Month: July 2023

Due to the fast development of technology, every learner must study, browse various information, shares learning resources and establish contact with others at least once or more every day through their personal learning networks (PLNs). Trilling and Fadel (2009) argued that students in the 21st century should master the skills of accessing, evaluating, utilizing, managing, and increasing information and media wealth correctly and creatively.

What is media literacy? Media literacy is defined as the ability to critically analyze mass media reports and determine their accuracy or reliability. Media literacy is an extended concept of literacy, including the ability to obtain and analyze media information, and the ability to create, reflect and act by using the power of information and communication (“Media literacy”, 2023). According to the Media Literacy Center, media literacy skills provide “a framework for accessing, analyzing, evaluating and creating various forms of information, establishing an understanding of the role of media in society, and developing basic skills of asking questions and self-expression (Trilling and Fadel, 2009). Why media literacy is important? Due to the huge wealth of available information and media and various digital tools, the students of the Internet generation must be able to unprecedented power to improve their thinking, learning, communication, cooperation, and creativity. Accompanying these abilities comes the need to learn the appropriate skills to deal with a large amount of information, media, and technology (Trilling and Fadel, 2009).

Open dialogues about media literacy and factual information can create conflict, why does this happen?

Conflicts will occur when there is an open dialogue about media literacy and factual information. There are many reasons for these conflicts, including social, political and economic factors, as well as people’s own values, etc. Social media provides a platform for different social groups to express their opinions and organize their actions. People with different political views, economic interests and social status can strengthen their organization and interaction through social media, thus forming a situation of mutual confrontation. When people have opposing emotions, there will also be conflicts. When people tend to stick to their own positions and have a dialogue with people with different opinions, conflicts will arise, especially on social media, which is easy to expand and intensify external contradictions.

What is the benefit of having a PLN that values media literacy?

For online learners, it is very important to identify reliable and valuable learning resources from the vast amount of learning information, which can help them to choose helpful information more quickly and effectively and is conducive to the establishment of their personal learning networks. Media literacy learners can analyze the media. Firstly, learners with media literacy can understand how and why media information is constructed and its aims. Secondly, they can study how individuals interpret information in different ways, how values and opinions are included or excluded, and how the media affects individuals’ behaviors and beliefs. In addition, individuals with media literacy can have a basic understanding of moral and legal issues of media access and use (Trilling and Fadel, 2009). In a word, learners with media literacy have stronger insight and critical thinking and can better understand and establish the role of the media in society through their PLNs. They promote insight and critical thinking in the process of studying how individuals interpret media information in different ways, instead of simply checking and using media information.

Online learners with media literacy are better at creating media products. First, they can understand and use the most suitable media creation tools, features and practices. Secondly, learners with media literacy could understand and use the most appropriate expressions and explanations in a diversified and multicultural environment effectively (Trilling and Fadel, 2009). To sum up, learners with media literacy have more innovative ability. By analyzing the media, they understand how the media influences personal values and behaviors and use the analyzed media information to create media products. Learners with media literacy are better at putting theory into practice.

In conclusion, the skills of accessing, evaluating, utilizing, managing, and increasing information and media wealth correctly and creatively are important skills for building and expanding individuals’ PLNs. A person with a PLN values media literacy has more abilities of insight and critical thinking, skills of analyzing and creating media products. Therefore, online learners with media literacy are better at accessing, evaluating, utilizing, managing, and increasing information and media wealth correctly and creatively in their PLNs.

Reference

Media literacy. (2023, July 14). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_literacy

[Miller]. (2021, June 6). MEDIA LITERACY with JULIE SMITH [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57r3-aEnci0&t=1s

Trilling, B., & Fadel, C. (2009). 21st century skills: learning for life in our times (1st ed.). Jossey-Bass.

According to commonsense education (2017), educators only need three ways to personalize their professional learning networks. Following others and getting connected with others, getting inspired and trying something new, giving feedbacks and comments, and sharing with others can help instructors to personalize their PLNs. Therefore, tons of media platforms are beneficial in education.

Which social media platforms are beneficial in education?

Hildebrandt and Couros (2016) argued that various of social media platforms are beneficial in education, such as Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, WordPress, etc. Understanding how these social media work and how these tools be used together and how learners master these social tools plays a vital role in education. In addition, interpersonal relationships in personal learning networks and professional learning networks are strengthened through various levels and forms of interaction on these social media platforms. In addition to the creation of content, the feedback to others’ contributions is equal. Furthermore, it is important for social contact and communication. Providing feedback and opinions, participating in digital conferences, or contributing community resources can enhance your PLNs.

As mentioned above, social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, WordPress, etc. are beneficial in education. Every learner can use these social media platforms to expand and strengthen their PLNs. Engaging in online chat and message boards, communicate with people in different industries on Twitter and Instagram can help you build a dynamic interpersonal network. By searching hashtag in Twitter and Instagram help you locate the information and resource you are looking for. Using L&D community to post questions about topics and learning content on Twitter or community on Google+ can help learners and instructors discussing, collaborating, and practicing. Learners and educators can use YouTube and Google Drive to post and share tons of learning resources, videos, etc. They can also use WordPress to write blogs or create self-portfolios on different topics. To sum up, learners can use social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, WordPress, etc. for facilitating various types of learning and educators can also use these social media platforms for achieving different kinds of teaching possibilities. Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, WordPress, etc. bring various benefits for both learners and educators.

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

It is crucial and challenging for social media to provide an accessible design and inclusive community on social media platforms for them when working with the vulnerable sector. On the one hand, the social media platforms could provide an accessible design for the vulnerable sectors. That is, all learners could access the social media platforms without facing any barriers. First, an accessible design includes clear and intuitive structure, mobile-friendly design for every person. In addition, an accessible design also includes comprehensive application features, social collaboration tools, multimedia integration, and compatible browser supporting.

On the other hand, an inclusive community can help vulnerable sectors have a sense of belongings. That means all learners, regardless of their nationality, gender, sexual orientation, political orientation, and education level, etc., could feel supported intellectually and academically when using these social media platforms. First, an inclusive social media platform means that all users are free to express their views, post videos, comment, forward and like other people’s viewpoints and videos. Moreover, an inclusive social media platform can provide all users a place to ask questions, discuss, collaborate, and create and share ideas any time. Furthermore, a comfortable online social media platform community could make all users feel a sense of belonging, participation, collaboration, and feel free to express their opinions and feel connected with others. Overall, providing an accessible and inclusive platform plays a significant role for social media to fit into professionalism and regulations.

In conclusion, social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, WordPress, etc. are beneficial in education. For social media, it is very important to provide users with a barrier-free design and inclusive community on social media platforms when working with the vulnerable groups.

Reference
Hildebrandt, K., & Couros, A. (2016). Emergence and Innovation in Digital Learning (1st ed., pp. 159-177). George Veletsianos. https://doi.org/10.15215/aupress/9781771991490.01
[Common Sense Education]. (2017, July 21). What’s a PLN? And 3 Ways Teachers Can Get Connected [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju54C5A3RCw&t=1s

How do notable individuals use social media?
Celebrities should be more concerned about their words and deeds when using social media. First, notable individuals generally have lots of fans and followers, so pay attention to the authenticity of the information when publishing a post. When releasing news, they should first verify it in various ways to avoid publishing fake news which mislead the public. Second, try to avoid posting negative emotions. Celebrities should avoid making overly emotional and radical comments on social media and avoid causing unnecessary disputes and conflicts. The words and deeds of the notable people have a great influence on the public.

What are the benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN?
Public figures usually have a certain reputation, and their words and deeds are more instructive to the public. Therefore, they can show more correct views on life and behavior through their PLNs. In addition, public figures usually have more resources, such as contacts, wealth, social status, etc., which can be reflected in their personal learning networks and can share more resources with the public. Furthermore, public figures usually pay attention to their own image and reputation, so their PLNs has a better reputation and are more reliable.

Building community with online tools provided by the employer can be limiting, what are the perceived restrictions and benefits?
Building a community with online tools provided by employers may be limited. Firstly, there are limited members of the community, and they are basically internal staffs. Thus, the contact resource is limited. Secondly, the internal community of the company cannot guarantee freedom of speech, so resource-sharing are limited. On the contrary, it is also beneficial to build a community with online tools provided by employers. By using online tools established by the company to upload data or share resources, the authenticity and safety of data and resources are ensured. At the meantime, the use of personal domain online tools ensures the effectiveness of data uploading and sharing, which is more convenient and faster.

Delivering information in a connected society requires verifiable resources, how to build a PLN to rely on?
It takes several steps to establish a reliable PLN. First, ensure the reliability of PLN internal liaison personnel. At the initial stage of establishing PLN, evaluate the reliability of the followers in the personal learning network and everyone in the learning community. It is very important to build a credible PLN environment. Second, ensure the credibility of the post content. Although social network is a virtual space, it is necessary to ensure that the information and resources disseminated are authentic, and not to disseminate fake news and resources. Third, choose a highly credible social platform. Platforms with high credibility will review the published contents.

How do those, who are veteran storytellers, minimize the risk of sharing misinformation?
Experienced storytellers are capable of judging the authenticity of published information and resources. They have more experience in verifying the authenticity and reliability of information and resources. They will avoid spreading false information and can help the public filter out false news, misinformation and fake resources.

Reflecting on how you would curate your social media with a critical public audience.
Firstly, it is vital for individuals to pay attention to the protection of their personal information and privacy, and don’t disclose their personal information and privacy to the public. Everyone should set their own account privacy settings in order to avoid unnecessary harassment and information disclosure. Secondly, it is important to ensure the authenticity of published information and resources. Don’t mislead the public by publishing problematic or unreliable news or resources. Therefore, it is necessary to check the reliability of each released information. Third, it is also significant to actively engage in social media. Share your own experience and knowledge, communicate and interact with others, and learn more information and inspiration from them. Build a reliable social environment.

Identify the risks and benefits of engaging with a public audience in a media space – What are the risks for a public figure or person in a position of trust (educator, lawyer, government official)?
The words and deeds of public figures in the media space will have a far-reaching influence on their fans and followers. On the one hand, the positive performance of public figures can play a demonstration and leading role, such as transmitting positive energy, paying attention to public welfare activities, which will have a positive impact on society. When a public figure pays more attention to social welfare undertakings, participates in volunteer activities and participates in charitable actions, it is often regarded as a positive benchmark by the public, and their good behavior habits will affect their fans, thus making a wider contribution. Similarly, the efforts and enterprising spirit of some public figures will also inspire the enterprising spirit of the public and make them work hard for their dreams. On the other hand, public figures have good financial resources and ability to gather people. For example, when the country suffers a disaster, they are more financially capable of helping the local people.

On the contrary, the negative influence of public figures in the media space will also cause fans and followers to follow suit, which will have a negative impact on society. At the same time, once the image of a public figure collapses in the media space, it will have a negative influence on their followers and fans. Furthermore, the intimate contact of public figures with the public on social media may expose their privacy. There are also extreme fans and followers who are too curious about the privacy of a public figure and commit crimes. Therefore, it is beneficial and harmful for public figures to actively participate in the interaction with fans or followers.

How to address negative replies and critiques that reflect your personal values and employer’s social media policy?
First, fully understand the negative responses. When there are negative responses and criticisms, you need to take time to understand them, and understand why there are such negative responses and criticisms. Including looking for the authenticity of information, whether it is a malicious comment of the followers, and whether they hold different opinions. After understanding the facts, find out whether there is any misunderstanding or incorrect information, respect everyone’s different opinions, discuss them amicably, and allow the collision of different opinions. This is also an important process of learning and understanding other people’s views.

Secondly, after knowing the truth of negative information, we need to take measures to deal with them. When responding to negative information, we should pay attention to the time, manner and content of the response. Positive reply to negative reply and criticism is also respect for others. And choose an appropriate way to respond to negative responses and criticisms. Adhere to the attitude of friendly communication and supporting different viewpoints. The content of the response should be concise and contain the main points, explain your own opinions, and at the same time be open-minded.

In conclusion, there exist risks and benefits of engaging with a public audience in a media space for public figures. Balance personal learning networks with public discourse is important for notable individuals.

Reference
Hirst, M. (2018). Navigating Social Journalism: A Handbook for Media Literacy and Citizen Journalism (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.4324/9781315401263
[MILLER]. (2022, June 6). Sophie Lui – EDCI 338 [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfcXgKLzOVM

What are the benefits of a diverse and inclusive PLN in social media sharing that understands where you are coming from with messaging that impacts the community?

Clark & Aufderheide (2011) argued that public broadcasting, newspapers, magazines and online news broadcasts have played a central role in our democracy, providing information to citizens and guiding public dialogue. Now, an open, many-to-many network media environment is replacing the top-down communication technology that supports them. Era is changing. People open all kinds of social media to learn about what’s new every moment, which country has a coup, which celebrity has a scandal, which gas station’s oil price is rising, and which supermarket’s price is being adjusted. They know about the political affairs of the country and the prices of daily necessities through social networks. Social media is an important place for people to participate in communication and learn about various updated information. People can communicate with friends or strangers all over the country or around the world through various social media without leaving their home. However, due to the freedom of speech and the lack of censorship mechanisms on social networks, it is difficult for individuals to judge the authenticity of these political affairs, daily information and speech.

Although social media is facing many challenges, a diversified and inclusive personal learning network in social media sharing has become indispensable part of people’s daily life. Firstly, the diversity of personal learning networks gives us more choices. This is also reflected in the diversity of social media. The importance of media diversification is that it provides more diversified sources of information. There exists some weakness in the traditional public media, such as high threshold and single information, which cannot meet people’s demand for rich information. However, people can now get more interesting content through various social media, online websites and other media. Therefore, diversified social media has changed the way people get information, making it more convenient and widespread. People can get various information through social media, including news, entertainment, technology, culture, etc. Social media provides people with more platforms and channels to know something new about the world and the communities around them.

In addition, the diversity of social media provides various platforms for people to share information and knowledge, which enables people to acquire and share all kinds of resources anytime and anywhere. This is of great significance for individuals and organizations. It plays a key role in expanding people’s personal learning networks (PLNs). The diversity and inclusion of social media facilitates social interaction and cooperation. People can establish a wider and more diversified social network through social media, so as to strengthen communication and cooperation with each other. This also reflects the inclusiveness of PLN in social media sharing, regardless of different nationality, gender, sexual orientation, intellectual level, race and social class. People can communicate, cooperate and establish contact through a diverse and inclusive personal learning network.

Furthermore, a diverse and inclusive personal learning network in social media enables people to communicate faster, more globally and more diversified. People can communicate with people all over the world through social media, share their creative ideas, resource, and opinions, and build a broader and more diversified social network. The diversity and inclusion of PLN in social media sharing has enhanced people’s personal expression and engagement. People can express their different opinions and emotions through social media and participate in various discussions and activities, thus enhancing their self-awareness and social participation ability. The diversity and inclusion of personal learning network also promotes the dissemination of information and cultural exchange. Through different social media, people can get to know the information and viewpoints of different countries and cultures, deepen their understanding and cognition, and promote the exchange and integration between different cultures.

In conclusion, a diverse and inclusive PLN in social media sharing plays an increasingly important role in the digital era. A diverse and inclusive personal learning network not only changed people’s way of communication, but also promoted the sharing of information and knowledge, the enhancement of personal expression and participation, and the promotion of information dissemination and cultural exchange.

Reference
Clark, J. & Aufderheide, P. (2011). A New Vision for Public Media. In: Jansen, S.C., Pooley, J., Taub-Pervizpour, L. (eds) Media and Social Justice. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230119796_5