BLOG5 – PLN & Education

How do educators create discourse?

Today, educators create and write discourse by moving beyond traditional boundaries to engage in open teaching methods that are transparent, collaborative, and social. Such discourse is facilitated through the development of personals learning networks (PLNs), where knowledge is collaboratively developed and then shared. There are many forms of media where educators can write discourse, Blogging, Collaborative Wikis, and Microblogs, are just some of them.

What is the role of social media in education?

According to Harry Dyer (2016), Social media acts as a stage where we perform our professional identities using various digital props. It allows us to bridge the online and offline divide. The wall between our digital and physical lives is increasingly permeable, allowing us to move between both seamlessly. Furthermore, We can address old problems using social media. We can use media like Twitter to teach Shakespeare (although not effectively), or use YouTube to discuss sensitive topics like sex education through peer-led discourse.

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

In education settings, proprietary systems like Udemy or Coursera can hinder peer to peer collaboration by being restrictive, expensive, and course centric. Furthermore, there is often a concern that digital communication is ruining language, but in reality, its a linguistic evolution where modern students are using memes and code to signal understanding (Harry Dyer, 2016).

Which social media platforms are beneficial in education?

According to Couros, A. (2010), several platforms standout for their education value. Blogs, can serve as personal hubs for reflection and communication portals. Collaborative Wikis are excellent for resource building. Microblogging media, like Twitter and Bluesky, are the most responsive methods for surveying the connective knowledge of a network. Video sites like Youtube and Dailymotion, have entire wellsprings of information that are given out for free.

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

When working with the vulnerable sector, professionalism requires what Harry Dyer (2016) calls an understanding of the “rules of the environment”. While some might try to make a barrier between professional standards and social media, it is necessary to learn how to navigate both spaces adeptly. Professionalism in this context requires an understanding that the entire world is a stage. educators must adapt their identity performance based on their audience., using the “props” available on various platforms to model responsible digital citizenship. Regulations should focus on using social media through professional rules and understanding to help students grow their skills in expressing identity reflectively. Students should be focused on building student centric PLNS that foster sustained connections. This approach ensures that even in sensitive settings, the connections can act as the primary driver for learning.

References

Dyer, Harry. “Incorporating & Accounting for Social Media in Education | Harry Dyer | TEDxNorwichED.” YouTube, 28 Mar. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZteEZbAtsNI.

‌Couros, A. (2010). Developing Personal Learning Networks for Open and Social Learning. In G. Veletsianos (Ed.), Emerging Technologies in Distance Education (pp. 109–128). Athabasca University Press. https://doi.org/10.15215/aupress/9781897425763.007