Blog Post 1

Blog Post 1

Blog Prompts

• What does it mean to network using social media?
• How do people learn and engage using mediated platform?
• How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?
• What are the risks and rewards of public communication?

Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash

This week, we talked primarily about Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) and the issue of networked privacy. Recently, with the development of technology, social media and networking tend to be more popular in our daily lives, study, and work. Network using social media means the use of web-based social media sites or tools to build and stay connected with other people. Personal or professional networks is where individuals can gather, collect, communicate, and share experience, knowledge, or ideas with a group of connected people, anywhere at any time. It is developed through social media like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. From our course material, it shows that “social media and technology have removed the physical barrier that once existed” (Gutierrez, 2016). Therefore, in my opinion, it is much more flexible, effective, and convenient for people to use in their learning, working, and daily lives.

Online mediated platforms or tools can be used effectively in learning based on different purposes. For example, some social media tools, such as Facebook and Mattermost, can be used for learners to interact with their peers, build connection with group members, and communicate with others directly. Also, some online platforms, such as WordPress, can help learners to share their posts and express their reflections about their learning effectively. Different social media tools and platforms can help learners to engage in their learning and build connection among their peers and instructors in different ways.

Moreover, participating in networked publics is very meaningful and significant in our learning. It can not only help us to get a continuous stream of learning and resources, but also can expand our thinking by engaging an active online discussion. In my opinion, we can be motivated to participate in networked publics by finding and participating in online community. Online community plays an important and valuable role in building personal learning network and encouraging people to participle in networked publics because it provides a clear opportunity for individuals who similar interests and experience to connect with each other in order to share ideas and learn from each other.

Additionally, there are some rewards and risks of public communication. For the part of rewards of public communication, first, it provides more opportunities for people to build, maintain, and activate connection with others who similar interests and experiences. Second, it’s more flexible and convenient for learners to learn from others and develop their own skills without the restriction of places and time zones. However, based on our reading materials, networked privacy will be one of the most serious problems for public communication as well. As the author states, “the challenges of networked privacy are not new issues, but social media and networked culture magnifies them in significant ways” (Boyd). Therefore, in my opinion, when people participate in public communication, they need to pay more attention to this issue as well.