PLN, Inclusion, and Community Engagement

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

This week in EDCI, we took a deeper look into inclusion, community engagement, and how social media has challenged the way that public media operates by engaging in an interview, a book excerpt, and media pieces (here, and here) from Shelley Moore. We also heard from Markiel Simpson, and dove into media and social justice in a chapter from Jessica Clark and Patricia Aufderheide. This then led to a critical inquiry into the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives in my own Personal Learning Network. 

The introduction and rise of social media has given way to increasingly participatory public media systems (Clarke and Aufderheide 57). Clarke and Aufderheide note that traditional media providers (print, broadcast) were viewed as important, but lacked the ability to generate ‘vigorous public conversation’ (57). As social media brings in more open platforms, there are more opportunities for the consumer to choose the content they consume, connect with other individuals to create conversation, and create their own digital media (Clarke and Aufderheide 60). Social media platforms are changing constantly, which gives way to increased opportunities for discourse, advocacy, connection, and communication to invoke social change (Simpson, 27:00-27:50). 

Social media use has given way to increasingly accessible platforms and potentially challenges the lack of inclusion and diverse voices seen in other public spaces, as the public has the opportunity to create and share their own media and content using their unique voice and perspective. This gives way to more opportunities for diverse personal learning networks, as we can connect with others that have different perspectives and lived experiences. Moore notes the importance of believing that ‘everyone in [the] community is a teacher’ and has something to offer (6:54-7:01). This connects well to Simpson’s statement, where he states that “you are the expert of your own lived experiences” (11:01-11:06). I believe that this means that everyone can bring value and voice to someone else’s PLN.

Over the past couple years, I have been actively trying to diversify my own PLN and ensure that I am learning from a variety of voices. I have critically looked at the people that I choose to follow and engage with on social media, and I have continually been making an effort to find diverse voices and perspectives to learn from. As a brand-new teacher in the field of education, I think that inclusion is increasingly embraced, however there are still more changes that need to be made to ensure that each student feels that they are receiving an educational experience that is meaningful and equitable for them. As educators, it is vital that we are constantly learning and changing to best meet the needs of our students. Having a strong and diverse PLN that includes resources outside of the field of education and gives opportunities to challenge my perspectives plays an important role in this learning, and this week’s readings have been a great reminder to the changes that have and continue to happen in education.

Works Cited

Clark, Jessica, and Aufderheide, Patricia. “A New Vision for Public Media: Open, Dynamic, and Participatory.” Media and Social Justice, 2011, pp.55-67. https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/content/pdf/10.1057%2F9780230119796.pdf

Moore, Shelley. “EDCI 338 – 20 Minutes Moore.” YouTube, uploaded by MILLER, 30 May 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeSV0rUl1bA

Simpson, Markiel. “EDCI – 338 MARKIEL SIMPSON.” YouTube, uploaded by MILLER, 1 June 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsoDHGaXNNs