Post 6: Engaging Your PLNs

Can your PLN be used to help professional development post-course?

In my opinion, our PLNs can be used effectively and successfully to develop our career. According to the article, “Growing Your Library Career with Social Media”, Smith clearly describes that “an online personal learning network can help professionals to both discover and create new professional development opportunities” (Smith, 2018). By using our PLNs, we can not only engage in professional online communities effectively, but also can develop our professional identity successfully. From my learning experience in this course, I found that each network has different features. For example, LinkedIn focuses on professional networking and includes tools to help like-minded career professionals to connect. Twitter is famous for its nearly instantaneous delivery of the news. In my opinion, my PLNs can be used to help professional development post-course because they not only provide me an opportunity to share resources, information, and ideas with professionals, but also can help me share my experience, opinions, and knowledge with others and gain new perspectives on my practice. For example, I have followed some professionals in relation to my major in my PLNs. By reading their posts, I can not only learn more knowledge and ideas about my major, but also can expand my personal perspectives. 

Can your PLN be relied on to open professional opportunities?

In my point of view, my PLN can be replied on to open professional opportunities. For example, I can use my PLNs to showcase my professional expertise and develop my professional identity. It will be beneficial and important for seeking the job in relation to my major in the future as well. However, from the course material, Course and Hildebrandt also clearly state that “the effects of the use of digital technologies in our society are not linear, but many other factors combined with them ‘create conditions of possibility that suggest possible futures rather than determine them’” (Course & Hildebrandt, 2013). Therefore, in my opinion, my PLN only provides a platform for me to open and develop my professional opportunity, but it still requires me to connect with and interact with professionals by myself in order to develop my professional identity. 

References

Course, A. & Hildebrandt, K., (2013). Social Media and Emerging Economies: Technological, Cultural and Economic Implications. Chapter 5. Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-319-02490-%205_5.pdf

Smith, D., (2018). Growing Your Library Career with Social Media. Science Direct. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780081024119/growing-your-library-career-with-social-media