Author: tatianakliman

PLN Spaces Through Social Media

A personal Learning Network (PLN) is a community of people and online spaces that help ongoing learning and development. PLNs are built through connections; usually on social media and give you access to different perspectives, useful resources, and real learning outside of the classroom. For me, having a PLN means I can learn from people with shared interests or more experience, and keep up with information I wouldn’t easily find otherwise. I use several platforms to shape a PLN that fits both my personal and academic goals.

How I Use Each Platform:

TikTok:	Find information about current topics, new advice and helpful study tips.
LinkedIn	Helps me stay updated on jobs and new career paths.
Reddit	I join educating threads to hear peoples opinion and thoughts on certain topics.
YouTube	Watch Tutorials, or “How to” Videos
Podcasts	Listen to experts discuss specific topics while driving.
Pinterest	Explore new topics visually.

Privacy, Ethics, and Security in Digital Spaces

Privacy, ethics, and security are all connect when it comes to staying safe and respectful online. Privacy is about keeping your personal info protected and deciding who gets to see it. Ethics means treating others kindly and acting responsibly in digital spaces. Security is how you protect your accounts and data from hackers. These three are closely connected because without good security, privacy can be compromised, and without ethics, online spaces can become very toxic. I protect my personal information by keeping my social media profiles private, only accepting people I know, creating a very complex password and being extra careful to never post anything I wouldn’t want others to access.

Inclusivity and UDL in PLNs

One thing I’ve learned about building a Personal Learning Network (PLN) is that it shouldn’t just reflect what I already know, it should help me discover new ideas and different points of view. That’s why I’m careful about how I use platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, and Reddit. The posts I click on, watch, or share affect what shows up in my feed. Since these sites tend to show more of what you interact with, I try to keep my activity focused on professional and diverse voices. Thinking about Universal Design for Learning, or UDL, has helped me make my PLN more welcoming to everyone. UDL is all about offering different ways to get involved. For example, some people like joining lively conversations, others prefer quick polls, and some just want to read quietly.

UDL also means sharing information in different formats, like videos, pictures, or easy to understand summaries, so everyone can follow along in a way that works best for them.

It also reminds me that everyone shares what they’ve learned in their own way. Some wright thoughtful posts, others can create videos, and some use voice recordings. Embracing these different styles makes the learning space richer and more welcoming for all kinds of learners.

As Skip Stahl explains, designing learning environments to support students with a wide range of needs including those at both ends of the ability spectrum actually benefits all learners in between.  In other words, UDL helps create spaces that genuinely include everyone, not just a few.

By thinking about UDL, I try to make my PLN a friendlier place where everyone feels comfortable learning and sharing in their own way.

Challenges and Importance of Diversity in Digital Learning

Not everyone experiences digital learning the same way. For example, someone with vision loss might struggle with images that don’t include text or captions. A student who is deaf or has difficult hearing may miss out on key points in a video that doesn’t have captions. Others might feel left out when all the content comes from the same culture, language or perspective. It’s easy to overlook these issues if you don’t face them yourself, but for so many people, they create real barriers to learning and participation

UDL gives a great framework for this. It encourages different ways to engage, show understanding and share ideas.  Skip Stahl explains that when we design for those at the edges, we help everyone in the middle too (CAST, 2022). That mindset has changed how I use my digital spaces

References

CAST. (2022, November 2). Universal Design for Learning in higher education [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_MCvjkd8Jc

Digital identity: Personal vs Professional

When it comes to how I show up online, I try to keep things pretty consistent between my personal and professional spaces. I’ve learned that the two are more connected than we often realize. Even on my personal accounts, I make an effort to keep things somewhat professional because you never know who might come across them. Whether it’s a future employer or a family member, I want to feel confident about what they see.

That said, I do keep a bit of boundary between the two. I’m intentional about what I share and where I share it. My personal platforms are more about staying connected with friends and family, posting everyday moments, or sharing fun updates. My professional presence, on the other hand, is where I focus on things like academic achievements, interests, or anything that reflects who I am in work or school setting.

Setting these boundaries has made me more mindful of my digital footprint. Social media moves fast, but the things we post can stick around far longer than we think. Something that feels small or harmless now could come back years later and not always in a good way. That’s why I try to approach my online presence with a mix of authenticity and awareness.

Digital Visitor and Resident Map

Thinking about which platforms I’m a “Visitor” on and which I’m a “Resident” on really made me pause because it’s not always a fixed thing. My habits shift all the time. One month, I might be super active on a platform, and the next, I barely open it. It really depends on what’s going on in my life and what I need at the time.

Right now, I’d say I’m a Resident on platforms like TikTok, Google, email, and YouTube. These are the spaces I use consistently and actively engage with—whether it’s searching for information, responding to messages, or just keeping up with trends. On the flip side, platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and Pinterest feel more like Visitor territory for me. I check in occasionally, but I’m not deeply involved or creating content there regularly

It’s interesting to see how this balance changes, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these roles flip in the future depending on how I use these tools in my personal, academic, or professional life.

Resident Map

This map illustrates how visible I am on each platform and helps differentiate whether I use them primarily for recreational purposes or for academic and professional tasks. It gives a clearer picture of how I engage with different spaces showing which platforms I use casually to connect with friends and family, and which ones I rely on for research or work-related activities.

One part of the map that will most likely change over time is TikTok, especially as it becomes more integrated into companies and professional settings. I believe that in the future, I’ll be using TikTok more for work-related purposes than for recreational use.

 Theories of Personalized Learning

When it comes to learning I’ve found that I retain information much better when I’m actively involved doing something with material rather than just reading about it. That kind of hands-on engagement helps the information really stick with me, which is why I connect a lot more strongly with constructivist learning style.

I’ve also always been a visual learning. Seeing how something works or creating it myself makes the learning process feel more concrete and meaningful. That’s where personalized learning really helps. It allows me to build on my own strengths, explore topics in a way that makes sense to me, and move at my own pace without feeling rushed or restricted.

In the end, personalized learning keeps me motivated and helps me reach my goals because it doesn’t rely on a fixed learning model. Instead, it offers flexibility and adapts to how I learn best which makes all the difference.

Privacy, Surveillance, and Digital Footprint Awareness

I’ve always been mindful of my digital footprint, especially because my parents taught me early on that anything posted online lasts forever. To protect my privacy, I stick to not sharing anything I wouldn’t want a future employer or teacher to see. Understanding how our data is tracked helps me make smarter choices about what I share and where. It all comes down to thinking before I post and making sure my digital footprint truly reflects who I want to be.

Social media has played a major role in shaping how I connect with others and navigate the world around me. It’s completely changed the way I communicate, discover new ideas and explore different communities I might have never come across otherwise. Even through casual, everyday use, I’ve learned a lot whether it is picking up useful tips, staying on top of trends, or following people and brands that inspire me.

But its not always easy. Social media can also be overwhelming. The constant flow of information and pressure to stay engaged can be a real distraction, especially in academic settings. It’s easy to slip into habits of procrastination or comparison. Over time, I have learned to use social media on my own terms, which has helped me protect my time and energy.

Personalized Learning & Digital Literacy

Personalized learning and digital skills have made a huge difference in my motivation and success. When the learning experience is tailored to my interests and future career goals, it feels much more meaningful and engaging. It’s easier to stay focused when I know the skills I’m building, especially digital literacy, will help me in the real world. Understanding how my learning connects to my future goals motivates me to stay focused and keep moving forward.

Digital Identity & Online Presence

I’m grateful that growing up, school taught me early on about the real impact social media can have on our future. Because of this, I’ve made a conscious effort to keep my accounts professional and purposeful, especially knowing how important platforms like LinkedIn are today for finding job opportunities. Social media is more than just a way to connect with friends, it is a tool for creating opportunities and building a network. At the same time, follower counts, and online images can create pressure, and the darker side of social media often makes people cautious about what they share. For me, managing my online presence thoughtfully has been essential to shaping how others see me and building a positive path forward.