Building a Digital PLN: Using Social Media for Professional Growth

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Building a Digital PLN: Using Social Media for Professional Growth

In today’s digital world, teachers can connect, share, and develop outside of their schools by setting up a Professional Learning Network (PLN). This guide on building your personal learning network (PLN) ethically is derived from the articles “Ethical Challenges of Edtech, Big Data, and Personalized Learning” and “Leveraging Social Media to Build a Digital PLN.” Ethical considerations are crucial in maintaining a professional and secure online presence.

Research on Social Media and Learning Communities
I decided to explore Reddit as my main social media platform for building a PLN. Reddit’s different subreddits make it a great place for teachers and hobbyists to share resources, talk about ideas, and learn from each other. I found active communities like r/Teachers, r/EdTech, and r/filmphotography. The r/filmphotography community was especially helpful, teaching me a lot about film cameras, their history, and how to use them.

Building Your Personal Learning Network (PLN)
To build my PLN, I mainly use Twitter but also plan to add Facebook and Pinterest. Twitter helps me stay updated with the latest teaching trends and connect with educators around the world through hashtags and Twitter chats. Facebook groups like “Teachers Teaching with Technology” offer a focused space for detailed discussions and sharing resources. Pinterest, with its visual content, provides endless teaching ideas, lesson plans, and creative activities that I can save and organize easily. On Reddit, communities like r/filmphotography have been incredibly enlightening, offering in-depth discussions and tips on using film cameras.

Setting Professional Goals and Engaging with the Community
Choosing the right platforms and setting goals is important. I aim to join discussions on inquiry-based learning and literacy by sharing my experiences and resources on Twitter and Facebook groups. Being active in the community means not just reading content but also joining discussions, giving feedback, and working on projects together. For example, I plan to host a Twitter chat on using wearable technology in healthcare education, based on my research and learning design plan. On Reddit, I want to share my knowledge about film photography and learn from others in the community.

Protecting Your Information and Ensuring Ethical Behavior
Keeping my digital environment safe is crucial. I use strong, unique passwords for each platform and enable two-factor authentication. I’m careful about the information I share, making sure it fits my professional image. Acting ethically in a PLN means respecting others’ opinions, giving credit properly, and avoiding misinformation. Also, knowing the privacy settings on each platform helps me balance professional sharing with personal privacy. Tools like password managers and understanding each platform’s privacy policies can aid in maintaining security.

Privacy Concerns and Online Participation
Privacy concerns can affect how comfortable you feel joining online communities. The ethical challenges mentioned in the article by Regan and Jesse highlight the need for transparency and data protection. To address these concerns, I choose platforms with strong privacy policies and am careful about sharing sensitive information, especially about students and educational data.

In summary, building a digital PLN involves choosing the right social media platforms, setting clear goals, actively engaging with the community, and following ethical standards. By doing this, teachers can use social media to grow professionally and stay connected with educators worldwide.