This blog post will introduce the meaning of Personal Learning Networks and Public Communications through the means of online platforms. The following question will be addressed:

 

  • What does it mean to network using social media?
  • How do people learn and engage using mediated platforms?
  • How are we motivated to participate in networked publics? 
  • What are the risks and rewards of public communications?

 

Firstly, let’s introduce the term Personal Learning Networks (PLN). PLN is “a way of describing the group of people you connect with to learn their ideas, their questions, their reflections, and their references” (Heick et al., 2018). In previous years, creating a PLN required individuals to interact face-to-face to learn and network; however, as technology has significantly improved in the past decade, people have adapted to a hybrid approach of face-to-face and online networking. This plays a large role in how people make new connections and form their PLN. 

What does it mean to network using social media? The increase in networking through social media platforms has allowed individuals to easily connect with new people worldwide. Conversations of learning can be held asynchronous and completely virtually, allowing for unlimited use. Another role SM plays in networking is to maintain relations after an event. Individuals can network face-to-face then receive a SM contact to keep in touch. For example, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are all common SM networking platforms for leisure and professional use. 

How do people learn and engage using mediated platforms? People learn and engage using mediated platforms by ‘following’ their content. Typically “people connect with others because they see value in their work in relation to ours which can potentially help our future work” (Rajagopal et al., 2011). We use those we connect with to add value to our lives. This could mean the beliefs of our contact can influence our future decisions. For example, if our contact firmly dislikes a company, this could influence our choices in engaging with that company, etc. We learn, grow, and act based on what we experience on our own and other’s experiences. 

Further, there are different types of ties we have with our connections that engage learning. “Strong ties allow for active collaboration on knowledge creation, whereas weak ties are sources for new information, knowledge, and ideas” (Rajagopal et al., 2011). 

How are we motivated to participate in networked publics? First, let’s introduce the concept of network publics. Network publics are an online space constructed through networked technologies and the imagined community that emerges as a result of the intersection of people, technology, and practice (Boyd, 2008). As previously mentioned, network publics allow us to learn and engage with people world-wide asynchronously which holds a large motivation factor in why we participate. Additionally, we use these networked publics to “stay in the loop” of our contacts and events. 

Lastly, What are the risks and rewards of public communications? Networked public and communication come with a lot of risks and rewards. Risks of public communications mainly revolve around privacy. There are many hidden/hard to find agreements when consenting to online platforms. This causes the risks for information breaches as all our personal information is stored within these online networks. Further, public communication networks hold information on every individual and have the ability to spread misinformation affecting our PLN. Although there are risks with using public communications, the rewards outweigh the risks. We can connect and communicate with anyone, anywhere at any time which is a major advancement in today’s society. 

 

Heick, T., & Staff, T. T. (2018, September 30). What Is A Personal Learning Network? TeachThought. https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/what-is-a-personal-learning-network/. 

Rajagopal, K., Joosten-ten Brinke, D., Van Bruggen, J., & Sloep, P. (2011). Understanding personal learning networks: Their structure, content and the networking skills needed to optimally use them. First Monday: Peer-Reviewed journal on the Internet. https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3559/3131

FutureLearn (n.d.). What is a Personal Learning Network (PLN)? FutureLearn. https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/0/steps/24644. 

Boyd, D. (2008). Taken Out of Context: American Teen Sociality in Networked Publics. danah boyd. https://www.danah.org/papers/TakenOutOfContext.html. 

Networked Privacy. (n.d.). View of Networked Privacy. https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/surveillance-and-society/article/view/networked/networked.