Reflecting on My PLN and Professional Growth #Blog6
Before taking this course, I mostly thought of social media as a place for entertainment or casual communication. I rarely considered how online platforms could support learning or professional development. However, through exploring the concept of a Personal Learning Network (PLN), my perspective on social media has gradually changed. I now see that these digital spaces can also be used intentionally to connect with others, share knowledge, and learn from different perspectives.
One idea that stood out to me from Chapter 16 of Digital Leader was the importance of empowering others in digital communities. Qualman explains that leadership in the digital age is not simply about directing others, but about encouraging participation and allowing people to contribute their ideas and experiences (Qualman, 2012). This idea connects strongly to the concept of a PLN because a network becomes valuable when people actively share knowledge and support one another’s learning.
For me, this concept changed how I think about participation in online spaces. Instead of only consuming information online, I began to understand the importance of engaging with ideas, asking questions, and contributing to discussions. Even small interactions can help create a more collaborative environment where people can learn from each other.
Another important realization for me is that social media and professional life do not always need to be separated. When used responsibly, online platforms can support professional development and networking. In the future, maintaining a PLN could help me stay informed about new ideas in my field and connect with people who share similar interests. At the same time, it is important to remain aware of professionalism and communicate respectfully in digital spaces.
Overall, learning about PLNs has helped me rethink how I use social media. Rather than seeing it only as a space for entertainment, I now recognize its potential as a tool for learning, connection, and professional growth. As I move forward in my academic and professional journey, I hope to continue developing my PLN and using online platforms in a more intentional and meaningful way.
Reference
Qualman, E. (2012). Digital leader: 5 simple keys to success and influence. McGraw-Hill. https://learning-oreilly-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/library/view/digital-leader-5/9780071792424/ch16.html#ch16
Hello Kai,
What a thoughtful post you’ve put together. I really enjoy how you discussed that we don’t always need to see the blending on personal and professional as such a bad thing but as a way to actually present a different side of ourselves in a conscientious way. It reminds me of when we listened to the interview with the reporter who mentioned the advantages of the different natures of each platform and learning what is acceptable to share where. Also you have a strong point in discussing the power of being actively engaged and aware of content and what is happening in these digital spaces. To create a more dynamic and active PLN we must actually exist in it and help others contribute and be involved rather that a passive scroller whose name haphazardly pops up in “likes” and reposts. Great work!
Well put: I’ve definitely struggled with taking a passive role and not contributing to discussions in the past. Taking an active role in improving the interactivity of your PLN can lead to some great things!
Hello,
Thank you for your blog. I enjoyed reading it.
I appreciate you pointing out that social media and professional life do not always need to be separated. With more and more use of social media for both personal and professional use, they will intersect, and as mentioned in your post, it is important to think about the intention and meaning behind a post. Potential employers may look at both personal and professional social media use to build rapport and understand who the employee is professionally and what they aspire to be.
Another valid point you mentioned is how leaders interact and communicate with their team to ensure they feel included and empowered. This aligns with Rizzuti (2020), who said that social media is re-imagining how we communicate in private and public industries.
Reference:
https://journals.mcmaster.ca/mjc/article/view/2464
Hi! I liked your blog and found it very interesting. Writing this week’s blog post also got me thinking about how I engage in online spaces.
I also liked your point about how small interactions can build towards a shared learning environment. These are small steps, but they can snowball and expand to more people, and what we have now is an online space that we can learn and grow from. So because of that, I also think it’s important to consider how we present ourselves and construct our identities on social media. It certainly seems like we need to pay attention to how we conduct ourselves online, especially in light of all the online learning communities.