I really enjoyed reading your blog. The short YouTube video explaining what a Personal Learning Network is was very helpful. It was a clear and concise explanation of the concept. I think it would have been even more effective if you had included the video earlier in your post, before discussing your personal use of PLNs, so that readers had a clear definition upfront.
I liked how you emphasized multiple means of engagement, representation, and action when discussing Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Multiple means of engagement are something I think about often when teaching, to ensure that students are involved and have different ways to interact with the material. It’s such a great way to include a variety of learners and help them recognize their strengths.
Multiple means of representation can sometimes be more challenging. I really have to think more intentionally about it. For example, when I post a video, I try to remember to add closed captioning, and when writing something, I make sure the font is large and clear enough for every student. It’s so important to think outside ourselves and consider the needs of diverse learners. Thank you for your post!
I really enjoyed reading your blog. The layout was very easy to follow, and I liked that you started off with your own definition of a PLN and then backed it up with a definition from Green (2020), it really supported what you were saying in an academic way.
The table comparing the platforms and how you use them for learning and growth was super informative and a great way to organize your thoughts. I appreciated that you included considerations in addition to the strengths. I totally agree with what you said about Instagram’s algorithms being something to think about when it comes to reaching diverse voices. When the algorithm is personalized, it can actually limit exposure to different perspectives.
When you transitioned to talking about UDL, I thought it was great that you included a definition from the Government of Canada and followed up with a table explaining the key principles. That was a really clear way to introduce a new topic.
The screenshot you added felt a bit out of place; I wonder if you could explain what the image means or how it connects to your content. I’d also suggest maybe adding a video to give the post a bit more variety. Thank you for your insightful post about diversity online!
I really enjoyed reading your blog! I thought your explanation of what a Personal Learning Network was super clear and I really liked how you highlighted both the formal and informal tools. The table you included made the differences between both types of learning very easy to understand.
It was very interesting to hear about how networking has been the best way for you to build your PLN. I’m trying to get into LinkedIn more myself, so it was nice to hear how you’ve been using it to make connections through conferences and academic events. It gave me some good ideas for how I might use it more intentionally.
I wonder if you could expand a bit more on how specific digital tools have helped you connect with others or grow your learning. That might help readers apply your strategies in their own PLN building.
Your blog is well-organized and I love how you end each blog with your key takeaways with a photo in the background. Overall, this was a great post!
Expanding My Learning Network Through Social Media
A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is a network of people you connect with for the purpose of learning and growing. These connections, whether personal, academic, or professional, support your development in many areas of life. Often people build their PLN through social media. The platforms I use most for my PLN are Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, and Facebook, These tools allow me to connect with others, share ideas, and learning from different perspectives.
In my own life, I’ve built a PLN across multiple apps. Instagram is the one I use the most and where I have the most connections. I use it to stay in touch with old tennis exchange students, join group chats for school assignments, and share videos with my roommates. Snapchat is more focused on close friends and smaller group chats. LinkedIn is where I connect with people related to my career goals, school and professional opportunities. Facebook is mainly for staying in touch with family, friends abroad, and teams like my volleyball team.
Instagram is the platform where I follow the most people I don’t know personally. It is also where I discover the most inspiration for things like baking, sports and other hobbies. I use it as a space to learn from creators and communities outside my direct circle, which has helped me expand my perspective and add new ideas to my own life.
Faith’s Fresh Recipe: This is one of my favorite recipes from Faiths Fresh Instagram, it was super simple to make and very delicious.
Benefits of PLN
There are many benefits to building a Personal Learning Network (PLN), especially in a digital and social learning environment. One of the biggest advantages is that it allows for personalized learning; you can choose what, how, and when you want to learn based on your own interests and goals (Oddone, 2022). Personal Learning Networks also give you access to a variety of perspectives by connecting you with people from different backgrounds and areas of expertise. This helps expand your thinking and exposes you to new ideas. Another benefit is the social support that comes from being part of a learning community. It can be motivating and encouraging to share experiences, ask questions, and learn alongside others (Oddone, 2022). A PLN creates opportunities for collaboration, helping you work with others, share resources, and create new content. Overall, a PLN encourages self-directed learning and makes learning more engaging, flexible, and meaningful (Oddone, 2022). Below, I’ve added a video that does a great job of explaining what personalized learning is. It highlights how this approach helps adapt to each student’s individual needs to make learning more effective.
Why Diversity in a Digital Space Matters
Diversity in digital learning spaces is essential because it ensures that people from different backgrounds, cultures and identities are being seen and included. Without representation, many learners can feel isolated and their experiences are left out of important conversations. When I first noticed how powerful the #MeToo movement was, it hit me that sharing lived experiences can change minds and create safer, more understanding communities. Similarly, when Simone Biles opened up about her mental health struggles it showed how important it is for people to see someone they admire being honest about challenges. If we only ever hear one story or perspective, its easy to feel left out. However, when digital classrooms and online networks include people from all backgrounds, we learn more and are more likely to speak up for ourselves. That’s why diversity is what makes learning spaces real, relatable and inclusive.
Cho et al. developed a framework for social media literacy that highlights the need for people to not only access and understand online content, but also to critically evaluate and reflect on how it shapes our beliefs (2022). Digital platforms often reflect dominant perspectives and without awareness, this can reinforce exclusion and bias. Inclusion in online learning spaces is very important and we need to become more conscious of the decisions we make online.
References
Cho, H., Cannon, J., Lopez, R., & Li, W. (2022). Social media literacy: A conceptual framework. New Media & Society, 26(2), 941–960. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448211068530
Oddone, K. (2022). The nature of teachers’ professional learning through a personal learning network: Individual, social and digitally connected. Teaching and Teacher Education Leadership and Professional Development, 1, 100001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tatelp.2022.100001
I really liked how you clearly explained the differences between personal and professional digital identities. Your point about setting boundaries between the two stood out to me. It made me reflect on how I present myself online and how even casual posts can impact how others perceive me.
The section on digital footprints was very eye-opening. I think a lot of people, myself included, forget that even a single post can leave a lasting impression. You had very practical tips like googling your own name and being intentional about privacy settings.
I also appreciated your focus on digital professionalism. It’s so true that employers and professors check online profiles, and to remember to be mindful about how we engage online.
One thing I’d love to hear more about is how you personally manage the balance between your personal and professional identity online. You could add an example from your own experience or share your digital identity map. Overall, I learned a lot from your post!
I really enjoyed reading your post! The spelling test example helped me understand personalized learning right away. It was such an effective way to explain it and start your post by engaging the reader. I also liked the way you organized your post; it flowed well and made each section easy to follow.
I found it interesting that you marked Instagram more as a visitor space. I’d consider myself more of a resident on Instagram since I frequently post photos and share things online. It’s cool to see how we use the same platform in different ways. One piece of feedback I have is that I would love to hear more about why you placed your apps where you did on your digital identity map. I was curious to learn more about your thought process behind those choices.
You also brought up an important point about the challenges with personalized learning, especially issues of equity and access. I think it’s worth considering how schools can create personalized experiences without relying solely on expensive technology. Finding resources that are low in technology and cost, yet still offer choice and flexibility, is important for accessibility. Thank you for your post!
I really enjoyed reading your blog post! I really like the colors that you added to your post and the spacing between each paragraph made it easy for me as a reader to view your post. The whole post was very organized, which made it easy to stay focused on your content.
I also loved that you mentioned using Notion! I have used it for school also and I agree it is such a great tool for keeping everything organized in one place. I appreciated that you included suggestions for digital tools that have worked well for you. To take that even further, it might be interesting to include a simple table or chart that outlines the tools and how they support digital literacy. That could be a really effective way to organize your recommendations and make them even easier for readers to understand and try out themselves.
A suggestion that I have is to add more photos or videos to engage the reader even more. Overall, I learned a lot and really enjoyed reading your post!
I really enjoyed reading your blog and hearing about how social media has influenced your education. I liked how you balanced the benefits and challenges of platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. The examples you gave like joining online study groups showed how social media can be a valuable educational tool rather than a distraction.
I appreciated how you connected Shauna Bedley’s ideas to your own experience with digital literacy. It was powerful to read how this inspired you to change your habits and engage more intentionally with the digital world.
One small suggestion I have is to consider adding more visuals, like photos or even screenshots of helpful study tools. These could break up the text a bit and draw readers in. Overall, you did a great job, and I learned a lot from your post!
I loved your blog, Island in the Sun is such a perfect summer song! It’s always on my playlist at this time of year. I also really related to what you shared about struggling with study habits and using social media as a distraction. It’s something I’ve worked on too, so I appreciated your honesty and reflection.
I thought it was great that you didn’t just focus on the negatives, but also highlighted how social media can be used as a meaningful learning and connection tool. The chart listing the positive and negative effects was super clear and helpful, such a great way to organize your ideas.
If you are looking to build more interaction with readers, maybe try ending with a question to spark conversation in the comments. I am looking forward to working with you and reading more of your posts!
How you present yourself online can have a lasting personal and professional consequence. Everything that gets posted online can be shared and saved between people and is there forever. Whether you are posting a story while on vacation or sharing a work update on LinkedIn, your digital identity speaks for you. An important question when thinking about your digital identity, both personal and professional, is: How do we balance the two sides? It is important to find a good balance while staying true to who you are.
Personal vs. Professional Digital Identity
What is Digital Identity?
Digital identity is an individual’s presence online. It is the trace they leave behind when using any website or platform. This identity can be either hidden or public, and how you choose to present yourself often depends on the app or site you are using. Digital identity can show up in many different forms, like an Instagram profile or a username commenting on a Reddit post. Most people have several digital identities across different accounts. For example, I use my Instagram account mainly for close friends and family, so I keep it private. On the other hand, I use LinkedIn for future jobs and employers, so I leave that account public. I also change what I post depending on who I know will see it. I share more personal things on Instagram, where only close friends can see, while LinkedIn is more professional and work-related.
How Do I Differentiate Between the Two?
I keep my accounts separate based on how I use them. I also change my privacy settings. On Instagram, my account is private and people have to request to follow me. I have attached below a helpful video that shows how to change your Instagram privacy settings if you want to make your account more private.
Privacy settings
Think before you post
It is also important that every time I post, I think about who I am posting for and who follows me. Even if my account is private, I still stop and think before I post anything. When I post on LinkedIn, I think more about what future employers might think. On Instagram, I might post something more casual since it’s just for close friends. I found a great poster that uses the word THINK to help you decide whether to post something online. It includes five questions you should ask yourself before posting. This is a good reminder for both personal and professional accounts.
Maintaining boundaries online and ensuring that my online presence aligns with my personal and career goals is important. It’s important that I keep personal and professional digital identities separate because they serve different purposes. Without boundaries, it can lead to misunderstandings, privacy issues, or even missed opportunities. My identity reflects who I am in everyday life, my interests, sports and relationships, whereas my professional identity shows my skills, experience and goals. Keeping them separate helps me make sure that future employers see a version of me that aligns with my career path without mixing in content that’s just meant for family and friends. By setting clear boundaries, I can protect my online reputation and stay focused on my goals. It allows me to be myself while still being mindful about what I post and who sees it.
My Digital Visitor and Resident Map
The visitor and resident model is about thinking about how we interact and use different websites and apps. It looks at how we behave online and the trace of ourselves that we leave. A visitor is someone who goes online and leaves little to no trace of themselves. An example would be searching something up on Google and you don’t log in, but just search something up and leave. Residents have a visible presence online that stays over time. Creating content and interacting with others online are examples of what a resident does online that makes them visible. Below is my digital presence online based on how I use apps as a visitor or resident and if I use those apps for professional or personal use.
Platform
Visitor or Resident
Purpose
Instagram
Resident
Stay connected with friends and post photos of my favourite places or people.
Good Reads
Visitor
Keep track of books I’ve read and find new reading suggestions.
Snapchat
Resident
For daily communicate through photos and videos and groupchats with multiple friends.
Google
Visitor
To search for information quickly.
Pinterest
Visitor/Resident
For inspiration, ideas or saving crafts for future use.
Seeing where each app falls on the visitor/resident scale helps me understand how I present myself online and where I leave a digital footprint. It also reminds me why boundaries are important on the different apps that I use.
My digital visitor vs. resident map
As I grow and my personal and professional goals change, I think my digital visitor and resident map will also shift. Some platforms I currently use for personal reasons like Snapchat and Instagram, might become less important to me over time. I have already started to notice this change as fewer and fewer people I know are using these apps regularly. I think apps like iMessage and WhatsApp will become more dominant in my daily communication, especially for staying connected in more private and direct ways. I also expect to become more active on professional platforms like LinkedIn, depending on what field of work I go into. When I begin to think about jobs after university, I know LinkedIn will be more useful, especially if I go into a business-related career. My online presence will become more focused on professional networking, and that shift will naturally affect how I use and prioritize different apps. I believe I will also encounter new apps for these different uses, and these will appear in new ways on my digital map.
Conclusion
Creating a digital identity that reflects both who I am personally and who I want to be professionally takes thought and balance. Through the visitor and resident model, I have been able to see how my online presence shifts depending on the app and its purpose. It is important to know who I’m sharing with and why. By keeping my accounts separate, adjusting privacy settings, and thinking before I post, I’m learning to keep my privacy while still being authentic online. Understanding my digital identity helps me set boundaries, stay focused on my goals, and build a presence consistent with my reputation that represents me both now and in the future.
