While doing the VR map, I started to discover my PLN pattern and platform preference. I never really thought about my learning strength and weakness in PLN because learning online is not like learning in reality; I could not identify and analyze my learning habits and the consequences directly and concretely.
Firstly, my PLN pattern appears to be visitor and highly personal. I tend to avoid interactions with others even when I conduct institutional learning. I prefer to work alone and decide my learning and working objectives on my own. For example, I rely on the Wechat ebook and local library for personal development; and I often choose the Uvic library database when I need to work on my essays.
Google docs, Mattermost, and Gmail are my last options when cooperating and communicating with others in team projects. However, realizing that I lack communicative and cooperative skills, I now start interacting with others this semester. I believe it is necessary to separate one’s professional social platforms from the personal ones. I felt strained and stressed that I could not upload personal posts on my personal Instagram account because I also added my colleagues. Studying and communicating on Mattermost is a new experience for me. It’s highly professional and interactive, and my digital identity is shaped by my blog posts and communications with others. I do not need to worry about my privacy and identity as much as on Instagram. Therefore, I started attempting to keep my professional Wechat account separate from the personal one. It became easier to manage my different digital images because I was more aware of the difference.
Digital image weighs heavier and heavier in employer evaluations as technology advances. An unrespectful and unprofessional digital image can count against our interests and damages our careers. On the other hand, a respectful and professional digital image may make us more competitive and elevate our careers. Building a digital image requires time and consistency, and I would argue that one should start doing it as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we also guard our privacy more attentively. The Privacy and Surveillance Quiz conducted by UBC indicates many online activities that could invade one’s privacy and shape one’s digital identity, which one may not be aware of, including public wi-fi, blogs, and even gaming. Our online traces cannot be easily deleted and erased completely, and therefore we need to always be mindful in managing our digital identity and image.
Reference:
Privacy, Ethics & Security in Digital Spaces Developing Awareness of Privacy https://digitaltattoo.ubc.ca/quizzes/privacy-and-surveillance/ Regan, P., & Jesse, J. (2019).
Hi Yiwei,
I am really appreciate to read your post! I have a part of the same kind of situation with you in V&R map is that we both lack attention to visitor & institutional sectors. I think it is a good idea to pay more attention to this sector become this sector is one of the essential ways for us to develop our professional network. I strongly agree that you mention communications and coorperation are important factors for people to develope network. I also mention that professional netwrok and personal network should be distinguished same as you. I think the ways to develop these two kinds of networks should be different. Your opinion of public-wifi is easy to leak people’s privacy is very real. There always many public wifis exist in shopping malls or other public areas, it is hard to identify which wifi is safe or which one is dangerous. Thanks for sharing your awesome post and welcome to comment on mine!
Angel Liu
I sagaciously agree with you on the issue of the use of Google docs and emails as some of the most successful ways of networking. However, I beg to differ with you on the issue of emails because one need to have someone else’s email address. Despite differing with your point, I think emails are excellent because they have a professional appeal.