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 PLN can help with the development of thoughts and ideas in education discourse because it allows an individual to access several resources that can enhance and improve their understanding of a certain concept or topic. For example, one of my current professors implemented a unique hands-on exercise in our class to help us understand a topic. In our most recent class, groups of students used Google Slides to come up with an idea of how they thought a marine food chain should be arranged. Each group was provided the same slide that had pre-filled boxes, arrows, and key words, and it was our job to move these boxes, arrows and words around to make a marine food chain. Once we were finished, each group explained why they put certain boxes, arrows, and words in certain order, and this prompted a great discussion. Overall, this was an example of how Google Slides, which is a component of our PLN, helped with education discourse in the classroom. In addition, professors and teachers can incorporate many sources of media into their curriculum, such as videos, GIFs, podcasts, textbook excerpts, websites, blogs, and scholarly articles, to enhance student learning and promote discussion. A PLN is extremely helpful in education discourse because it allows educators to quickly and effectively share knowledge and information to other educators. In Veletsianos (2010), they mention many ways how using a PLN can help in education discourse. One of the mentioned examples is for educators to immerse themselves in understanding how online networks function, as well as understanding how their students can utilize them in efficient ways. In addition to posting on these platforms, providing feedback on the contributions of others is key for social networking and to build connections. These methods are shown to strengthen the educator’s PLN. A PLN can hinder the development of thoughts and ideas in education discourse if educators only interact with other educators that have similar values and morals, which can inhibit diverse thoughts and ideas from being shared.

How do educators create discourse?

Educators can create discourse on social media in many ways. For example, I have seen many educators who use social media to promote discussion about current and exciting science news, as well as explaining the math, history, and physics behind why things are the way they are. This form of education on social media created by these educators can be captivating to the viewers, prompting them to post follow-up questions, and even discuss what they learned to their friends, family, and even those in the workplace. Personally, I have seen several educators on Instagram who have a PhD in neuroscience or another science background who describe eye-opening science news that makes me rethink the way I see and comprehend the environment around me. When I learn these new things, I tend to feel compelled to tell my roommates, friends and even my parents about these interesting facts, which creates discussion and spreads the word about this topic.

What is the role of social media in education?

Using social media in education can be a helpful method to engage students and learners. Throughout my undergraduate degree and in high school, I can recount many times in which I was shown educational videos that were engaging and interesting. For example, one video that still sticks with me is a music video that explains the parts of a cell. As such, educational videos are a powerful tool that can help explain information in a novel way, which can allow learners to have a better grasp on a topic. In addition, having a mix of different forms of media other than text on a PowerPoint presentation improves learner engagement. Social media can also be used by students for educational purposes. For example, students can create a YouTube video or Instagram post about a learned topic. As such, performing these kinds of projects using social media can be more engaging and interesting for the student, and can make them feel more excited to learn about a topic.

What are some problems with social media communications in educational settings?

Using social media in an educational setting can have its consequences. For example, if an educator wanted their students to search about information on a topic using social media, there is always a chance that there is inappropriate content on any of these platforms. As such, it is difficult for educators to regulate what their learners are doing online. In addition, there are always going to be privacy concerns with social media in an educational setting. Many websites, browsers, and scholarly sources that are provided by an educator require some form of personal information, such as an email, or your name, in order to function. Some sites even store your information in foreign countries. This can be a serious concern for those who do not feel comfortable sharing information on a public domain, and can lead to security breaches.

Which social media platforms are beneficial in education?

There are several social media platforms that are helpful to promote discussion in an educational setting. For example, Discord is a helpful tool that students can use to create study groups, post practice questions and answers, and help each other out with content. With so many educators out there, YouTube is also a helpful platform that can provide useful information on various educational concepts. I commonly used YouTube in first and second year during my undergrad to help learn the Krebs cycle and other common biology concepts. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are also useful to promote educational discussion and promote study groups.

When working with the vulnerable sector, how does social media fit into professionalism and regulations?

It is key for people working in the vulnerable sector to retain professionalism and confidentiality. This is because someone in this sector works with vulnerable people, and it is important that they respect their privacy. As such, sharing information about patients to others is not tolerated. In order for the vulnerable sector to receive effective and safe care, it is important for vulnerable sector employees to be diligent about what they post or say online about their profession.

References

Veletsianos, G. ed. (2010). Emerging Technologies in Distance Education.
Edmonton: Athabasca University Press.