Great post Junjoo! I really enjoyed reading it. You made great points on PLNs, particularly on how you make your PLN more inclusive. That’s something that not everyone thinks about. I like how you watch creators of other languages and other industries to promote inclusivity. That is dedication to inclusivity! It is always important to remember the key principles of UDL. These maintain diversity and inclusivity in PLN spaces. Encouraging participation is the most important thing to do in my opinion. By promoting participation you create a more welcoming space that makes people feel comfortable in your PLN. Thanks for sharing Jungjoo!
Author: nandocov (Page 1 of 2)
Ariel, I enjoyed reading your post from blog post #3. Your ideas on PLNs and PLN spaces through social media were very intriguing. I too use my PLN to “access a diverse range of perspectives and resources.” I have found that this is the best way to utilize a PLN to its full potential. You can gain valuable knowledge that would otherwise be unavailable to you. I also enjoyed your section on challenges and the importance of diversity in digital learning. You highlighted challenges that come with ensuring diversity in digital learning that I had no thought of before. For example language and cultural gaps. It is important to recognize that most educational material we have may not be accessible for non-native speakers. Being in an online class room we have to be sensitive to potential classmates who are not native english speakers as they may have a harder time understanding the material. Thanks for sharing!
I really enjoyed reading your post from blog #3 Angela. I found your ideas on PLNs and their dynamics and inclusivity to be very compelling. I particularly enjoyed and found myself relating with a lot of your points about privacy, ethics, and security in digital spaces. I agree staying informed and on top of the privacy setting on social spaces is essential to protect our data. Many times I have disregarded this without taking into consideration what these companies may be doing with the personal information I provide them with. Even something as simple as accepting cookies can lead to your data being shared or sold to 3rd parties. I also agree with your take on practicing ethics in digital spaces to protect others’ privacy. It is important to remember that online spaces are a two way street, just as you trust that others will be sensitive with your data you must be sensitive with theirs as well. Thanks for sharing!
What Are Personal Learning Networks (PLNs), and Why Are They Important?
Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) are “groups of people and resources that support an individual’s learning and growth” (Hotchin, 2025). PLNs act as a supportive ecosystem of connections and resources extending beyond traditional educational settings; they offer personalized learning experiences tailored to individual interests and goals. The personalized tailoring helps me focus on my areas of interests without having to sift through other parts that aren’t relevant to me. PLNs include “teachers, classmates, experts and colleagues” (Hotchin, 2025) and provides a platform to “share ideas, ask questions and learn from others with experience” (Hotchin 2025). These connections are important for gaining knowledge from others inside your field. The reason PLNs are important is because they foster knowledge and skill enhancement, offer personal and academic support, and provide resources for career development. In short PLNs are an essential support that I need for long term gain in my personal and academic goals.
Social Media Dynamics for PLNs
Social media dynamics and understanding them are essential for effectively leveraging PLNs. The more you interact with certain content or certain users the more you will see that media in your day to day usage of social media “And thus your personal PLN will begin to bloom” (Gray, 2019). For me, staying aware of this dynamic helps me connect more effectively. One way I do this is by having professional accounts and personal accounts. On my personal accounts I like casual content and follow whoever I find interesting. On my professional accounts I make sure to only interact with people and posts that will foster learning in my field of interest. By doing so I can tailor my content into a PLN that supports my growth and development.
Long-Term Network Development
Building a strong PLN requires you to be “actively participating, sharing resources, and supporting others in your network” (Hotchin, 2025) by doing so you can cultivate meaningful connections through consistent engagement. “The more time you spend commenting and interacting on your social network, the stronger your digital relationship will become” (Gray, 2019). This means you need to stay on top of your PLN for it to grow and help you long term. It requires consistent work for “sustaining meaningful connections over time” (Hotchin, 2025). Staying consistently active is not the only thing you need for growing your PLN, you also need to stay current with the trends. By staying on top of trends you not only help yourself but you also help others in your PLN. This will also develop strong connections that you make through your PLN.
PLNs are vital for personal, academic and professional growth as they provide valuable connections, resources and learning opportunities. It is not only beneficial to have a PLN but you also need to understand social media dynamics and stay active in engaging with content that aligns with your goals. By doing this you can gain a long-term network that supports you and enhances your learning and career development.
Sources
Gray, K. (2019, May 15). Leveraging social media to build a digital PLN. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/leveraging-social-media-build-digital-pln
Hotchin, J. (2025, March 4). Module 4 (Feb. 17th – Mar. 9th) – University of Victoria – EdTech. University of Victoria – EdTech. https://personalizedlearningnetwork.ca/category/module-4-feb-17th-mar-9th/
Response to Eliana
I enjoyed reading your response. Your insights on digital identity and its growing significance provided an excellent analysis. As you mentioned, platforms like Instagram and TikTok contribute to a more casual, personal digital identity while a platform such as LinkedIn reflects your professional persona. I agree, I believe it is important to balance the two in today’s world and to keep them separate. Just as you would in your professional and personal life in real life. As University students our digital presence is like a snapshot of who we are to employers so it is important to ensure that our digital presence reflects our professional goals. Thank you for sharing Eliana!
Response to Hanna
I really enjoyed reading your second blog post Hanna. Your reflection on personal and professional digital identities is something I agree with. You mentioned that the separation of the two identities is vital for not only privacy but also for presenting yourself appropriately to different audiences. I agree, it is extremely important to establish boundaries between the two. This way you can maintain your personal authenticity while also having a professional identity as well.
I also enjoyed your insight into personalized learning theories, such as constructivism and self-directed learning. These align with the importance of critical thinking and as you mentioned autonomy. Self-directed learning has also helped me become more autonomous in my work. Thanks for sharing!
A Personalized Learning Network (PLN) is a beneficial tool for expanding knowledge in topics that you are interested in. Making a space that is tailored to your interests, you can engage with content resources and communities that support your personal growth. With social media platforms such as Reddit and Instagram, you can have accessible spaces to customize your learning journey. For me, a successful PLN has a mix of accessibility, personalized content, and active engagement. Inclusivity is also extremely important in your PLN. For it to be inclusive it is important to consider the principles of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This way you can ensure that your is accessible for all.
PLN Spaces Through Social Media
A personal learning network is extremely beneficial for growing your knowledge of what you are interested in. Places such as Reddit, Instagram, etc. can be used to customize your learning as you see fit. For me, my personalized learning network has to have a combination of a few things.
- A PLN needs to be accessible. Personally, my PLN spaces are condensed information so it is easily accessible. For example, TikTok videos do a great job of this.
- Personalized content and resources. A PLN needs to have content that is tailored to my goals and interests.
- Active engagement. It is important to have PLN communities that are active in supporting. I use active subreddit communities for any questions I may have or information I am looking for.
I have found that when engaging with experts, communities, and resources that align with my interests I enhance my knowledge. By connecting with experts I have access to deep knowledge that would not normally be available to me. This also helps me keep up to date with the tops I am interested in. It also gives me somewhat of a mentorship as I build connections. This is great for when I need hands-on advice. I also gain knowledge from diverse perspectives that help me think in different ways. It is extremely important to me to learn from people with all types of backgrounds as they all have something different and beneficial to share. The combination of these has made my PLN substantial in developing my personal goals.
Inclusivity and UDL in PLNs
To ensure that your PLN is inclusive you must consider the principles of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The UDL principles support inclusivity in digital spaces by providing us with diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. “Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn” (Udloncampus, 2015). The UDL principles do this by
- Multiple Means of Engagement: Multiple means of engagement refers to the “why” of learning. This principle provides options for how learners engage with the content and how they remain motivated.
- Multiple Means of Representation: Multiple means of representation refers to the “what” of learning. This provides learners with different ways to present information so that everyone can understand it.
- Multiple Means of Action and Expression: Multiple means of Action and Expression refers to the “how” of learning. It allows learners to use their knowledge and skills in diverse ways.
These principles design learning environments that are inclusive and cater to all types of learners, with the goal of creating “learners who are: purposeful and motivated, resourceful and knowledgeable, and strategic and goal-directed” (Udloncampus, 2015). With these principles, you can ensure that your PLN is inclusive.
Sources
https://udloncampus.cast.org/page/udl_about
https://personalizedlearningnetwork.ca/category/module-3-feb-3rd-feb-16th/
In this post I am responding to Cadence’s post for EDCI 338.
Awesome post Cadence I enjoyed reading it! I like your idea of your online presence being an extension of your self. This is something that I think many over look. Most will view you through your online persona first and if you have a negative online presence then people will perceive you as negative in real life as well. You called it a “digital first impression” which I think sums that up perfectly. I agree with your point of being authentic. I think that is a extremely important detail for presenting your personality. Finally your view on ethical practices and how they create a positive online community is one I think everyone can agree on. I loved your final sentence saying we can create spaces that up lift people instead of tearing them down. Thanks for sharing!
In this post I am responding to Justine’s post for EDCI 338.
Great post Justine, I enjoyed reading it! What I took away from your post was that managing your digital identity requires professionalism and authenticity. I liked your idea of balancing the two instead of favoring one over the other and I agree. Maintaining that balance can have major benefits to your online identity. I liked how you included the core principles of being authentic, professional and mindful three things that I think should also be translated to everyday life. You provided a responsible approach to online presence management that not everyone thinks about. I also enjoyed your part on ethical practices and how important they are online. Thinking about the impact of what you post is extremely important to the landscape of the digital world. Thanks for sharing Justine.
In this post I am responding to Erika’s blog post for EDCI 338.
Erika I really enjoyed reading your blog post for module 1. You provided great analysis of social media in education, personalized learning and digital identity. What I came away with as a key point in your post was that social media is like a double edge sword. It can be a powerful tool for learning and connecting but it also requires cautious use, digital literacy, and attention to our online identities. I feel that it is extremely important to perceive social media in this way as it is the best to maintain a positive online presence while being safe. Another key take away I came out with is the idea that with social media, information has become more accessible and faster. Thank you for sharing!