Blog Post 1: Personal Learning Network (PLN)

WHAT IS PERSONAL LEARNING NETWORK (PLN)?

A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is a self-created network of people, resources, and tools to support an individual’s learning and professional development. It is unique and tailored to an individual’s specific needs, goals, purposes, and interests. It is intentionally built through online platforms to support an individual’s professional non-formal learning needs.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO A NETWORK USING SOCIAL MEDIA?

Social media plays a significant role in developing PLN. Utilizing social media as a networking platform refers to connecting and interacting with individuals, organizations, or communities for personal or professional purposes. Social media enables the building and nurturing of relationships, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ideas, engaging in meaningful conversations, and uncovering a plethora of opportunities. It serves as a remarkable tool and resource, allowing individuals to selectively choose and connect with like-minded individuals who align with the purpose and goals of their PLN.

With the advent of social media, networking has become significantly easier and more accessible. In the past, networking often involved physically meeting people and exchanging contact information like emails and phone numbers to stay connected. However, now all it takes is a few simple clicks on your electronic devices.

HOW ARE WE MOTIVATED TO PARTICIPATE IN NETWORKED PUBLICS?

In this society, a network is a power. The more people you know, the better it is. Who you know is also extremely crucial as it could potentially shape your professional and personal life journey. 

Participation in networked publics is driven by a range of motivations. It depends on what people hope to achieve through their presence on social media platforms. It is the same as people using different types of platforms for different purposes. For example, LinkedIn is mainly used among professionals to stay connected with other professionals, to seek job opportunities, to showcase their notable achievements, and to ensure their continued visibility in the professional realm.

Other example of motivations could be:

1. Connections with like-minded individuals who share similar interests and goals, expanding social
2. Entertainment and leisure, with engaging content and recreational activities.
3. Activism and advocacy, empowering individuals to raise awareness, mobilize support, and drive positive change
4. Access to diverse resources, opportunities, and communities that may not be readily available offline, opening new possibilities.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS & REWARDS OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS?

As discussed in Surveillance and society, it is extremely important to consider privacy, control, and security. In today’s interconnected world, our online presence is shaped by immutable factors that link us together. As we navigate through networked publics, our identities are often probabilistically formed through comparisons with others. However, this interconnectedness comes with its risks.

Interpretations and portrayals within these networked publics can have damaging effects, especially when it comes to privacy, security, and control. Despite our efforts, achieving full control over our online information is nearly impossible. A single slip-up or data leakage can expose once-protected aspects of our lives to the networked public without our awareness. It is entirely possible that others might have more insights into our lives than we do ourselves.

Despite the risks, public communications bring in many benefits. Public communications support the development and growth of professionals’ careers, find appropriate and constant support when the need arises, and more. Public communications also serve as a vital source of innovation and knowledge creation that is built through experience and reflection shared through social interaction with others.

References

https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/surveillance-and-society/article/view/networked/networked