motivated. This can be achieved by participating in networked publics where individuals can communicate with people in the network through networking platforms. Furthermore, remaining in touch with these people in the network further enhances the relationship. Also, these continuous searches to network with people can help find hidden people and experiences that allow the individual to develop their PLN. The benefit of networking is the motive to participate in the network public.
What are the risks & rewards of public communications?
Public communication has its pros and cons. Interacting with people and sharing personal information or events you want to share with others is very rewarding. Public communication can be a way to connect with your ancestor, such as using 23andMe to learn more about your origins and where you come from. However, this type of public communication can reach beyond the people you want to connect with and, nevertheless, has its cons regarding the individual’s information being online. It is challenging to achieve privacy in a network setting.
The risk of public communication is that there is no information privacy. It is very challenging to achieve privacy in the network public. This invasion of privacy has risks in terms of being judged by what you posted from long ago. Individuals may share their thoughts about a certain topic online, then realize this opinion was not fully accurate. It would be hard to remove the original thoughts from the internet, and individuals might be judged later on in life based on that thoughts. Colleges may reject people based on the information they read about them that is found online. Moreover, risks can include digital identity theft. If an individual shares personal details about their life, digital identity theft might use personal information illegally.
References
What is a personal learning network (PLN)?. FutureLearn. (2022, October 25). https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/learning-network-age/0/steps/24644
View of understanding personal learning networks: Their structure, content and the networking skills needed to optimally use them: First Monday. View of Understanding personal learning networks: Their structure, content and the networking skills needed to optimally use them | First Monday. (n.d.). https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3559/3131
View of networked privacy. (n.d.). https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/surveillance-and-society/article/view/networked/networked
