Author: ellaparkeruvic

In this assignment, we decided to look at educators and how they stay informed within their PLN’s. We looked through research that helped us answer our consideration questions that helped us form the assignment. Our work was divided into 6 parts, with 5 people taking 2 prompts each and one creating an infographic on each platform when looked into. With there being so many social media sites included in educators’ PLNs, we thought it would be best to target three in more depth. The three we chose were Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Our group worked off a collaborative Google Doc to assemble our project and Canva to create the infographics.  

How should a PLN be created, managed, and engaged with? – Raina Hagel

When making a PLN, a simple way to start it is through social media. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook provide easily accessible information from a wide variety of educators (Gray, 2019). You can find plenty of short videos and posts on diverse topics, gaining knowledge and learning new concepts to teaching. Social media provides connections to more perspectives that may not be available to you in-person, and you can easily personalize it to match your beliefs and values. You are able to follow the creators and like posts that you find informative and useful, and the algorithm will provide you with more posts that are similar (Gray, 2019). On Facebook, people are able to join specific communities for education, where teachers can post their ideas or problems and all the other educators in the community are able to learn about these ideas or provide ways to help with an issue. Following experienced educators on social media platforms can help you learn new concepts that may not be taught in school but gained by experience. This can be an especially helpful resource for young teachers who have not had much experience in their own classroom.

As confidence and knowledge grows, so can your PLN. It may begin with commenting on posts on social media that you can relate with, but as you work more, you will also interact with more teachers in your school(s) and community. As your connections grow, you will continue to learn and know about more resources, which you can now share with your network. Building this reciprocal relationship with your more personal network will strengthen your community by building trust, leading to more opportunities for your community to open up and for you to gain more valuable knowledge (Progress Learning, 2026). It is important to build good relationships with the young teachers as well because they have learned all the new policies and methods of teaching based on more recent research and psychology; in return, you are able to share what knowledge you have gained from experience working in the classroom, which they may not have as much exposure to. This reciprocity is what builds the strongest, most successful relationships in a PLN (Emelo, 2023).

To keep your connections within your PLN strong, it is important to continuously engage with the people in your network/ community (Progress Learning, 2026). Within your school, consistent conversations and check-ins should be a priority during the school week, helping build a strong and unified support system within the building. For connections in your community, exchanging contact information such as an email or phone number allows for easy communication to support each other. A well-developed PLN should be an open space for your connections to be able to reach out whenever they need help, going beyond to make the network feel like a continuously supported community (Dene Poth, 2023).

Benefits/Negatives and what features make these platforms effective for learning – Ella Parker

Instagram

Instagram is a popular social media platform that enables teacher collaboration and professional support, but its role in education has been explored only minimally by researchers.Richer et. al give three main collaborative activities among teachers that are used on the platform of Instagram. These are information seeking, information sharing and co-creating. Engaging in these collaborative activities also indicate higher emotional, informational and instrumental support felt by teachers. 

Fig. 3. Direct effect model: Relationships between seeking information, sharing information and Co-creating and digital social support scales.

Instagram’s design, functionality, and visual nature may distinguish it from comparatively more text-focused platforms and could contribute to teachers using the platform differently from other social media (see Pittman & Reich, 2016; Shane-Simpson et al., 2018).

Instagram is often referred to as the world’s largest teachers’ lounge because it provides educators with access to thousands of teaching ideas, classroom resources, and professional learning opportunities. Through educational hashtags, teachers can discover new strategies, share student work, connect with educators around the world, and exchange resources and best practices. These connections help expand professional networks while also supporting the development of technology integration and innovative teaching skills.

Tik Tok

TikTok can serve as an extension of the classroom by allowing educators to create short, engaging versions of their lessons that students can revisit anytime for review or to catch up on missed content. The platform can also be used to encourage student creativity and expression by having students take on the role of teacher, creating their own short-form videos to explain concepts and demonstrate their understanding of course material.

Examples of educational uses include:

• Generating awareness about school events, programs, and initiatives
• Showcasing final projects and student achievements
• Teaching or reviewing lessons through short, engaging videos
• Supporting student activism and advocacy for important social or community issues

Facebook

Looking specifically at Facebook’s pages and groups feature, it can be used to enhance communication and collaboration between teachers and students while maintaining professional boundaries. Rather than connecting through personal friend requests, teachers can create dedicated class groups or pages where students can ask questions, share resources, collaborate on projects, and participate in discussions. These online spaces extend learning beyond the traditional classroom by providing students with ongoing access to course materials, peer support, and opportunities for on-demand learning and engagement.

Research by Hull, 2014, suggests that Facebook can be an effective tool for sharing class information, announcements, and updates in a timely manner. The platform can help foster a stronger sense of classroom community by creating opportunities for communication and interaction beyond scheduled class time. Students who participated in classes with a Facebook page generally expressed interest in seeing more instructors use similar platforms.

While studies have not found a significant impact on students’ overall perceptions of a course or direct improvements in academic outcomes, Facebook appears to be most valuable as a supplement to traditional instruction rather than a replacement for it. Teachers can use the platform to extend learning beyond the classroom, encourage academic discussions, showcase student work, and increase engagement by connecting with students through a tool they already use regularly.

How technology allows you to enhance/develop your digital identity/reputation and the social considerations that should be accounted for – Katie Winchester

Instagram:

Instagram allows you to enhance/develop your digital identity/reputation as according to the FasterCapital, article, Instagram Personal Branding Marketing Strategy: How to Use Instagram to Build and Grow Your Personal Brand and Reputation, it can be used as your own personal brand (FasterCapital, 2026). It is important to be authentic when building your digital identity online as it adds credibility and realism to your account. The article also discusses strategies on content curation for viewers. When it comes to using instagram for teachers, you can gear your content to fellow educators, or if you choose not to post, you can still find inspiration from other teachers/educators who share content online. Linkedin also shared tips and tricks when it comes to enhancing your digital reputation and while many were similar to the FasterCapital article, Linkin also shared the importance of interacting with your community. Even in this EDCI 338 course, one of the readings talked about the importance of networking before you need the network for yourself to help build your connections within a community. 

TikTok:

In Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú and Crystal Abidin’s, research article TeachTok: Teachers of TikTok, micro-celebrification, and fun learning communities, it states that “while Instagram was not created for educational purposes, it can positively benefit professional educators who use it to exchange knowledge” (Vizcaino-Verdu & Abidin, 2023). The article also discusses how the push to online education during the covid pandemic also led to a rise in social media use. With many young people using social media and TikTok it led to the rise of “TeachTok” (Vizcaino-Verdu & Abidin, 2023). Where teachers could share or gain information in creative lesson planning or classroom set ups. It is now a fairly popular way to gain inspiration as a teacher or someone within the education community.

Facebook: 

According to the article, A Teachers Guide to Using Facebook, written by Bernadette Rego, it discusses tips on how to grow your PLN as an educator on Facebook. The article discusses how beneficial it can be to join pre-existing groups on facebook to stay in the loop about any news or information in the education field, look for individuals who have good blogs or information to share on facebook, if you are using a professional facebook profile it can be beneficial to share information, resources, or links, that you find important/usefuL (Rego,pg. 17-18) This follows the idea of networking before your require the network. It is also important to consider the groups you are joining before you join them as you have a professional image to hold (Rego, pg. 16)

Social Considerations for social media platforms – Katie Winchester

Social considerations should always be accounted for when posting anything online on platforms such as Instagram, Tiktok, or Facebook. The Tech Advocate article, The Dos and Don’ts of Social Media for Teachers by Mathew Lynch disscuses the importance of knowing what is appropriate/inapropriate to post publicly as an educator. When it comes to any social media, teachers should be aware of what they are posting as it can affect their professional life/careers (Lynch, 2023). It is important to avoid posting pictures/videos of your students(without proper consent), following/accepting students on social media platforms, engaging in hurtful or unprofessional behavior online, or sharing any confidential student information to the public (Lynch, 2023).

PLNs, Data Collection, and Privacy Policies – Maya Stevens

As the digital age progresses and we are granted more access to information, it is important to be mindful of what information we are putting out into the world ourselves. Data tracking has become at the forefront of platforms curating the personalized algorithms that we love so much, but we often don’t pause to question how we are being tracked and if it is truly beneficial to us.  

What are the ways the technology tracks and uses your data?

Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook track data in many ways, the most obvious that all users are aware of which is through the information you provide when signing up (name, date of birth, etc.), the content you interact with (creators you follow, likes, views, and shares), the content you put onto the platform, as well as communications. In the Instagram Data Policy, you can find details on the data that is tracked beyond this, such as information from your device, including Wi-Fi access points, GPS, and even your phone percentage! When platforms share a parent company, such as Instagram and Facebook, which are both owned by Meta, your data can also be shared between the platforms, so even if you do not consent to your data being shared on one platform, the data has already been accessed by the parent company. 

How can data tracking be used to benefit a PLN?

Companies use your data in multiple ways; the article What Data Do Social Platforms Collect, states the biggest goal of these platforms is to encourage further engagement by tailoring your algorithm to fit content you have previously engaged with. Platforms will also send you targeted ads and attempt to sell you products they think you’ll be interested in. Although data collection can be frightening, it can also be incredibly beneficial to your PLNs, as companies tailor your algorithm towards your interests, which allows you to interact with content more relevant to you and your profession. This lessens the “doom-scrolling” or “time filler” aspect of social media by providing you with more useful or informative content. Data collection can also help you build connections with others in your profession; oftentimes, you will receive suggestions to follow people “in your community” or suggest creators who represent a similar standing/profession as yourself and can further educate you, provide advice, or give you further inspiration for your work. In the case of educators, the more academic content they interact with, the greater the chance their algorithm will be filled with educational content, classroom learning, and advice from other educators. For example, many educators use social media to help curate lesson plans and classroom activities. Connecting with others from your community also allows you to share your own content and put yourself out there, which is the biggest goal for PLNs. 

What are the strengths of the privacy, security and acceptable use policies for the social media platforms? – Maya Stevens

Platforms may take a lot of data when you are interacting with the chosen media; however, most companies are quite open about what information they are taking from you, as well as what they will provide you with in return. Companies will often ask you to agree to a privacy policy or consent to “cookie collection” before allowing you to engage with their site. Many of the policies also allow you to customize the amount of data collection for more privacy. Companies will often allow you to customize the cookie settings to “only necessary,” and when you no longer wish to engage with the media, platforms will often delete not only your account but the data that came along with it when you signed up. This completely wipes your history for others to see immediately, but the parent company often takes longer to get rid of your information from their servers. Finally, social media platforms in Canada are required to follow PIPEDA requirements, a legally binding document that helps protect Canadian citizens’ data.  

What are the weaknesses of the privacy, security and acceptable use policies for the social media platforms? – Maya Stevens

For every strength that comes along with the privacy policies, there are many weaknesses that platforms are able to exploit. Privacy policies and agreements that are provided to users are often lengthy, and users do not fully read them before agreeing, leading to important information often being overlooked and users not being fully informed about what they are consenting to. Included in these privacy agreements is the discussion of cross-content sharing, which, as discussed above, allows for platforms owned by the same parent company to share data between one another, even if you are only active on one platform. Data collection can become excessive at times, and eventually, most of the data being collected is not beneficial to the user; they don’t know where/who their information is going, and they are no longer an informed user. Consenting to data collection also becomes an issue when policies are constantly changing, and users are minimally informed. Often, when policies are changed, users are not required to reconsent, leaving them even less informed.

What can I do to remain informed? – Maya Stevens

As a future educator, it is extremely important to be mindful of what you are putting out into the world, both purposefully through content sharing, and through data sharing when engaging on social media platforms. It is important to remain informed on media literacy and how your information is shared on the web. Educating not only yourself but others allows you to protect your professional standing and keep your PLN positive, engaging, and encouraging for others to engage with. If you are using social media for your classroom, it is important that you ensure that students are not involved in your content in any way, as well as the school you are teaching in. If you are to put this kind of information onto your PLN, companies are able to collect that data, whether you consented or not; this puts both your professional standing and your students at risk. When engaging online, ensure that you are doing so on a private device, such as a cellphone, rather than a school computer, as websites are able to access photos and locations on devices. Before engaging online, be careful to thoroughly read through privacy policies, to be confident in the fact that the information you are sharing is what you want shared, and that no sensitive data can get out to other third parties.

In conclusion, data collection can be a powerful tool for developing your PLN if you remain informed on what you are consenting to. It is also important that users are mindful that when on media apps, everything they do is being watched, even if they are not directly interacting with certain content; it is still being tracked. This is important for educators to keep in mind because the media you interact with represents who you are, and others are able to see that as well. Data tracking is not necessarily a bad thing for users, as it allows for the customization of algorithms and furthers the chances of meaningful connection, collaboration, and professional content curation for your PLN.   

Provide examples of individuals who have used a PLN to become leaders in a field of interest, and discuss their presence on the platform. – Amelia

• How do they use social media platforms to build their reputation/presence? – Amelia

What individuals have used PLNS to become leaders in education, and how did they build their presence. – Amelia Both

Gabe Danneburg 

Gabe Dannenburg is a middle school science teacher from South Dakota. In 2020, Dannenburg had filmed his reaction to surprising his students by playing Kahoot. He decided to post his video on TikTok as you could hear the students’ excitement, and it ended up viral with 40million views that night. His content is guided towards teaching, schooling, and education, with the primary audience being other teachers and parents. When posting videos as an educator, he has the mentality of, “If my principal got a complaint about this video, can I defend my actions.”(Hess, 2025). However, his school admin believes social media is a great way to build rapport with students and their families. Dannenburg is active on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube, however, most of his following is on TikTok. With this PLN, He has been fortunate to work in collaboration with mainstream brands to help other educators and students. 

Zahra Hassan

Zahra Hassan is a middle school teacher from Ontario who shares teacher outfit inspiration on TikTok. She started posting on Tiktok after her students persuaded her to post her stylish outfits, going viral. With posting her weekly outfits, she helps teachers break the cliché of “teacher outfits”. However, her main motivation for posting her outfits has nothing to do with fashion. Her main goal is “to show young people that they can have their dream career even if their capabilities have been doubted.” (Slone, 2023).  She also posts relatable content for teachers, such as relating popular sounds to a day in the classroom, or sharing resources for teachers. Hassan also uses the power of social media to show her students that she is a real person, and that school is meant to be fun, not boring. 

Shelley Moore

Shelley Moore is a former teacher, who is now an Inclusive Education speaker and consultant. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, with her Masters degree and PH.D. in inclusive education theory and practices. With these, she focuses on educating teachers, schools, and the general population on inclusive education, delivering these resources mainly through Youtube and other social media platforms. Her Youtube account has many popular videos on educational topics, with mentions as well by the Government of Canada and Tedx. With the platform she has created herself, she travels throughout North America, giving keynote speeches at conferences, and to school districts on Inclusive Education. 

James Vukelich and Roy Tom

James Vukelich and Roy Tom are both Indigenous language teachers, using the power of social media to teach Ojibway outside of the classroom. These teachers go on Facebook live to teach “words of the day” once a week, with the intention to connect with language learners across the country. Vukelich had decided to teach Ojibway, the language that his family lost due to residential school, after taking a language course to be able to get financial aid for post secondary schooling. He was fascinated by the language, and became an Indigenous language specialist, helping develop curriculum and training Indigenous language teachers. For Tom, he attended a workshop where a Cree elder had mentioned it was everyone’s responsibility to teach the Indigenous language. This led him to the idea of teaching the language through videos on Facebook. Tom then set up a group on Facebook, which he posts his language videos on, with nearly 800 members. With teaching Indigenous language online, Vukelich and Tom are able to explain their PLN across Canada with those willing to learn Ojibway. 

How will you know that your PLN is a success? – Raina Hagel

A successful PLN will contain people and resources that a person can interact with, helping to gain more knowledge and perspectives on topic(s). For educators, this would be specific to teaching and managing a classroom. A strong PLN should provide diversity to your perspective, aid you in problem solving, continuous learning opportunities, potential collaboration/ career opportunities, and should lead to continuous growth in your practice (Emelo, 2023). Personal Learning Networks are supposed to be well-rounded, covering multiple aspects that can advance your understanding for your career. For education, this would include areas such as lesson subjects, teaching methods, organizing a classroom, planning schedules, managing students and dealing with their various emotions, essential classroom materials and where to get them, and how to make a positive impact for the school and with the staff. 

The purpose of a learning network is to broaden your understanding and expand your way of thinking about different matters (Emelo, 2023). It should be personalized to your beliefs, but not limited to one narrative. Educators need to be open-minded, a growth mindset gives teachers the opportunity to develop a better understanding for the students that they are and will work with; a diverse PLN can help create this base for teachers to be able to rely on. Ideally, a successful PLN should be a safe space that provides reciprocal contributions, sharing ideas and perspectives to one another and creating meaningful discussions that can help expand each other’s understandings (Dene Poth, 2023). 

Although a large learning network with lots of resources can be helpful, the best way to know if your PLN is a success is the results you will see in the classroom (Langemeier, 2026). Your classroom may be better organized, you could be more efficient and engaging in your lessons, problems can be solved faster, and you feel like you have support that you can turn to when you need help. Ultimately, you can make the best professional learning network you possibly can, but it can only become a success if you actively use your resources and put what you have learned into action to see direct change in your own success in the classroom and life.

Our chosen platform and Infographic’s for PLN’s for teachers – Hana Blaicher

Putting together these Infographic posters helped me realize that the three platforms we focused on being TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook are often thought of as social platforms, but they are more than that. They are used as a multi-tool and in this case for professional learning, to share ideas, build communities, and find a support system all while promoting professional growth. 

While creating the posters, one thing that stood out was some of the common things we found across all the platforms and how educators connect and learn from each other. This can be through videos, posts, in groups, or even through discussions in specific forums or in comment sections. One of the other things I noticed is that when educators are posting in a professional sense they need to be mindful of their digital identity, and how things shared online are public and viewable to everyone. 

While the platforms have similar areas, they each have their strengths. Instagram’s visual take on posting is a great way to share classroom ideas and inspiration in many ways. TikTok is similar but also is quicker and more engaging through the short videos, and is perfect for a teacher who has many things on the go. Facebook’s platform helps open a space for deeper conversation and depending on the type of group or forum you are in can help you get feedback from people that feels real. Overall, what I have noticed is that there are no “perfect” platforms when developing your PLN. Each platform has different ways that educators can build their network, connect with similar people and continue to grow professionally and it is up to the educator what they want and are looking for.   

References

Raina Hagel 

Leveraging Social Media to Build a Digital Professional Learning Network | Edutopia 

Understanding and Mapping Your Personal Learning Network: Unlock the Value of a Leader’s Professional Connections 

Networking in Education: Build a Professional Learning Network 

Professional Learning Networks for Teachers | Edutopia 

Ella Parker

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131522001956

Ways to Use Instagram to Enrich Your Classroom

https://spacesedu.com/en/blog/tiktok-teaching-tool

How to Use TikTok in the Classroom

https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2023-08/facebookforeducators.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264816593_Using_Facebook_in_the_classroom

Katie Winchester

Facebook Use for Teachers: A Guide | PDF | Facebook | Social Networking Service 

How to Manage Your Online Reputation on Instagram 

Instagram Personal Branding Marketing Strategy: How to Use Instagram to Build and Grow Your Personal Brand and Reputation – FasterCapital 

The Dos and Don’ts of Social Media for Teachers – The Tech Edvocate 

TeachTok: Teachers of TikTok, micro-celebrification, and fun learning communities – ScienceDirect 

Maya Stevens

What Data Do Social Platforms Collect, and How Can You Reclaim It? 

Data tracking: What is it? Why is it important? 

Data Policy | Instagram Help Center 

PIPEDA requirements in brief – Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada 

Amelia Both

https://www.aei.org/op-eds/how-a-middle-school-teacher-became-a-viral-sensation

https://torontolife.com/city/students-recognize-me-as-that-tiktok-teacher-meet-the-etobicoke-educator-going-viral-for-her-stylish-outfits

https://www.drshelleymoore.com

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/ojibway-language-social-media-teachers-1.5014604

https://www.youtube.com/@FiveMooreMinutes

Hana Blaicher

Blaicher, H. R. (2026). Platforms for teachers within their pln’s [Infographic]. Canva.

Carpenter, J. P., Morrison, S. A., Craft, M., & Lee, M. (2020). How and why are educators using Instagram? Teaching and Teacher Education, 96, 103149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2020.103149   

Blog Summation

My initial learning goals for the term were to increase my knowledge about social media and how to build and use my PLN. I don’t think I realized the many different ways social media can be utilized, as well as the positives and negatives that come with it. In terms of my starting point of knowledge, I knew what the basic social media platforms were and how they were used, but I didn’t realize how much I could utilize them, especially in the education world. I am a big TikTok scroller, and I have seen lots of teacher inspiration videos, which made me think about how I could use TikTok more intentionally by searching for specific ideas and finding inspiration for my future classroom.

Growth & Reflection

In terms of my intellectual growth, one of the things that I enjoyed learning about most was how we should be teaching students, teachers and those with computer jobs about AI literacy. This was something I hadn’t really thought of before and I enjoyed expanding my knowledge about that topic. In terms of professional growth, I learned that it is so important to watch what you are posting online because the digital footprint is permanent and can come back to negatively impact you when you are trying to get employed, In terms of my digital literacy growth, I learned the importance of being able to distinguish real vs. fake media and tips of how to see the difference and fact check. I also learned about how the digital privacy laws are working. I didn’t even know that was a thing!

One specific course activity that I feel contributed to my learning was getting to read and respond to other classmates’ blog posts. I found this helpful because it offered a chance to read different perspectives and also see what others thought of the same articles we were reading and videos we watched. I found that most of the time, I would be reading and go hmm… I didn’t think of that! Going with this, it was super helpful to get comments on my blog from my peers. Kind of the same thing but sometimes they would say things that I hadn’t thought of before. One of the pieces of feedback Jesse gave me was to, if referencing a video, highlight specifically which section of the video you’re referring to with a time index and also keep in mind that academics like being referred to by their last name rather than their first. I feel like I applied this feedback and also gave it as feedback to my peers as well. 

Forward-Looking Goals (Identify three specific goals for continued learning or professional development.

My 3 goals for continued learning and professional development are: 

1. In my future classroom, use one of the platforms my group researched (instagram, tik tok, facebook) as a platform to communicate and share what we are doing in the classroom with parents
2. Use AI tools responsibly but also continue my learning of how to identify false information
3. Continue developing and actively participating in my own PLN to connect with other educators, share resources, and support my continued professional growth

This course helped me better understand how social media, AI tools, and a PLN can support teaching and professional growth. I also learned the importance of using digital tools responsibly and how important it is to check information carefully. It has shaped my professional identity by making me a more reflective and open-minded educator who is willing to use technology thoughtfully to support student learning and communication.

https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en/artificial-intelligence-ecosystem/overview-canadas-national-artificial-intelligence-strategy

Some of the opportunities AI introduces for digital citizenship within Canadian education are that they are offering entry-level AI training for all Canadians, providing access to trusted AI agents for post-secondary students, providing many AI-related jobs and work placement opportunities, launching an AI missions program and providing training for workers so they can adapt to AI-enabled workplaces. Some of the risks this generates for digital citizenship within Canadian education include concerns about privacy and data security. As students may share personal information with AI tools, this information may go somewhere. Another risk would be misinformation spreading. Students may ask AI questions but won’t be able to tell the difference if it’s true or not. 

Media literacy plays a role in literacy education in the way that it empowers learners to critically assess AI-generated content, misinformation, and extremist narratives online by helping students learn how to verify information by checking sources, develops awareness of AI generated media and misinformation, and helps build confidence in using AI while also understanding the potential risks that are involved. 

Canadian policies and educational initiatives are increasingly addressing AI-driven misinformation and online radicalization through investments in AI literacy, digital skills education, and the promotion of responsible AI use. Canada has taken important steps to combat AI-driven misinformation and online radicalization by supporting AI literacy programs, digital skills training, and ethical AI development. Efforts by Canadian governments and educational institutions are helping to address AI-related misinformation and online radicalization through enhanced AI education, digital literacy initiatives, and responsible AI practices.

https://www.canada.ca/en/security-intelligence-service/corporate/publications/the-evolution-of-disinformation-a-deepfake-future/deepfakes-a-real-threat-to-a-canadian-future.html

An example of AI-amplified misinformation that I have observed on Canadian social media would be deepfakes including politicians. Deepfakes are images, videos or audio recordings that have been digitally altered using AI. Deepfake videos depict people doing or saying things that they never did. These types of videos spread very quickly on social media platforms. During elections, deepfakes can be used to mislead voters and influence political opinions. On the Government of Canada website, they released an article about how deepfakes are a threat to a Canadian future. This article gives real life examples of how deepfakes have caused many people harm. 

Here is one of the examples: “In 2019, Rana Ayyub, an investigative journalist for the Washington Post, spoke out against a political party in India that was protecting the rapist of an eight-year-old Indian girl In response, a deepfake porn video of Ayyub was produced, which went viral within 48 hours. Following the release of the deepfake, Ayyub received death threats, as well as racist and misogynistic comments. Not surprisingly, for a period of time, Ayyub completely disappeared from social media and stopped reporting.” 

The Government of Canada website also highlights the privacy violations as AI collects, processes, analyzes and stores significant volumes of data. This is how it is able to create and target content that is relatable to its viewers. This raises concerns about whether personal information is being collected and used ethically. PIPEDA emphasizes the need for transparency, consent, and protection of personal information. 

A proposal of a media literacy curriculum segment that teaches learners/employees to assess AI-driven social media content critically would be a session on how to tell the difference between a deepfake video and something that actually happened. I know for me I have seen quite a few videos that have been fake that I genuinely thought were real. Within this session we could also practice the ability to fact check and verify different information through trusted sources.

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. 

https://tinyurl.com/2afvzd7b

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/ 

This video introduces digital literacy as the ability to locate, assess, create, and share information using digital technologies. The video highlights the importance of critical thinking, online safety, and responsible technology use to effectively navigate and participate in an increasingly digital society.

When engaging with a public audience online, there are both advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered. While social media can help individuals connect, collaborate, and grow professionally, it can also create challenges related to privacy, security, and reputation. Here are some of the ones I came up with.

Benefits:

• Builds your communication skills
• Increases your PLN
• Allows you to connect with people you may not be able to regularly
• Helps build personal/professional identity 
• Encourages collaboration

Risks:

• Security can be put at risk
• You’re exposed to others criticism and potential bullying
• Less privacy
• Whatever you post is permanent and may affect future opportunities 

Going into some examples, for a government official, a risk could include having past statements or posts resurface if there was a video or post about them. People more so in the public eye, they have less space to make a mistake without retribution. For someone like an educator, a risk could be having your employer investigate your digital footprint and if you put something not attractive on there it could lessen your job opportunity chances. Another risk for educators is that your personal life may become more visible to parents or students depending on if you have mutual friends or public accounts. For a lawyer, a risk could potentially include having a conflict of interest. Whatever they post online, may put them in a light that contradicts the case they are on. Personally I think the best way to address negative replies and critiques while also making sure to align with your personal values and your employer’s social media policy is to be professional about it and decide what the comment is truly getting at. If it is just a comment made more to bully you, I honestly would either not respond to it or delete it if I could. But if you wanted to go the route of responding, I would use polite and clear language addressing the comment in a respectful way. Open dialogues about media literacy and factual information can create conflict because sometimes people are only exposed to certain things and are firm in their beliefs. They may not want to hear other people’s points of view. The benefit of having a PLN that values media literacy is that it helps you identify what credible/non credible sources are along with examining different information sources. It also supports conversations that are respectful even if people don’t agree with the topic.

On the teaching side, I have seen teachers that create private instagram or facebook accounts to help showcase what the children have been doing. In this case, only parents would be accepted. I’m not sure how I feel about this. I think that it’s a good idea but wouldn’t an email do the same thing? One platform that I think is very beneficial is youtube. You can find all sorts of different educational videos on there, whether it’s for an explanation, a song or a brain break. I also think pinterest is another good one for inspiration for the younger grade elementary teachers. When working with the vulnerable sector, it is extremely important to maintain professionalism and stay within the regulations. This can  include keeping confidentiality, as in not showing peoples faces or information, obtaining proper consent before sharing photos or videos, and use privacy settings when applicable.

Some highlights in this video are 2:20-3:30 where Dyer talks about how the medium is the message and how youth don’t forget how to communicate effectively in offline spaces when they learn how to effectively communicate in online spaces. Another highlight starts at 8:25 where Dyer talks about separating online and offline experiences in education causes us to overlook the valuable digital skills people are already developing. He emphasizes that these online skills are increasingly important and should be recognized and integrated into learning. Here are some of the skills he thinks is useful and we should be encouraging:

• The ability to talk about self succinctly 
• The ability to express identity
• The ability to show yourself reflectively
• There are so many different ways to express themselves, in less than 140 words, a 6 second video, a single image etc.

When I listened to this TedTalk I found that it reminded me of what Trilling and Fadel (2009) talked about in their book 21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our times. In chapter 4 they discussed how students need to learn how to effectively use media resources for learning and develop the skills to create engaging communication products, such as videos, podcasts, and websites. And according to the Center for Media Literacy, media literacy skills provide “a framework to access, analyze, evaluate and create messages in a variety of forms, build an understanding of the role of media in society, as well as [develop] the essential skills of inquiry and self-expression.” Trilling and Fadel (2009) also mention that assessing the risks of using personal images and commercial music on a social networking website such as Facebook or YouTube often requires critical thinking, sound judgment, and an understanding of potential future consequences—considerations where students can certainly benefit from some firm adult guidance. I agree with them in thinking that these are useful skills for young teens to start to develop.

Switching gears, a PLN helps the development of thoughts and ideas in education discourse in the way that it allows educators to experience diverse perspectives, different teaching strategies and research through many online platforms. It also provides access to resources and different ideas from educators around the world. It hinders these developments by potentially spreading misinformation and having a lack of context that doesn’t account for the different needs of school environments. Educators can create discourse by facilitating classroom discussions that allow for critical thinking and diverse perspectives. They can also collaborate with other teachers through meetings where they share ideas, resources and experiences with one another. Some of the problems with social media communications in the education settings is that there is a risk of privacy and confidentiality for staff and students. There is also a risk of sharing wrong information and potentially having inappropriate online interactions. In Emerging Technologies in Distance Education, Veletsianos (2010) gives us this visual titled ‘The Typical Teacher Network’. Pg 123

This image shows how there has been a vast change in what we consider a teacher network. This next image shows the ‘new’ networked teacher. Pg 124

It illustrates how individuals connect with others through participation in social media activities such as blogging, wikis, and social networking, while highlighting their role in both consuming and creating content.

Veletsianos, G. (Ed.). (2010). Emerging technologies in distance education. Athabasca University Press. https://doi.org/10.15215/aupress/9781897425763.01

Trilling, B., & Fadel, C. (2009). Digital literacy skills. In 21st century skills: Learning for life in our times (pp. 65–81). Jossey-Bass.

My PLN is pretty diverse I would say. When I played for a varsity basketball team, our coach made us all set up linkedin accounts. At the time I was annoyed and didn’t want to but now looking back it has been helpful for looking for job opportunities and getting myself out there. My work also uses microsoft teams so I have been familiar with that platform the last two years. I also am on instagram, facebook and tik tok. I am learning from a variety of different voices through the different platforms I use. LinkedIn allows me to connect with employers and professionals for different job opportunities. At work Microsoft teams and Sharepoint allows me to collaborate and communicate with coworkers. Social media apps like instagram, facebook and tiktok also show me lots of different opinions, cultures and current topics that help me expand my own perspective. 

The learning outcome of my PLN is to gain both professional and personal knowledge while continuing to build connections. LinkedIn helps me stay informed about different job opportunities whereas Microsoft teams allow me to collaborate with others. I try to ensure my exposure to diversity and inclusion through my PLN by educating myself on current topics/issues and how they are affecting others. 

I feel that social media allows people to connect and collaborate quickly. Platforms like I mentioned above make it easier to network professionally and learn from others. In a job context, social media can help people build a professional identity but at the same time can challenge communication because things are very easily taken out of context. For me, I don’t have any of my accounts public except for LinkedIn and I am very careful about what I post. PLN is more often than not a public post, they can affect a person’s reputation whether that’s good or bad. I think my PLN is inclusive because it has a range of different communities. I think that employer social media policies are important, especially because where I work we are interacting with a lot of public people. At my job we are expected to avoid inappropriate posts, especially if they are related to the organization. This is good to know  when building a PLN because your personal and professional identities can overlap on different platforms. 

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQgXBhPh5Zo 

The benefits of a diverse and inclusive PLN in social media sharing is that it exposes you to many different thoughts and perspectives. When looking at other platforms it is helpful to understand where they are coming from so that you can help in creating a respectful community. In the youtube video (linked above) Shelley talks about how we should try and not look at things as concepts we compare to each other but instead as an evolution of time. I think this is a good base to have when thinking about inclusion and diversity. Having a diverse PLN also encourages open-mindedness as you are exposed to more diversity. I think that the most common platforms students are using are instagram, tik tok, and maybe linkedin to build their PLN. If expanding a professional learning network, they could connect with different people online that may be part of the community they are interested in. They could also attend different online events if applicable. I think an employer would look at whether or not my social media is respectful and professional. A lot of the time, employers will search you up before they hire you and having a positive digital identity can be the first step to learning a good impression.  

Link: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uvic/reader.action?docID=4832579&ppg=11&c=RVBVQg

Reading the above link allowed me to think back to my time at TWU. While there I was in the elementary education program and one of my minors was in inclusive education. When I started there in 2021, that minor was not called inclusive education, it was referred to as special education. When they made the switch I remember thinking that it was more than just a name switch, it was for a greater purpose. In the link above, it says that we can extend inclusive education to all diverse learners. I agree with this as inclusive education needs to become more than just focusing on people with ‘special needs’. I have also found that switching the title from special needs to people with neuro-diversites has shifted my mindset a bit too. 

Here is my VR Map!

Link: https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/7802/6515 

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0RryRbJza0 

This week I started off watching Eric Stroller’s video of what a digital identity is. From the video I understood that a digital identity is your presence online. This includes everything you post, share, who you are, how you engage, how you treat people and how you use digital tools to your benefit. Everything you do on the web represents your digital identity even if it may seem small. These types of things can be beneficial or detrimental to your success online. Though there are many rewards of public communications such as it allow people to share ideas, build connections whether that’s personal or professional, and access tons of information. It can also help with your self-expression, professional networking and learning. But because content is so easily visible and sharable it can lead to a reduction of privacy in your life, a chance for misinterpretation as well as long-term digital footprints. Posts are also very easily copied, shared or seen by unintended people which can affect your reputation. 

Links: https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3559/3131 

https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/learning-network%20age/0/steps/24644

That being said, Rajagopal et al., 2012 shared in their article that personal vs professional approaches to digital identity affect social media use by personal approaches taking more of a self-focused route that can focus on self-expression, communicating with others or creating relationships. This approach also showcases more into someone’s personal life and experiences. An example of this type of approach would be instagram. A professional approach takes more of a strategic route that is often used to help with career opportunities, networking and potentially credibility. Those that use this approach tend to be more selective when posting items online as anyone can view their profiles. An example of this type of approach would be LinkedIn. The different approaches have affected social media use as people can now choose how they present themselves depending on what audience they are using it for. Because of this, it influences what people post, like or even who they follow. Because you can use the web for both, sometimes digital identities converge in networked publics which is when different parts of a person’s life such as personal, academic, and professional, come together online. This can create challenges like less privacy and pressure to manage how others see you. At the same time, it can benefit users by helping them build connections, share ideas, and create opportunities through networking and online communities.

Link: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137405876_6#preview 

Another use of social media is to use it for networking. Rajagopal et al., 2012 state that there are 3 tasks that form the basis of all other further activities within the network. The three are building connections, maintaining connections and activating connections. Networking through social media means you are intentionally building and using online connections to support learning and professional growth. Lastly, we are motivated to participate in networked publics because they help us feel a sense of community, belonging and worth. As Spracklen explains, digital spaces like the internet act as “leisure spaces” where people create meaning, interact with others, and develop shared communities and identities (Spracklen, 2015). From a practical side, networked publics provide opportunities for learning, networking, and career development, where information and support can be accessed quickly through online connections. Finally, features like likes, comments, and shares also create social feedback and validation, which encourages ongoing participation.

Overall learning how your digital identity and footprint is created is very important as it can be either extremely beneficial or detrimental to either your personal relationships or future career opportunities. 

Hi everyone! My name is Ella and I am a fourth year transfer student doing a social science degree with minors in psychology and sociology. I transferred from trinity western university where I was studying elementary education and playing on the varsity women’s basketball team. When I finish my degree, I will be continuing school and doing the elementary PDP program at uvic. 

I am from Victoria and love spending time in nature. I love exploring the island! For work this summer I am working at a recreation center teaching swimming lessons! I have been teaching lessons for almost 7 years now and love it. Some of my hobbies are reading, running and hanging out with my dogs. 

I am looking forward to gaining more knowledge about digital literacy and how it can be helpful in the job world and my future classroom. As well as what I should be careful about when being online.