BLOG 1: Personal Learning Networks and Digital Identity

1. What does it mean to network using social media?

Social media is designed to connect people together. With social media we can build our personal network and learn from online information resources and online friends. Such personal learning network is not only unique but also personalized. We can deliberately build relationship with people who may provide useful information for us according to our own needs. (University of Southampton, 2021)

2. How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?

The most important motivator is lifelong learning. Personal learning network is an effective tool for lifelong learning. The pandemic, climate change, and the advancement of technology are all fostering changes in employment, which means some jobs may be gradually wiped out, like truck drivers, while some new job opportunities may emerge that calls for adaptation of new skills. Therefore, the question comes up that how people use existing tools to keep learning. The knowledge we have learnt in colleges may be incompatible for currently changeable situations. Developing one’s personal learning network would be very useful because it can not be restrained by time, space, or prerequisite knowledge. (Rajagopal et al., 2012)

3. What are the risks & rewards of public communications?

The biggest risk of public communications is about privacy. Any information we leave on the internet may tell others something about ourselves and even our friends or relatives. We can not even imagine how our data would be analyzed, manipulated, and utilized. Besides, with the evolvement of machine learning, our data would be interpreted to predict our life patterns, like our purchasing habits or preferred information sources. What’s the most concerning is that the problem can hardly be solved because once technology is out of the Pandora box it can not be pushed back. It’s impossible to check all information leak unless we abandon the tool totally and it’s not easy to clear our historical records due to the powerful memory of internet. As to rewards of public communications, I believe personal learning network comes as a proper example.  (Boyd, 2012)

4. What is a digital identity?

A digital identity is like an ID card online. It stores basic citizen information like one’s birth date, social security and purchasing history. Besides, it represents one’s digital image because it also stores one’s entire online presence.

In modern society, a digital identity is useful and necessary. For one thing, it can facilitate one’s online operations, such as online payment and identity confirmation. For another, it can boost economic growth, creating wealth for individuals, entrepreneurs and the government. For example, people can use digital identity to take loans and start enterpreneuring. (World Economic Forum, 2019)

5. How do personal versus professional approaches to digital identity affect social media use?

In my opinion, there are two differences between personal and professional approaches when it comes to personal learning network. To start with, to build a professional network, one needs to deliberately and actively connect with others. That means at the first place people target those who may bring guidance in career development. What’s more, a professional learning network follows some criteria. People need to assess the potential value of the others and then decide whether or not to link with them. Such standards may include one’s organization, reputation, shared vision, and capability. People with powerful professional skills may attract more followers. (Rajagopal et al., 2012)

6. How do digital identities converge in networked publics – what are the impacts and/or benefits?

Digital identities converge in networked publics can bring many benefits. I would like to focus on how professional learning network can help one’s career development. For one thing, build a professional network can help one seek cooperation with others. In today’s society full of changes, it’s an important skill to quickly form a group to innovate on new businesses. For another, a professional network can provide useful learning resources. By learning from other professionals, one can gain some helpful experience and guidance which may matters more than simple techniques. (Rajagopal et al., 2012)

References

University of Southampton. (2021, February 4). Updates, Insights, and News from FutureLearn | Online Learning for You. FutureLearn. https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/learning-network-age/0/steps/24644

Rajagopal, K., Joosten-ten Brinke, D., van Bruggen, J., & Sloep, P. B. (2012). Understanding personal learning networks: Their structure, content and the networking skills needed to optimally use them. First Monday, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v17i1.3559

Boyd, D. (2012). Networked Privacy. Surveillance & Society, 10(3/4), 348–350. https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v10i3/4.4529

World Economic Forum. (2019, February 5). Davos 2019 – Press Conference The Value of Digital Identity for the Global Economy and Society. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-V7lyxrOmw&feature=youtu.be