Weekly Blog Posts 8

• Explore the video provided and reflect on the themes of a PLN in a professional capacity – how does a PLN give power to messaging for an individual or community?

      PLN gives the power to message for individual or community by talking to other people faster and it is very convenient. We use many online platforms to connect with each other. Nowadays, people use their phones all the time. We can get a message as soon as possible when we use social media to connect with each other. As for the interviewer, Brad Baker found that the growth of the community is important. And it is all connected. The community needs to be a healthy community. The role of his learning network is to bring understanding. The personal learning network also gives me the power to message our online classmates as well. We could do the project together without meeting each other. Personal learning networks also give me the power to make professional connections electronically. It gives me access to comment, post or message other people and can get plenty of ideas.

• Education occurs in so many environments beyond the classroom, how does social media help expand education and associated needed communications?

       Social media help us expand education and associated needed communications. First, social media provides more direct communication tools between students and teachers. It is much quicker to ask and respond to questions outside the classroom. It is also used to share information and exchange ideas on social media. It can let us connect with learning groups online. It is a very effective way to build a learning community. Social media also help us to learn about other people’s experiences as well. We can also hear worldwide news from the internet as well. According to Brad Baker, Social media allows multiple messages to come out not just the story. And social media can become the channel of communication. As for the frequent social media app that I use is Twitter, I can use hashtags to search information for my academic studies which are helpful. People recommend books and learning tips on there. This is the learning format that I couldn’t get inside the classroom.

• 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?

       A personal learning network helps us the development of thoughts and ideas in education discourse. It let students communicate their ideas to the teachers and their classmates. Online teaching is very common nowadays. Especially in the COVID- 19 situation right now. we can express our ideas and thoughts online. Through the personal learning network, more people will be able to express their ideas and we can learn from others. However, the problems might be that in the education discourse. The teachers cannot see what the students are doing while they are learning. And communicate online with the teachers is not that convenient compare to communicate with the teachers face-to-face. Some of the ideas might be hinder through online communications.

• How does the use of PLN raise awareness opportunities in education?

      PLN helps students to learn online and get knowledge through social media. As for education, we can get so many opportunities online and information. Brad Baker has said that he got many opportunities using social media. And it is also allowed the indigenous people to talk about their experience which gives a lot of opportunities to let them learn. When we ask a question on social media, it is very quick to get an answer. Because so many people can see this question and help you to answer. This is the process of learning in education, it is how PLN helps us in education.

•  What is the role of social media in education?

      The role of social media in education is to provide us with the ability to get more useful learning experiences and help us to connect with other learning groups. And it will make education learning more convenient. Social media can help is to connect with experts on our learning topics. It will let us have the opportunity of engaging experts to get responses to our questions.

•  What are some problems with social media communications in education settings?

      One of the problems with social media communication in education settings might be there is a lot of information online. For example, when you ask a question, you might get so many different responses. However, not all of them are correct. Students might get confused and choose the wrong answer. It will hinder their learning. Another problem would be privacy, people may use other’s people’s work online. Students may just search for the answers online without thinking by themselves.

Miller, J. (2021). “EDCI 338 – BRAD BAKER.” YouTube, 04 Mar. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy63SmEpvCw.

Veletsianos, G. (2010). Emerging Technologies in Distance Education. AU Press. Ch.6. pp. 114-115, and 128–138.