In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has faced many economic and social changes. As a result, the importance of Personal Learning Networks (PLN) have been recognized for their ability to share knowledge and experience with a group of connected people – physical barriers do not come into play here.
But how can we define a PLN? As defined by Jane Hart – “It is a network of trusted connections with whom an individual interacts (and learns from) on a regular basis” (Gutierrez, para 1)
We all regularly interact with a network of our preferred people, digital devices, information sources and services (both online and offline). We use this network in different contexts depending on our day-to-day lives. The skills at the center of networking involve an ability to identify and understand other people’s work in relation to one’s own. Upon building this network, content is distributed across different groups and places where people can gain access to information at ease (Rajagopal et al, para 2). PLN’s are developed largely via social media platforms (such as Twitter, Facebook, Linked and Instagram) while helping its users to form connections and grow their knowledge base by developing themselves professionally through continual learning.
In the video below, Shehaan describes the key characteristics of existing social media technologies
Digital Identity, What is it?
Technology and social media have greatly impacted the world over the past few decades, where it has created a sense of community and belonging to people. Each and every person that uses these social media tools has his/her own unique identity which is represented over the respective network. This identity is a depiction of a person, and it can be created in a variety of ways such as posts, shares comments, likes and interests to name a few. As defined by Eric Stoller, “a digital identity is your footprint on the web”.
In the video below, Rui discusses the use of social media technology to enhance/develop your digital identity and reputation
The Risks That Come With it
PLN’s are subject to privacy concerns since our data is increasingly networked. Any model of privacy that focuses on the control of information will fail (Boyd, 2). This is because it requires an individual to have certain knowledge and skills to truly control their information, and since the internet is ever-changing, it is impossible to achieve control. One slip-up or a data leakage can cause protected data to easily enter into a networked public where it may enter broader databases, thereby circulating the information we intend to protect (Boyd, 2).
Networking has tremendous benefits – but we are all at the mercy of our data servers. It is important that we filter out sensitive data and learn how to validate sites and other aspects of the internet that we face on a day-to-day basis.
Isaac dives into the concerns that come with networking in the video below.
How did Certain Leaders Come to be by Using Their PLN?
Social media has played a vital role in the spark of advocacy groups in the 21st century, in the current age that we live in, we have a wealth of information right at our fingertips. As a consequence of this, individuals are able to share pictures, videos and posts of events and injustices that can gain traction. This will process will potentially reach a majority of the networks, thus, becoming viral. Networking in social media is the most important thing, as this would lead to conversations. In the case of advocacy, these conversations will help you identify the key leaders in the community that you represent. You can take steps to amplify their voices and share in that effort by re-sharing content or following the hashtags that they advocate for. These important conversations will help individuals identify where their voice fits in their community. When taking Twitter as an example, Simpson mentioned that you have to figure out which niche category your voice fits in, which will help amplify your voice within your community and identify where there should be a call for change.
Mohata gives us some examples of key figures that used a PLN to become a leader in their field, in the video below.
The Takeaway
PLN’s support the development and growth of professionals’ careers. Once created, the PLN would be a platform in which dialogue and conversations can occur, thus allowing for individual (non-formal) learning. This learning is prevalent in practice since knowledge is built through experience and reflection and shared through social interactions with other users on the network (Rajagopal et al, para 3). This also allows for active collaboration for knowledge creation and knowledge-sharing purposes. In some instances, these connections build strong ties where an individual can create and orchestrate these ties to orchestrate effective support for his/her learning needs. COVID-19 has left us with the need to build relationships through technology – a PLN is an ideal solution.
References
Shehaan :
Gutierrez, Karla. What Are Personal Learning Networks?, 21 June 2016, www.shiftelearning.com/blog/personal-learning-networks
Rajagopal, Kamakshi, et al. “View of Understanding Personal Learning Networks: Their Structure, Content and the Networking Skills Needed to Optimally Use Them: First Monday,” 27 Aug. 2011, firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3559/3131.
Boyd, Danah. “Networked Privacy.” Surveillance & Society, 12 Dec. 2012, ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/surveillance-and-society/article/view/networked. Stoller, Eric. “What is Digital Identity?.” YouTube, uploaded by University of Derby, 25 Nov 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0RryRbJza0&feature=youtu.be
Jawed, Saira., et al. “Digital Professional Identity: Dear Internet! Who Am I.” Education for Health, vol. 32, no. 1, 2019, http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=f34833d6-e9b2-48ae-945a-277dfff93bba%40sessionmgr4007
World Economic Forum. “Davos 2019 – Press Conference The Value of Digital Identity for the Global Economy and Society.” YouTube, uploaded by World Economic Forum, 5 Feb. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-V7lyxrOmw&feature=youtu.be.
Zihao :
Louise Matsakis, The WIRED Guide to Your Personal Data (and Who Is Using It) 2019 https://www.wired.com/story/wired-guide-personal-data-collection/
Mozilla,The good, the bad and the ugly sides of data tracking 2018 https://internethealthreport.org/2018/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-sides-of-data-tracking/
Woods, Bianca. “Building your own PLN: seeking new insights and ideas? Expand your personal learning network.” T+D, vol. 67, no. 11, Nov. 2013, p. 70+. Gale OneFile: Business, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A348998538/ITBC?u=uvictoria&sid=ITBC&xid=1010abdf. Accessed 8 Apr. 2021.
Rui :
Bruggen, J. V., Rajagopal, K., Brinke, D. J., & Sloep, P. B. (2012, January 2). View of Understanding personal learning Networks: Their structure, content and the networking skills needed to optimally use them: First monday. Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3559/3131
CEO, N., Manager, C., & R.CEO, D. (2021, March 26). Reputation management services in Los Angeles – best reviews. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://coalitiontechnologies.com/reputation-management
European Union. (2015). Personal Digital Identity：A guide for teachers on how to train their students on web reputation related issues [Scholarly project]. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://yees.pixel-online.org/documents/guides-for-teachers-and-trainers/Persona%20Digital%20Identity_ENG.pdf
Project Number: 2015-1-ES01-KA202-016077
Gutierrez, K. (2016, July 21). What are personal Learning networks? Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/personal-learning-networks
Media. (2017, November 16). What defines your digital identity and what legal rights are associated with it? Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://blog.signaturit.com/en/beyond-your-online-reputation-what-defines-your-digital-identity-and-what-legal-rights-are-associated-with-it
Purdue University Global. (2018, November 30). 3 tips to protect your online reputation. Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/student-life/3-tips-protect-online-reputation-digital-footprint/
Smith, D. (2018). Personal learning network: Social Media and Personal Branding. Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/personal-learning-network
University of Southampton. (n.d.). What is a personal learning Network (PLN)? Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/learning-network-age/0/steps/24644
Mohata :
‘Try to Keep UP’: HOW OCASIO-CORTEZ Upended Politics in Her First Year in Office.” 24 Dec. 2019. Web. 07 Apr. 2021.
“Biography.” 28 Apr. 2020. Web. 07 Apr. 2021.
“Greta Thunberg: Time’s Person of the Year 2019.” Web. 08 Apr. 2021.
“Greta Thunberg: Who Is She and What Does She Want?” BBC News. BBC, 28 Feb. 2020. Web. 08 Apr. 2021.
Çakır, Gökhan. “Everything You Need to Know about DrLupo.” Dot Esports. Dot Esports, 18 June 2020. Web. 08 Apr. 2021.
“Creating a Successful PLN.” Lino. Web. 07 Apr. 2021.
“Why and How to Create Successful Personal Learning Networks.” TalentLMS Blog. 17 Oct. 2018. Web. 08 Apr. 2021.
