Throughout the beginning of this course I have learned many different things about the development of my PLN and how to use it to my advantage. In the first week, it was highlighted by Rajagopal et al., 2012 that there are 3 tasks that form the basis of all other further activities within the network which include building connections, maintaining connections and activating connections. Before learning about this, I only thought of social media as a platform to express myself and keep in contact with friends. But I now know that it can be so much more than that if you want it to be. The use of my social media platforms hasn’t changed much as I tend to keep my networks private and lowkey but it is helpful to know that I could use them for a different purpose if I needed or wanted. Perspective wise, I now tend to notice more that people are using their platforms for networking rather than just to keep in contact with friends. Professionally wise, I notice myself being more careful about what I like or which content I am engaging in.
PLNs and AI influence equity, accessibility and professional growth in the way that they help provide access to diverse perspectives and professional opportunities like we’ve talked about in previous weeks. I would demonstrate the ability to synthesize academic research with personal experience and professional practice using social media tools by connecting my findings from the research with my own personal experiences using social media as a PLN. By engaging in online discussions, sharing posts and reflecting I could connect academic research to my professional practice and how effective it is in the real world.
View of Building AI Literacy in Pre-Service Teacher Education in Canada: A Case Study of Two Cohorts
One of the key takeaways that I got from reading the Estaiteyeh & Mindzak article was that AI literacy actually builds on digital literacy. Since the rise of AI, digital literacy has evolved from having a basic computer with simple internet skills to now include skills such as critical thinking, digital citizenship and understanding how technology impacts society. AI literacy has become especially important after tools like ChatGPT became widely available.
In the Qualman article, there were a few quotes that stood out to me. The first was “As a digital leader your main role is to create awareness and engagement. You need to provide enough information without causing confusion. You need to make people aware of the situation and help them understand it. The more they understand, the more engaged they become, and they will figure out each other’s strengths and weaknesses to accomplish the task”. I feel that this highlights the importance of effective leadership through collaboration, community and awareness. Another quote that stood out to me was “ Partnerships come in many different forms, but the key to successful ones are those in which two people, orgroups, have different strengths”. I feel that this quote highlights the value of diversity and how to use others strengths together for a common goal.
Like I’ve mentioned before, the strengths of my PLN and the inclusion of AI are that it allows me to be exposed to diverse perspectives and be able to communicate with others around the world. The weaknesses of my PLN and the inclusion of AI are that because AI is getting so good, it may produce false/misinformation that seems believable. In Canada, professional learning networks (PLNs) are recognized as valuable for ongoing teacher development. Organizations such as the Canadian Teachers’ Federation and the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning, helping educators improve their practice and adapt to changing educational needs. There websites highlight more here: https://www.ctf-fce.ca/ https://www.bctf.ca/
Hi Ella!
I really liked your reflection on how your social media habits haven’t necessarily changed, but your understanding of what social media can offer has expanded. I think a lot of us came to a similar realization throughout this course. Your point about being more mindful of the content you engage with in a professional setting also stood out to me. Even when our profiles are private, what we post, share, and interact with still contributes to our digital presence and can influence how others perceive us.
I also found your discussion of Qualman’s ideas about collaboration and valuing different strengths really interesting. It made me think about how the strongest PLNs are often made up of people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives rather than people who all think alike. That diversity can lead to richer conversations, new ideas, and more opportunities for both personal and professional growth. Overall, I thought your post did a great job of connecting the course concepts to your own experiences and showing how you plan to apply them moving forward.
Hi Ella,
I really enjoyed reading your blog! I relate to your experience of using social media to stay connected with friends and family while also beginning to build a professional PLN. Like you, I find myself aware of my digital presence and activity online. I appreciated your discussion about combining academic research with personal experience and professional practice. I think connecting research to our own experiences helps us incorporate diverse perspectives and create a more meaningful PLN. Your reflection on the Qualman article stood out to me, particularly your point that effective digital leadership is built through collaboration, community, and awareness. I also agree that AI literacy has become increasingly important with the evolution of technology. Acknowledging both the strengths and limitations of AI, and recognizing both sides is essential when considering its role within a PLN, and you demonstrated that well. Thank you for sharing your insights.