I enjoyed reading your blog post! Your writing was clear, engaging and organized. Your use of pictures and examples to support your writing stood out to me.I especially liked your personal example of your Reddit page and how it contributes to your PLN, which I thought was a very good visual representation of your PLN and how you utilize social platforms like Reddit in your PLN. I also enjoyed your additional information in ways beyond writing, such as your bridge of UDL guidelines and the University of Saskatchewan textbook, which provided additional information that readers can use beyond your explanation and description to further their understanding, as well as readers can see what UDL guidelines look like on an institutional level.
One thing I would suggest is incorporating more bullet points or tables to break up the writing in your posts. For example, in your UDL guidelines section, you could break up the three guidelines into bullet points instead of bolding them, which would make it slightly easier to read and that much more engaging for the reader!
Your blog post is very thoughtful and well-done! I found it very engaging and informative. One thing that stood out to me was the variety of real Instagram accounts and creators you listed, along with what you learned from them. This demonstrates a direct example of your PLN. This stood out to me because it is something unique and effective in your blog post. I also enjoyed your engaging and strong examples, such as Simone Biles and the #MeToo movement. These examples demonstrated the impact, and your use of them tied in to support your discussion and reflection.
One suggestion I would make to your post would be to add a reflection of how you manage your privacy and online boundaries with having such a large PLN, mentioning this could provide more insight about your PLN as well as bridge the conversation of online privacy and PLNs.
I enjoyed reading your blog post this week! How you broke down the usage of each platform into an easy-to-read table made it easier and more engaging to read! I also thought your use of Aliakbari, Barzan and Maadikha’s (2025) article on privacy added a supportive resource to enhance your argument and strengthen your idea around digital safety. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to access your linked TED Talk, which I wish I could have.
One idea that I wondered about after reading your blog post was you mention how you follow a new creator each week, how has this helped change your perspective on the given topic? Or has it?
Social Media plays a massive role in developing my Personal Learning Network (PLN). It allows me to connect to resources, educators and professionals to learn from. I use social media to help build my PLN by engaging in apps through participation in conversations and following the educators whom I choose to learn from and follow.
How I use Social Media to Grow my PLN and the Benefits
Platform
PLN Use
Benefits
Twitter (X)
Following experts, educators, and people with real experiences in learning and teaching.
Academic conversations, experts insights, and updates on new things within the learning world.
TikTok
Access to Microlearning, following learning content, commenting and engaging with other educators.
Different ways and types of learning through the idea of microlearning which teaches learning in a different way that I am exposed to. Engaging through comments to access information from others.
Reddit
Sharing resources, following threads and hashtags of others experiences and participating in existing forums.
Building a sense of community with others by replying to threads and learning from others experiences.
Overall, using social media benefits my PLN by providing access to different perspectives, such as connecting with educational videos from professionals, educators, or individuals with experience in a specific area of study or field. This also benefits from building a sense of community with people, which allows individuals to bridge formal and informal learning through participatory digital cultures, thereby releasing forms of isolation and supporting connections through communities (Greenhow & Lewin, 2016).
Privacy, Ethics and Security in Digital Spaces
We as individuals are responsible for our own presence in the digital world, as well as we are in charge of taking action in protecting our information online and creating a digital basis that is secure and private for security and privacy reasons.
Putting restrictions on apps, such as location services and permission to access photos, etc. (especially for apps that don’t require location services and permission to access photos to use).
Protecting my information by using strong and unique passwords that I won’t forget, which will keep my information secure from unauthorized access.
Having private accounts for privacy reasons limits people from viewing your account and the personal information that may be on it.
These are ways I protect my online information and online presence to safeguard my digital footprint better.
Ethical Practices that I Follow in Digital Spaces
Being mindful of what information about others I post without their knowledge or consent.
Being aware of what I post on social media regarding my beliefs, which may come across to some people as disrespectful, and being mindful of how my comments, posts, and other actions may be perceived by others.
Making sure to give credit to sources that I use gives other people credit for the ideas they come up with and the information I find that is not my own.
Why are these practices important for creating a safe, trustworthy digital environment?
ā Privacy is essential to the autonomy and the digital of individuals. The ability to control oneās personal information is a fundamental aspect of human autonomy and enables individuals to make informed decisions.ā (Zostant & Chataut, 2023)
Having these ethical and privacy practices gives people control and autonomy over how their information is accessed online. Setting boundaries also helps people feel less stressed when they are vulnerable to harassment, privacy violations, and other people using their information.
Inclusivity and UDL in PLNs
Ensuring my PLN is inclusive means:
Engaging with communities and individuals from different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.
Following and learning from different educators from diverse cultures and backgrounds across all different platforms.
Learn more about educators and learning communities that I have limited knowledge about.
I seek to understand perspectives that don’t necessarily align, to push myself to view learning tools and educators from different angles, and thereby broaden my understanding of various topics.
The Universal Design for Learning (UDL provides a framework for supporting inclusivity in digital learning spaces. Through the exploration ofUDL there are 3 key guidelines:
Multiple Means of Engagement
Multiple Means of Representation
Multiple Means of Action and Expression
This video explains how UDL is a framework that reduces barriers in learning for individuals by offering the three guidelines. This demonstrates that learners are given flexibility in ways to access content, assess understanding, and different ways in learning content.
Using theUDL guidelines,UDL additional Information the video I have reflected on my PLN and how these guidelines are reflected in my PLN.
Multiple Means of Engagement
I participate in PLN spaces in varying ways such as commenting and participating in discussions, but I also participate by watching videos and clips which demonstrate different levels of engagement within content that give me different perspectives, and allows me to choose in which way I want to participate in PLN spaces, I have autonomy on the type of engagement I want to participate in.
Multiple Means of Representation
I make sure my PLN includes educators that use inclusive accessibility options such as visuals, close captions, audio etc. For example on Tiktok within microlearning having captions and visuals that engage the listener as well as helps with different accessibility needs.
Multiple Means of Action and Expression
Continue to challenge knowledge and ask questions in discussions or comments by going one step further to understand content and collaboration. Overall interactive collaboration with others within communities goes beyond just posting but also sharing knowledge and learning from new environments.
Challenges and Importance of Diversity in Digital Learning
Diversity in digital learning is important because it ensures equality in learning and allows learners to experience different perspectives and allows a sense of belonging to education for all individuals. There are challenges that can marginalize certain groups of students.
Challenges can include:
Accessibility
Language barriers
Underrepresentation for marginalized groups
Storm (2016) emphasizes that UDL can play a huge role in addressing these challenges by helping educators design learning experiences that reflect the needs of all different students regardless of their challenges.
Steps to Promote an Inclusive Digital Learning Environment
Clarida, B. H., Bobeva, M., Hutchings, M., & Taylor, J. (2015). Strategies for digital inclusion: Towards a pedagogy for embracing and sustaining student diversity and engagement with online learning. IAFOR Journal of Education, 3(SE). https://doi.org/10.22492/ije.3.se.06
Greenhow, C., & Lewin, C. (2016). Social media and education: Reconceptualizing the boundaries of formal and informal learning. Learning, Media and Technology, 41(1), 6ā30.
Zostant, M., & Chataut, R. (2023). Privacy in computer ethics: Navigating the Digital age. Computer Science and Information Technologies, 4(2), 183ā190. https://doi.org/10.11591/csit.v4i2.pp183-190Ā
I enjoyed reading your post and your thoughtful reflection on your digital identity! What really stood out for me was how you used an acronym THINK, this adds a level of deeper thought to your reflection and is something that will stick with me when thinking of what to post privately or professionally.
I also enjoyed your explanation of the importance of boundaries. I also feel like it is very difficult to understand how by not setting boundaries and making mistakes online, how long-lasting these mistakes can be to affect our online presence. Which is overall why I agree with your point on how having set boundaries is essential in protecting your digital identity and online precedence and your overall online privacy and security.
One aspect that you could have expanded more on that I was interested in learning throughout your post was more about how your digital presence reflects your values and your overarching identity. For example if something you feel very passionate about comes up and you pretend to repost it, will you refrain from posting it if it is something others in your professional field may have different opinions on, even if it is something close to your identity. I am wondering how you would go about something like that, maybe using the THINK acronym.
I loved reading your blog post! The layout of your post is very engaging and visually appealing. Your post is especially engaging, thanks to the various images, maps, charts, and other visual elements. Your Digital Visitor and Resident Map is very insightful. I appreciated your mention and learning more about the shift toward an influx of professional platforms near graduation and onward!
Something else that stood out to me was your reflection on self-directed learning and constructivism, particularly in your experience of teaching yourself Farsi. This stood out to me because it helped me understand both concepts more deeply and showed how they can work together to achieve a goal, ultimately benefiting your e-learning and contributing to your success through various learning processes.
One suggestion I would make regarding your blog is to include an explanation of how you plan to manage both your personal and professional content on an app like Instagram or X, especially when you make the shift near or after graduation to having a more prominent presence on professional platforms. Expanding on this would allow for a more meaningful connection between the challenges you may face in balancing a personal and professional identity on these platforms.
Shared links, videos, and images with followers or friends.
Professional Digital Identity:
Class discussion posts or blogs
Discussion forums
School email addresses
I make sure my online image is positive and represents who I really am by upholding boundaries. I think carefully about what I share online, considering how other people could interpret it. Additionally, I maintain distinct accounts for both personal and educational purposes. I keep up my online identity in this way. To preserve your privacy and keep employers and employees from learning about your personal life and experiences, they must be kept apart. Maintaining boundaries between your personal and professional lives is essential for building your reputation. Before you even meet someone, what you put online for everyone to see gives them an idea of who you are, which could have an impact on your career.
This is a link to where you can learn more about digital identity and the aspects that affect it: Digital Identity. A project by UBC called the Digital Tattoo Project explores how individuals’ actions affect and shape their digital identity.
Watch this video from the UBC Digital Tattoo Project that explains managing your online Professional Profile.
Now, review the Explore section and understand why having an online professional profile is important. THINK.
Lastly lets discuss
Do you think having an online presence is important when searching for employment?
Have you googled yourself recently? Did you like what you saw? What did you think?
DIGITAL VISITOR AND RESIDENT MAP
Platform
Reasoning
Google
I use this platform for finding definitions, resources, and answers to my questions for both educational use and personal use, but I am not even logged into an account when I google anything so I don’t leave a trace, which is why it is away from resident.
Gmail
I use this platform for receiving emails, reaching out to classmates and recieving emails from school as well as work which is why it is only used for Institutional reasons. I have an account but all that is visible is my first name through emails.
Facebook
I barely use this platform and if I use it is only for personal use like looking for things to buy on marketplace or looking at family profiles on facebook. I have no posts and it is strictly used for visiting.
Youtube
I use this platform to search up videos for personal and educational purposes, I have no videos posted and my account is private with no followers so I have no footprint therefore it is closer to the visitor category.
Pinterest
I use this platform for tattoo, nails, classroom decoration ideas, which are all personal uses, I have a Pinterest profile where I save other peoples posts that I like.
Snapchat
I use this platform for strictly personal use and I have a snapchat profile where I contact friends and send videos and images that are saved in chats, as well as I post videos and images on my public story.
Microsoft Teams
I use this platform for communicating with profs, classmates, and employers. This is a tool that I leave a digital trace of messages, images, and videos.
Instagram
I use this platform everyday for personal use and I have many posts and a public account where I leave a large footprint, where anyone who searches up my name can find my posts.
Open ETC
I use this platform for education classes where I put my first and last name and it is a public account where people can see images I have posted and my ideas and reflections on specific topics.
Analyzing my Map
Creating and analyzing a visitor and resident map prompted me to reflect on my own digital identity. Mapping out my online presence made me consider how divided it is, and it made me aware of the traces I leave behind while using social media platforms. For example, I have a public Instagram account that everyone can view, featuring posts that date back to my junior high days. Now, I am much more careful about what I post. Still, as a resident on that platform, it’s a good idea to go back and reflect on what I’ve posted and make my account less visible.
Over time, this map will probably change, and shifts may be made, some may include:
Becoming more of a resident in more institutional platforms, through different learning communities where I will have to have a profile to interact with students and other colleagues, where I can contribute to conversations and meetings.
I may also reduce my residency in personal spaces due to the visibility to employers or future students, where my profile must be completely professional, or to make my account private.
THEORIES OF PERSONALIZED LEARNING
Self-Directed Learning
These theories influence my learning experience because I align with the idea of urging students to have more control and autonomy over their own learning. This can be done through self-directed learning.
“It is an approach to education that empowers learners to lead their own learning journey. A learner identifies their own learning goals, the resources they need, and the strategies they want to adopt; they then set about gaining knowledge or skills and, later, evaluate the outcome.” Self-Directed Learning
This type of learning is one that I never truly believed I had in my earlier years of education. I felt that everything was set in stone: tests, quizzes, projects, and assignments were meant to be completed in a certain way, and resources were already allocated accordingly. When I am a teacher, I want to incorporate this learning into my teaching, giving students a more personalized learning approach of self-directed learning, to demonstrate specific goals, such as students gaining
Austonomy
Engagement
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Overall support for Personalized Learning
Constructivism
“Constructivism is a learning theory and a philosophy of education that suggests learners actively build their knowledge through experiences and interactions.” Constructivism
Constructivism is a theory that has influenced my learning experiences, as university teachers, especially those in sociology classes, demonstrate how the content relates to the real world and use real-world applications and experiences to facilitate class discussions. This is an approach that is more personalized to the type of learning that I prefer! I feel engaged through the constructivist learning approach because it makes me understand why I am learning what I am learning, and how it can be applied in the real world.
These theories help shape the kind of teacher I want to be and help in achieving my goals by sharing and orchestrating personalized learning approaches for my students.
PRIVACY, SURVEILLANCE, AND DIGITAL FOOTPRINT AWARENESS
Every click, comment, post, and search we make online leaves behind a trace. This is data that can be tracked without us even knowing it. My digital footprint is good in some senses but bad in others, for example on search platforms such as google and chrome, I make sure that I am signed out of all google accounts, and on my phone I usually search things up on safari on private mode, as well as social media platforms that I only use for browsing I don’t have a login with my actual name. But platforms such as:
Instagram
Snapchat
TikTok
I have a very big digital footprint and a significant trace because I have all public accounts and I post very often on all platforms and have for a very long time. As I read more about privacy, surveillance and digital footprints, I become more and more aware of my social media presence and how that could affect my footprint and security. It is very important to be aware of privacy and security, and having practices that keep your presence safe is essential, which is why I choose to keep myself signed out of most search engine platforms, and also why I am realizing that having private social media platforms is a good idea, so people who don’t need to see your account don’t.
A person I have no relation to should not be able to see what I post, comment on, or like. This is something that breaches people’s security and privacy.
It is nice to meet you!! I have always wanted to visit Thailand, and I would appreciate some travel tips from you. It’s so cool that you’ve been travelling to so many places and have had the opportunity to experience all those different cultures.
I really enjoyed your list of networking tools for travellers. Most of the networks I had never even seen, but there are some I will have to try in the future. As you mentioned, these are great resources for meeting new people, and they could help build Personal Learning Networks. I also enjoyed your reflection on the TED Talk, which proved how adaptability to technology is essential. It was an effective way to express your overall point further.
One suggestion I would make would be after you mention your anxieties about the reliance on technology and the introduction of new social media platforms. I would like to hear your thoughts or suggestions on how you have managed those anxieties through your educational history.
Overall, I enjoyed your post, and I am excited to hear about what you learned while travelling and how that relates to the course!!
It’s nice to virtually meet you. I’m looking forward to seeing how our pod groups project turns out! I enjoyed your post. I especially enjoyed how you connected your personal experiences with social media! Your example of using the Registered Nurse (RN) YouTube video to deepen your understanding of Alzheimer’s disease stood out to me, and it demonstrates how learning is applied through platforms like YouTube.
One suggestion for your blog post is to incorporate lists or charts within your paragraphs, or consider breaking up the longer paragraphs to make them easier to read. I did the same thing in my blog, so I am looking into adjusting that for my next post as well.
Overall, your post was very well done. It was very organized and visually appealing. I appreciated all of your personal reflections and examples. I also appreciated how your post drew on academic insights to reinforce your perspectives.
Nice to meet you virtually! Your post stood out to me, and I enjoyed reading it, especially your work with UBC STEM camps. In your post, I found your reflection on digital identity very interesting. Your strategies for maintaining a professional presence are so smart, I would have never thought about using a middle name to stay less searchable. I am going to try doing this.
One suggestion for your blog is to add small subheadings to break up the text a bit, or add some more photos that are relevant to your topics. This may make it more readable and help the reader navigate each section a little easier.
Overall, your post is very engaging, and I appreciate your tips and personal reflection.
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