Recently I
have been developing my PLN, Personal Learning Network. According to Sue
Waters, "Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) are all about using web
tools... to create connects with others which extend our learning, increases
our reflection while enabling us to learn together as part of a global
community.” And so I created an account
on LinkedIn. This being a professional networking site I never thought I would
subscribe. As an elementary school teacher it isn’t a resource that is used
often at my level. I think I considered it a bit mysterious, as something someone
in the corporate world, which I know only a little about, would use. I was
hoping to avoid it all together. But then as I thought of networks to include
in my PLN and I thought I would give it a try. My first mistake was that I accidently
invited every single contact in my Gmail account to be connected with me on the
site. I have received phone calls, emails and texts from people telling me they
got my invitation to LinkedIn. I have also been stopped by acquaintances in
real life who have received something from me for LinkedIn. I am a bit
embarrassed. Some of these acquaintances I feel it’s inappropriate to have connected
with them on LinkedIn, such as the director of my son’s school. Others are people
I haven’t talked to in a very long time and feel bad for neglecting friendships
or old colleagues I had forgotten to keep in touch.
Second, I am
not sure that the information I have on my Linked in page is what is expected
or detailed enough. I feel a bit embarrassed about anyone viewing it,
especially someone I might not know very well. As with all the online networks
and sites I have participated I feel a bit vulnerable about having my
information, thoughts and opinions out there in the cyber world for analysis.
I also
included Facebook in my PLN. Before this Facebook has always been a very
personal site for me, which I communicated with friends and family in other
parts of the country and world. It felt a bit uncomfortable to cross over this
network to include information for my educational and professional world. It
reminded me of an anecdote in Interface Design for Learning (Peters pg. 123)
when a focus group asked undergraduate students if their university should use
Facebook for communication. They were also uncomfortable. I am sure my Facebook
page is much more banal than the undergraduate student's but I still felt
protective of it and its contents. As information continues to become more and
more accessible I wonder how much more will our worlds collide? Will anything
on the web be private? Should be expect what we put on the internet to be
public domain?
Hi Clare, I was a bit reluctant and put off by all of the social networking for the PLN project as well. I had a Facebook account but checked it maybe once every 6 months. As an educator, I never was much interested in Linkedin either, but I did create an account for the class. I've found that it is a great space for networking, especially if looking for a new job.
ReplyDeleteI think you raise a valid point about the internet and privacy. In this day and age, anything on the internet is public domain and you can be held liable for your posts. Almost once a month at my school, a student is suspended for online bullying or comments they posted on Facebook. To be honest, I try to put as little personal information on the internet as possible.
Hi Clare, I too, was hesitant to open new networking accounts and crossing personal with school/business, so what I did was create a new "everything", gmail, FB, Linkedin, Twitter, Pinterest, etc...that way the contacts I wanted for school/business were separated and it really is much easier than having one email and everything passing through it. I also figured there is "enough" of me out in cyber world that if someone really wanted to find something out, they already could. Separating the two just made everything much simpler.
ReplyDeleteThanks DeAnn!
ReplyDeleteClare, I’m so sorry you had negative experiences with LinkedIn and Facebook. They make every effort to get you to connect your contacts because it is good for them, not so much for you. You may want to consider cancelling your LinkedIn account. However, I would suggest starting a new one later and saying no to connecting to anyone at first. As an elementary school teacher you are still very much a professional and your career can benefit by learning from other professionals. Facebook’s a little trickier because you used your personal account. I have two separate accounts, the personal one being locked down to only friends.
ReplyDeleteI hope this experience doesn’t turn you off to social media entirely. There are benefits to using it but you definitely have to watch out for yourself. Contact me through the Canvas Inbox if you have any questions.
Claire,
ReplyDeleteI feel a similar hesitation every time I try to integrate any part of my personal life into my profession. I would follow DeAnn's advice, I know I will be doing just that!