Throughout this term, I have learned a lot about the ways one can go about developing a personal learning network (PLN), and how I can use this tool to facilitate future networking and professional development. As well, I have gained a lot of insight into what it takes to build an effective and authentic digital identity. Also discussed throughout the course were considerations related to privacy, security, diversity, activism, and media literacy, all of which are important topics to be aware of as ‘digital residents’ in a world that is being increasingly digitized.

Prior to taking this class, I viewed social media as something to be cautious with, and something to avoid disclosing too much personal information on. I was and still remain a very infrequent ‘poster’. It is rare that I will engage with a piece of content. However, since taking EDCI 338, I have realized that being able to fully utilize a PLN requires tending to that PLN in the form of participation. As John Donne once wrote, “No man is an island”. ‘Lurking’ behavior on social media can be a great way to learn, but there is far more to be gained in participating fully by engaging with others in one’s network.

A great resource for those looking to get started with building a PLN can be found below:
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/jun13/vol70/num09/Create-Your-PLN@-6-Easy-Steps.aspx

In the future, I plan to use some of the strategies as described in the article above, by Will Richardson to try to learn more about the topics that interest me, and to build networks of connections around these interests in my personal life (e.g. gardening, activism, etc.). I also plan to bring insights from this class into my professional development. I hope to engage more with my existing network on LinkedIn, expand this existing network, and hope to be able to use that resource to further my career in the future, particularly as I prepare for an international move to Australia following graduation.
I have also learned the importance of not focusing too much on the negative attention that certain posts of ours receive.

As was described in a reading for this week:
“We can’t expect to go through life without getting our feet a little dirty; digital or otherwise. In time we will acquire blemishes on our feet. However, as our feet continue to grow, the percentage of impurities in relation to the size of the foot decreases. The same holds true when it comes to our goal for our digital footprints” (Qualman, 2012).

It is important to remember that “if you proactively have hundreds of items out there, then the few negative items are just a small part of an overall story” (Qualman, 2012). We must have perspective, accept our mistakes, and try our best to view them as learning opportunities or teachable moments.

References
Qualman, Eric. Digital Leader: 5 Simple Keys to Success and Influence. McGraw-Hill, 2012.