Category: Weekly Blogs (Page 1 of 2)

During week four, we had the opportunity to tour Pacific School in downtown Victoria. In the morning we got to meet the principal and owner. He was incredibly welcoming and took the time to answer many of our questions about the school, its structure, and how it operates. One thing that really stood out to me was learning how private schools still work within the framework of the BC curriculum while having more flexibility in how they deliver it. It made me curious about how the same provincial learning standards and BC Core Competencies are interpreted and implemented in different school settings which I thought was very interesting because I never actually took the time to read the differences https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/competencies. Seeing how a private school approaches the same expectations helped me realize that while the learning goals remain consistent across BC, the environment, resources, and teaching approaches can look very different.

I was especially interested in thinking about what Physical and Health Education might look like in a school like Pacific School. Access to facilities such as gyms, outdoor spaces, and recreation centres can shape how PHE is taught and experienced. This visit made me reflect on how schools without large gym spaces may rely more on community partnerships, outdoor learning, or creative use of smaller spaces. It reinforced the idea that strong PHE programs are not only about facilities but also about creativity, flexibility, and building connections with the local community. Overall, the visit was very fun and made me think more in depth about how school context influences teaching and how educators adapt to provide different learning techniques/ways to help their students.

Think about how you’ve found generative AI useful or not for educational purposes

I have found generative AI to be both useful and limited for educational purposes. It can be a helpful support tool for brainstorming ideas, clarifying concepts, and assisting with planning or organization. In educational settings, including areas I will be teaching like Physical and Health Education, it can be especially useful for opening up discussion ideas or background information for topics related to health, wellness, and mental well-being. At the same time, generative AI has clear limitations. It cannot replace critical thinking, creativity, or hands-on learning, which are essential parts of meaningful education. There is also the risk of being more reliant with it, where learners may depend on AI instead of engaging with the material in class. Overall, I find generative AI most effective when it is used intentionally as a support tool rather than a replacement for learning, reflection, or in person interactions.

Describe possible uses for generative AI in school settings at the level you would like to teach

Generative AI has several possible uses in school settings, particularly at the high school level, and in middle school as well. For us teachers, I feel like generative AI can be used as a planning and support tool rather than a replacement for teaching. It can help generate lesson ideas, adapt activities for different age groups, and support creative prompts or questions that encourage student thinking. In Physical and Health Education, AI could assist with planning health-related lessons such as mental health discussions, goal-setting activities, or wellness reflections, while still allowing physical skill development and movement-based learning to remain hands-on and student-driven. This type of support can help teachers manage workload and focus more time on instruction, relationship-building, and student engagement. At the same time, I have noticed that over-reliance on AI can be risky…. if teachers or students depend too much on it, it can reduce creativity, critical thinking, and personal reflection.

For students, generative AI can be used as a guided learning support when clear boundaries are in place. At the secondary and middle school levels, students could use AI to help clarify concepts, brainstorm ideas, or organize their thinking before beginning assignments. In PHE, this might include helping students reflect on personal fitness goals, better understand health concepts, or generate questions related to well-being topics. However, it is important that AI is not used to complete work for students. Instead, it should support preparing and thinking, with learning and assessment taking place through in-class activities, physical participation, and personal reflection. Age appropriateness is also important; younger students require more guidance, while older students can benefit from structured support that encourages independent learning.

Overall, generative AI works best when it helps students learn while still allowing teachers to maintain real connections with them. This is especially important in subjects like PHE, where teamwork, relationships, and hands-on learning play a big role. When used responsibly and with purpose, AI can enhance teaching and learning without taking the place of the human interaction that is essential to education. It is also important to consider ethical and environmental issues, such as the ownership of AI-generated content, digital privacy, and the energy demands of AI systems. Reflecting on my own experiences, I see AI as a valuable support tool, but only when it is used intentionally and does not replace genuine teacher-student engagement or meaningful learning experiences.

References

Government of Canada. (2023). Responsible artificial intelligence and digital literacy. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca

Common Sense Education. (2023). Artificial intelligence and education. https://www.commonsense.org/education

Describe how you could use video or audio editing as the assignment medium for the subject and grade level you will be teaching (if at all), and what you could do to make the assignment as engaging as possible.

Video and audio can be very useful in classrooms because it encourages students to show their learning in ways beyond just writing a paper. For me, since my teaching area is Physical Education, video and audio editing can be especially effective for both skill development and health-related learning. One way I would use this is by having students record themselves performing a specific skill at the beginning of the semester and again at the end, allowing them to see changes in their technique and confidence over time. Video or audio could also be used in health units, where students create short clips teaching a skill, explaining a fitness or wellness concept, or reflecting on their learning, since teaching others helps reinforce understanding. To make the assignment engaging, students could have choice in topics, use simple editing tools, and include a short reflection on what they learned and how they improved.

Describe how Multi-media Learning Theory can help us create more effective instructional videos and tutorials.

Multimedia Learning Theory helps us create more effective instructional videos and tutorials by showing how people learn best when information is presented in manageable ways. I feel like it suggests that learners understand content better when visuals and audio work together rather than overwhelming them with too much text or too much information at one time. By keeping videos short, focused on one main idea, and using visuals that directly support what is being explained, students are more likely to stay engaged and remember the content (I know I would). This theory also reminds educators to avoid distractions, speak clearly, and give learners time to process information, making instructional videos easier to follow and more effective for learning.

The readings for our final week of EDCI 338, made me reflect on what I have gained, personally and professionally, from taking this class.  One of the most important things I have learned in this course is the value of having a personal learning network(PLN) that encompasses life-long learning through diversity, and making meaningful connections with others. The knowledge that I have gained from the personal experiences shared in weekly blogs, guest interviews, course readings, and most importantly, Jayne and Asha, will forever change who I am and who I want to be. As “ great ideas can come from anywhere and anyone”, having the opportunity to share my thoughts, knowledge, ideas, and insights and then learn from other people’s opinions and perspectives, has made me realize how important it is to continue to learn, and grow as a leader and role model(Qualman, 2012).  When you want to be a leader, you can actually influence people more when you share information.

My perspective on how to use social media in my personal life has changed since the beginning of this course. I am much more focussed on the presentation and reputation of my digital identity. No matter what social media platform I use, I am much more aware of the digital image that I am creating of myself and how this can affect my reputation. The posts and comments that I make are a representation of who I am as a person so it is best to share supportive comments and learn to share differing opinions in a kind and thoughtful way. It is easy to react in the moment and comment when you are emotional but social media can be very unforgiving. My perspectives on social media has also expanded from just using social media for personal use to learning how to promote professional growth as well. In a professional setting, a PLN can create more opportunities to share ideas, experiences, and resources with other experts and professionals in relation to our professional interests, “every connection we have knows something that we do not”(Qualman, 2012).  I also have a much better understanding of the role diversity has in my personal and professional growth. The readings and videos clarified the importance behind incorporating diversity into my PLN and made me think about looking at situations through a different lens. 

The blogs that have been posted by my classmates throughout the course has provided me with valuable information and given me insight into a variety of different perspectives on what role our digital identity plays in our professional development.  I am aware of the ramifications your digital identity can have on your professional career in terms of applying for jobs. The fact that more and more employers are looking at future employee social media accounts was eye opening. When ever I post pictures or comment on pictures, I always remind myself to not post something that could be deemed insensitive or offensive to a future employer. By taking a step back and being critical about my digital identity, I have realized that there is a certain level of responsibility that comes with using social media for personal and professional purposes. The valuable lessons that I have learned on how to manage and protect my reputation in public and private online spaces and how important it is to be media literate in today’s online world, will help me communicate and collaborate in a much better way in the future. 

Moving forward, I am excited to expand my PLN and look for new opportunities to learn and network from people that I wouldn’t normally connect with.  Through diversity, I will continue to listen to peoples experiences and apply them to my own life. I will expand my networking skills and use a variety of social media tools to promote and advocate for social change. This course has given me incentive to get involved in my community because a group of people no matter what their experiences, are more powerful than one voice. I also think that it is worth mentioning that I value the importance of listening and having discussions about issues that may be uncomfortable because I now know how important it is for others to learn as well.

References

Qualman, E. (2012). Digital leader: 5 simple keys to success and influence (1st ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Chapter Retrieved from: https://learning-oreilly-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/library/view/digital-leader-5/9780071792424/ch16.html

Photo By Socialprism.org

How does a PLN give power to messaging for an individual or community?

The video with Jessie and Brad Barker provided god examples of how a PLN can give power to messaging for an individual or a community. In Barker’s case, he uses social media to not only share his own story but his family’s as well. He is able to use twitter to engage in healthy and respectful dialogue, one where he can share information from his own experiences and not second hand. This ensures that the correct story will be shared to the community. For example, there is so much information about indigenous people and reconciliation and it is important that true stores are shared so people have a better understanding of their culture. When Barker said, “For change to happen, people must be willing to be vulnerable”(Barker), I couldn’t help but feel this relates to everything in life and being vulnerable is a scary thing.

How does social media help expand education beyond the classroom?

In the past, students have relied on the knowledge the teacher had in a variety of subjects. In today’s learning environment and with the use of social media, the, teachers are no longer the only source of information. The internet and social media have provided  easy access to unlimited information and this has changed the role of the teacher from teacher-led to student-led. Brad Barker would agree that for change to happen, it is important that teachers use social media as an educational ally where it can be used to help instruction, and personalize learning. Advances in technology have also made it relatively easy for students to bring digital technology with them when they leave the classroom, or for instructors to bring the outdoor learning environment into the classroom. For example, teachers can use drone footage, mobile apps, and programs like Google Earth to bring outdoor environments inside the classroom, thus bringing far away or inaccessible outdoor experiences to all students.

What is the role of social media in education?

Many teachers are on social media both for personal and professional use and, for the most part, that’s great. From a professional standpoint it can enhance your network of contacts, engage you in important discussions, extend your own learning and even provide a platform for class projects. As for personal use, well, educators have lives, families, friends and interests just like everyone else so, naturally, many are drawn to social networking as a way to connect to the people they care about. Social media can be an effective tool to facilitate learning through increased collaboration, and communication. Social media can also provide a way for teachers and students to become more interactive. The use of social media in education provides students with the ability to get more useful information, to connect with learning groups and other educational systems that make education convenient. Learning networks are based on the theory of connectivism, which implies that learning relies on communicating ideas with others.  In the article, “Developing Personal Learning Networks for Open and Social Learning”,  educators are referred to as “Connectivists who recognize the influences that emerging technologies have on human cognition, and theorize that technology is reshaping the ways that humans create, store, and distribute knowledge”(Veletsianos, 2010 ).  As a University student, social media allows us to communicate with each other at convenient times. For example, our EDCI groups use platforms via their smartphone, tablet or computer to collaborate, ask questions, and meet on zoom to work on group projects etc. If anyone of us is not sure of something, we can communicate with others to find the answer. This is especially helpful in our current situation as we are not able to meet our teacher physically. Social media also promotes learning by offering support with sharing documents as well such as via Google Drive Box, and Google Docs. Teachers can also use social media tools to give lectures, interview guest speakers hand out assignments and give tests all on Brightspace or Google classroom.

How does the use of PLN raise awareness opportunities in education?

Creating public awareness through education is a great way to bring a certain issue to the attention of a group of people. Social media has given us new channels to raise awareness and spread educational messages not only throughout the school community but throughout the world. For example, principals or administrators can find a new way to integrate social media. Like sharing school news via social networks, holding online meeting with the parents or even starting fundraising for different projects. Schools can use their Twitter, Instagram and Facebook feeds, to keep students, parents and the school community updated on school-related activities, and events that are happening.  Another example is that students can get involved in social marketing campaigns that aim to change behavior.

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

Social media services and apps can also be used as educational tools, but there are important issues to consider including privacy, appropriate content, security and your comfort level with the apps and services. There are problems with with social media communications in education settings for both educators and students. Many teachers are on social media both for personal and professional use and, for the most part, that’s great. From a professional standpoint it can enhance your network of contacts, engage you in important discussions, extend your own learning and even provide a platform for class projects. As for personal use, well, teachers have lives, families, friends and interests just like everyone else so, naturally, many are drawn to social networking as a way to connect to the people they care about. But teachers also have responsibilities and concerns that could, perhaps, cause them to think twice about how they use social media. What is appropriate to post? Who should you interact with? Should you “friend,” follow or make your posts accessible to your students? How about parents and colleagues? Are there certain types of posts to avoid? And how can you control who has access to what you post? For students, social media allows people to remain anonymous and say what ever they want to without worrying about being held accountable. This sense of “no one knows it’s me” can lead to cyberbullying and a negative school environment.

References

Miller, J. (2021). “EDCI 338 – BRAD BAKER.” YouTube, uploaded by Miller, 04 Mar. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy63SmEpvCw.

Veletsianos, G. (2010). Emerging Technologies in Distance Education. AU Press. Ch.6. pp. 114-15, and 128–138.

Amazon.ca

Social media and broadcasting has changed drastically over the last 10-15 years and being in the public eye today means you have a much larger audience.   After watching Jessie’s interview with Jody Vance, there are some obvious benefits and risk associated with engaging with a public audience in a media space. When a person becomes a public figure or a person in a position of trust, I think it is very important that they know who they are and that they are committed to remaining true to themselves. When you are able to do this, Vance says, it is easy “to sell your own brand”. We can not argue the benefits that social media has provided people, it provides an opportunity to connect with each other and interact with each other on a global scale. However, it is important as media consumers, that we remember that media is created by individuals who make conscious and unconscious choices about what to include, what to leave out and how to present what is included. These decisions are based on their own point of view, which has been shaped by their opinions, assumptions and biases, as well as their experiences. Society instinctively views media sources as objective representations of reality and because of this, Vance reminds us that there is even more pressure on people in the media because what they say and do will have a much bigger impact on the public. Every piece of information that a public figure shares can affect their reputation and be crucial to gain credibility. This is another reason why information that is shared needs to be accurate and real.  The art of public relations, and the crucial role it plays in relaying information to the public eye resides on the ability to not just tell a story, but communicate a message that will leave a mark on whomever you are telling it to. When considering what you want your key messages to be, the first task is to make sure they are believable, credible, and justified. For your audience to trust and become influenced by whatever it is you are communicating to them, your message need to be supported by evidence, and delivered with concise and engaging language. From a public figure perspective, social media has provided anyone and everyone the opportunity to evaluate what you say. Vance believes that “even though social media complicates things but it can also be used to expose your strengths”.  You can connect with people who could benefit your career or give you insights on things you agree with or insights that lead you to change your view on the world. These experiences  may help you to gain credibility in the media industry. Vance shared that her reputation is built on what she has done in the media and how she has represented herself. This is a reflection of the benefit of growing our personal learning network. We can meet people a long our journey who could potentially become an integral part of our future. This is also a reason to be cautious in our actions. In my opinion, Vance is suggesting that you never know what turn your life will take so it is important to not burn bridges along the way. 

When employers encourage employees to build community with online tools that they provide, you may be asked to share something or respond to critique in a way that is professional and aligns with company values, but not necessarily personal values. It can be difficult to accept negative critiques or replies and not get defensive and react. When Vance was asked about how she deals with negative comments, she replied sarcastically “keep your DM”s open”. My interpretation of this is that she is able to respond directly to comments made to her on her personal platform more so than ones that are made publicly on her company’s social media. In today’s world, everything you say and do is judged. It is not possible to make everyone happy and it would be impossible to not be subjected to some form of criticism. That is why it is important to build a PLN that you can rely on. This is a benefit of working for a respected media company, knowing the information you are receiving is accurate and real. This makes you as a media source, much more reliable. Social media platforms directly associated with an employer is that the public can ensure that the accounts are verified, and the information put forward on those platforms come from a trusted source. 

When you have been in the media industry for a long time, you are considered to be a veteran. Veteran storytellers are often veteran for one of a few reasons: either they tell firsthand accounts of events, they have built a reputation for being truthful based on previous checks, or they are experts in the field. Sharing or posting information in relation to your own experience or the areas that you are familiar with will help you to minimize risk in sharing misinformation. Regardless, becoming a veteran doesn’t happen overnight. Vance talks about her experiences in what Martin Hirst calls a “gig economy”. Working in the media industry is not easy and it does not come with a lot of job security. The job has become even tougher for free lance journalists who are trying to break in to the industry today(Hirst, 2018). In my opinion, Vance was one of the lucky ones. Her persistence, hard work, timing, a trusted network and some good luck enabled her to become the successful person she is today. 

References

Hirst, M. (2018). Social Journalism and the Gig Economy. Navigating Social Journalism: A Handbook for Media Literacy and Citizen Journalism. Ch. 6.(pp. 142-143). New York, NY: Routledge.

Vance, J. (February 28, 2021). EDCI 338 – JODY VANCE. YouTube. https://youtu.be/dgZOJgJkdyI

Jessica Clark and Patricia Aufderheide(2013) suggest that until the internet came along, TV and newspapers were essential for information to be shared with the public. When the internet was created, social media became a way of life and even though  it may look different,  its purpose is to still educate and inform. Technological innovations have changed the way we learn about everything and communicate with everyone. Now, we not only use social media to connect with those we may be physically separated from, but we also use it to discover and connect with new people, thus creating more connections and our own online communities. In the last decade, social media has given individual users the ability to move from “being an anonymous part of a mass to being the center of the media picture”(Clark & Aufderheide, 2013).  Numerous diverse and inclusive communities have formed online because of social media. When a person becomes part of a community, they feel a sense of belonging. The wide range of social media platforms available allow individuals to connect in different ways, for different purposes, and with different people. For example, social media can now be used to engage in advocacy communications. This approach is used to influence specific audiences and use specific messages in order to deliver changes in policy or practice(Coulby, 2010).  Advocacy is all about influencing and persuading individuals and institutions to change and this will not happen unless you are able to communicate your ideas and proposals effectively. A perfect example of how social media can be used as a powerful tool to enable advocacy communications by spreading ideas ,facts, is the message from education activist, Markiel Simpson. Simpson, a member of the BC Community Alliance, stated that social media has helped him expand his PLN, and without it, he would not have made important connections with people who have helped him spread his message. Simpson uses a number of different social media platforms and online communities to fight the structural inequities created by anti-black racism in British Columbia. His tweets are largely focused on improving education and supporting other activists in the community. He shares lots of actionable stuff and he encourages everyone to join the movement to have Canadian Black history as part of the curriculum in BC. The use of social media has been valuable to his advocacy communications because it offers an opportunity to reach large numbers of people without spending large sums of money. Social media is a powerful force and can influence public opinion.  Policy makers and groups involved in political processes pay close attention to the press. By using social media, Simpson was able to gain the attention of Rob Fleming,  Minister of Education. Although media coverage can have an considerable benefits, it is important to remember that the use of the media also carries certain risks. If the media reports unfavorably on your issue or your organization, or if their reporting is inaccurate, the impact may be negative rather than positive.

I found the interview with Simpson and Miller helpful in order for me to gain a better understanding of how to use a variety of social media tools in order to promote and advocate for social change. These tools can enhance supporters’ advocacy engagement and can help sustain efforts in the midst of inevitable challenges. What is most impressive about Simpson is that he thinks a PLN should be an honest reflection of who you are as an individual and most importantly, the public should be able to trust you. This has given me incentive to expand my PLN and get involved in my community because a group of people no matter what their experiences, are more powerful than one voice. It is obvious to me that my PLN needs to expand in order for me to meet, learn, exchange information, and discuss solutions. Although I believe I am welcoming to those of differing backgrounds than me, I could do more to connect with my community. By challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone, I will have the opportunity to be part of something much larger. By sharing my personal beliefs, I could possibly change the beliefs of others, or I could engage in conversations within my learning network that could make me see things from a different perspective.

My personal learning network does amplify the views of others. I am always using social media to spread the word about initiatives and causes. For example, my basketball team uses our team Instagram and Twitter for “ Bell Let’s Talk Day”. We get behind this initiative to encourage Canadians and people around the world joined in to help create positive change for people living with mental health issues. The athletic department expects each varsity team to do their part in promoting these initiatives. In some cases, USport(governing body of university athletics)expects each University to fundraise for a specific cause. An example of this is “Shoot For The Cure”. In this specific case, each varsity basketball team in the country was required to participate. This affected each member of our team as we were asked to participate in little one minute video clips to spread awareness. The department then put these videos all together to make a stronger, more impactful message. It was also a way for the department to share information on how much money they raised for the cause. We have participated in this fundraiser each year that I have been on the team and I have seen a huge difference in how social media is being used to spread awareness. The hashtags and tweets etc. are important but I think the message spread more when influencers got on board. I think this goes without saying, but if you want the world to see things, you need people who are influential and have lots of followers. There can be negatives associated with using social media and influencers and commentators to help advertise. For example, if you are selling or promoting a product and someone who has a ton of followers comments something negatively, it can hurt you financially. Society tends to trust influential people and that’s why marketers use famous people to endorse their products. However, we don’t always recognize that these people are getting paid a lot of money to say what the company wants them to say. 

References

Clark, J., & Aufderheide, P. (2013). A New Vision for Public Media – Open, Dynamic, and Participatory. In J. Pooley, L. Taub-Pervizpour, & S. C. Jansen (Authors), Media and social justice (pp. 55-67). New York: Palgrave.

Coulby, H. (2010). Advocacy Communications-A Handbook for ANew Members. WaterAid, Communications Toolkit, Chapter 4 -Getting the Message Across.  http://www.freshwateraction.net/ANEW_advocacy_communications_handbook_draft.pdf

Simpson, Markiel. “EDCI 338 – 2021 – 02 – 22 MARKIEL SIMPSON.”  22 Feb. 2021. doi: https://youtu.be/yCSpm1Lx8-A

If I wanted to engage in a social media campaign about a topic of my choice, it would be about building mental toughness in athletes. In order to use a PLN to help facilitate this, I would want to incorporate as many social media tools that I could so I had as much current information as possible. I would use social media to explore and join in as many different communities in relation to building mental toughness skills in athletes. I think the easiest way for me to engage in the short term would be to use hashtags, and follow Twitter accounts of sports psychologists, professional and amateur athletes, and life coaches. As Woods describes, “Twitter has become a key hub in the past few years for the learning and development community world-wide” and there are many ways of using Twitter to build a PLN effectively(Woods, 2013). I personally think there a number of social media sites that are a great way to learn about the latest news and breakthrough innovations. At the same time, social networking sites like Facebook and Instagram can be good places for me to ask questions to followers about their own experiences. If I could be creative and start blogging some my own content like we have done in EDCI 338, then I could start sharing my thoughts on things that I have read and some of the strategies that athletes have had success with. This could generate discussions and build connections to people who have the same interests as me. By following professional leaders in sport psychology, I could potentially meet new friends where thoughts and ideas could be shared and I could expand my audience by using and following hashtags. Using hashtags is a useful tool to make tweets easy to find. I am not sure others on social media would ever consider me a leader in mental toughness, but I could provide insight in a blog format for other USport athletes who are looking to gain valuable mental toughness skills and improve their individual performances. To help raise my profile in this particular situation, tagging Vikes athletics and individual programs at the University, would be a great start. 

References

Woods, Bianca. “Building your own PLN: seeking new insights and ideas? Expand your personal learning network.” T+D, vol. 67, no. 11, Nov. 2013, p. 70+. Gale OneFile: Business, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A348998538/ITBC?u=uvictoria&sid=ITBC&xid=1010abdf. Accessed 18 Feb. 2021.

How diverse is your existing PLN and are you learning from a variety of voices? 

I would consider my existing PLN to be diverse because of the different kinds of social media tools I use and from my athletic and educational experiences. Growing up playing basketball in the community and then becoming a varsity athlete has exposed me to many different coaches, teachers, trainers, managers, parents, teammates, administration, and fans of the sport. I have also met a lot of people in my 5 years at UVIc from various programs with very diverse backgrounds in terms of their ethnicities, field of study, age, gender and wide varieties of life experiences.  Using social media to connect with such a diverse group of individuals has provided me with opportunities to learn, share resources, and collaborate with peers who I may not have had the chance to connect with. Through diversity,  I have learned the importance of listening to people’s experiences and I have applied those learning experiences to my own life. I value the importance of listening much more than I  did when I first came to UVic. I have learned to share ideas and thoughts and even though it can sometimes be uncomfortable, I know it is important for others to learn as well. I am also a big believer in having a growth mindset. I have worked hard to move from a fixed mindset where I was afraid to make mistakes or fail and moved toward a mindset where making mistakes is a way to learn. I am the first one to acknowledge that knowing how to balance listening and sharing can be difficult. As far as being the loudest in the room, I am far from it. I like to observe, listen, and learn from a variety of perspectives before I feel comfortable to jump in. This is why I like the format of our EDCI class. I feel much more inclined to share ideas and experiences with a small group of people rather than an entire class. I am fortunate to be part of a group that is diverse with a wide range of interests, experiences, and stages of our lives. 

 Do you participate in a silo of information sharing (similar themes or wide-range of interests)?

After reading the article “The Social Media Silo Situation”, I had a better understanding of what a silo of information sharing meant.  I agree with the author that as humans, “We want life to be easy and simple and straightforward black and white”(Colunga, 2017) . It is much easier to share things that don’t make us uncomfortable and affect us in our everyday life. It is stressful when called upon to do so, the uncertainty can prevent us from wanting to be vulnerable. We won’t agree with everyone’s perspective, but when we can refrain from judgement, we demonstrate mutual respect and make social media a tool to foster community. 

How can you use a diverse PLN to broaden your views of inclusion?

 If we have diversity in our PLN’s, then we are fostering inclusion because we have more opportunities for discussion from a diverse group of people. To ensure my views on inclusion continue to grow, it is important that I recognize unconscious bias. It is inevitable that we will come across people who will have differing views and opinions than you on topics or issues. Their perspective may be so strong that they do not allow themselves to approach the situation from another perspective. To make sure that I am continually learning and growing from others, it is important that I acknowledge differing perspectives and try to understand where they are coming from.  As described by Moore and Schnellert, inclusion is not just a place and time (2017). This applies to me because with COVID, we are not sharing a physical space or talking in real time with each other.

What is the learning outcome of your PLN and how are you ensuring your exposure to diversity and inclusion?

The learning outcome of my PLN  is to have a growth mindset like I try to do in all my other classes. Discussing ideas and opinions with my classmates allows me to learn different perspectives. By actively listening and avoiding bias, I am ensuring diversity and inclusion in my PLN. 

How has your thinking about inclusion and PLN evolved after reviewing the videos and readings?

Finally, after reviewing the videos and readings about inclusion and PLN’s, I have a better understanding that  inclusion doesn’t have to refer to just a physical aspect, it can refer to a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group.  Different things and interests can make people express different opinions. How to understand and accept different viewpoints is the most important thing.  The readings and videos clarified the importance behind incorporating diversity into my PLN and made me think about looking at situations through a different lens. To move forward and evolve inclusion into the future, we need to look and learn from the past as well as challenging our present assumptions and bias.

References:

Colunga, K. (2017). The Social Media Silo Situation. Viewpoint. https://viewpoint.pointloma.edu/the-social-media-silo-situation/

Moore, S. & Schnellert, L. (2017). One Without the Other : Stories of Unity Through Diversity and Inclusion, Portage & Main Press. ProQuest Ebook Central. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/lib/uvic/detail.action?docID=4832579.

Moore S. (2018). The Evolution of Inclusion: The past and future of education. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQgXBhPh5Zo&feature=youtu.be