Category: Blog Posts (EDCI 338)

Key Terms

Definitions to look for in the blog post:

Personalized Learning Network (PLN): a group of individuals who connect and work together to share resources and increase understandings associated with a topic

Professional PLN: a PLN that supports academic and professional endeavors

Personal PLN: a PLN that supports personal curiosity.

Confirmation Bias: to search solely for information that aligns with previous beliefs, understandings and knowledge.

Social Media: form of mass media interactions taking place on the internet

Reciprocity: the mutually beneficial exchange of ideas, beliefs and behaviors between two or more people.

Social Media Dynamics: the patterns and behaviors that emmerge on social networking platforms as users, content and algorithms interact

Extrinsic Motivation: the driver of behavior that is influenced by the prospect of external rewards such as money or praise.

Reinforced: the introduction of positive stimuli after a behavior resulting in the increase of that behavior transpiring

What Are Personalized Learning Networks (PLN) And Why Are They Important?

Personalized Learning Network

Learning can transpire in numerous settings, whether that be solitary, in a classroom, online or with a group of peers. With a world becoming more digitalized, information and opportunities to learn are changing by the minute, hour and day. A personalized learning network (PLN) is network of individuals that connect to increase knowledge and growth within a subject matter in both face-to-face and digital contexts. PLN’s are personalized as they allow the individual to choose who they interact with, what information interests them, where they go to find this information and when they use the network or platforms.

Many PLN’s share and discuss through social media platform’s allowing individuals from accross the world with different lived experiences and viewpoints to incorporate and share their understandings. These networks also support connections and collaboration with experts and peers within the field and access to relevant resources to support growth. But, PLN’s are complex, multi-faceted and able to support professional, personal and academic growth.

Types of PLN’s:

1. Proffessional/ Academic Personalized Learning Network: a knowledge based community that supports individual’s learning in information that aids them in their career or educational aspirations. For example, if I work as an elementary teacher, I may be in a reddit group on teaching long division skills or in The Educators PLN on Ning.
2. Personal Personalized Learning Networks: An information sharing community that aligns and informs your learning and growth in a field of information that aligns with your personal interests. For example, as a proud new parent to a betta fish named Spork, I am apart of r/bettafishcare, a subreddit on betta fish maintenance to increase my own knowledge regarding how to best take care of my fish.
3. Combined Personalized Learning Networks: Sometimes our PLN’s can meet the needs of both our professional and personal interests. For example a teacher may be apart of a PLN about emotional intelligence to better understand the influence that emotionality has on their students performance, but use those same resources to find strategies to support their own mental and emotional health

How does PLN support learning and growth?

As a university student, my personalized learning network has been fostered to improve my academic goals and aspirations. I am a psychology student with an interest in educational psychology and child development, thus my PLN has been developed to deepen my understanding of both topics. My PLN is supported by face-to-face connections, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit and APA PsycInfo. Face-to-face connections allow me to develop a deeper understanding of coursework and share information with peers. Social media platforms such as Instagram or TikTok allow me to understand challenges and trends within the field better and academic sources such as APA PsycInfo informs me of the literary findings that are influencing the field.

Those are just a few ways that my personalized learning network has influenced my own learning. Everyone will recieve different benefits from their own PLN, below are a list of some other ways that a PLN has supported my own learning and how it could benefit yours:

5 WAYS A PLN CAN SUPPORT YOUR LEARNING:

Flexability: You do not always have to be online, a PLN allows members to use and interact with the information as they would like or have time too. This ensures information can still be accessible for individuals who have familial obligations or time constraints that may influence their ability to be present often.

Continuous Learning: due to the recipricol nature of PLN’s, there is always an opportunity to interact with other users and learn something new. Individual’s are able to stay up to date on changing trends, new findings and best practices within the field.

Exposure to New Viewpoints: due to the interconnectivity that comes with digital resources, individuals are able to learn and apply culturally sensitive and variable knowledge to their understandings of information.

Opportunities for Collaboration: PLN’s allow you too learn alongside professionals within the field and recieve constructive feedback regarding performance. This also allows individuals to exchange ideas and work productively towards new research and understandings.

Sharing Resources: Recieve access or resources that would not be available or found otherwise. Individuals are able to come accross and find more information together than one individual is able to on their own.

How can a PLN contribute to academic and personal goals?

Personalized learning networks aim to connect people, information and digital resources through networks. As a result, a well organized and developed PLN can efficaciously support individuals as they pursue their academic and personal goals. Academic goals may be associated with future career endeavors, research, or obtainment of information whereas personal goals may be associated with performance and new information. For example an academic goal of mine may be to complete a research paper regarding Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development, whereas a personal goal may be to improve public speaking skills before Toast Masters next year.

Each goal, whether it be academic or personal, will be supported uniquely by a PLN. There is no exact science as to how your personalized learning network can support your development. Below are just a few ways that both academic and personal goals can be supported by a PLN:

Support Academic Goals:

1. Access to diverse learning resources: connections to articles, research papers, webinars, podcasts and educational forums

2. Academic support: allows students to seek guidance when facing challenges in comprehending coursework. Developing study groups for finals, or finding online things such as crash course or Khan Academy to increase their comprehension.

3. Collaboration: allows you to work with individuals of diverse viewpoints and academic experience. Collborating through conferences, seminars, webinars and LinkedIn allow you to connect with other professors, researchers or institutes to further your understanding and academic endeavors. For example, many science fields and lab groups use Slack to communicate with one another.

Support Personal Goals:

1. Self-Paced: As an individual who is juggling practicums, school, work and familial obligations, the ability to pursue my interests and personal goals in a timely manner is especially important. Being able to access resources and a PLN when it makes sense for me, supports my ability to reach my goals as I am able to incorporate it into my daily life. For example, if I am working all day, I may not have time until after dinner to work towards my goal, and due to the flexability of a PLN, I am able to.

2. Collaboration: The increased collaboration with other experts and individuals in the field, allows you to learn more information than you could on your own and recieve feedback to help you work towards your goals. For example, I may post a speech in my free time, and get feedback on the timing, tone and intonation that I use from my peers to improve on my skills.

3. Reduces Bias: If I am looking for information and resources on my own to reach my goals, I may find myself lost in confirmation bias–looking for information that solidifies my previous beliefs and ideas. By recieving input and aid from others, I am better able to create a holistic understanding of the topic at hand to work towards my goal.

Long-Term Networked Development

A personalized learning network is a useful tool to expand knowledge and understanding in a topic of interest. Despite its efficacy, building a personalized learning network (PLN) is not a one-time effort. Users constantly need to put in time and bidirectional efforts to maintain and develop a strong PLN. Growing your PLN is a slow process, because it takes time to meet people and develop meaningful, trusting relationships with other members within the field of study. A key factor to keep in mind when considering how to develop your PLN is reciprocity. Reciprocity is the process of exchanging things, ideas or behaviors with others for mutual benefit. Within your PLN, reciprocity looks like asking questions and reaching out for feedback, but also offering suggestions, feedback and answers to other people’s questions. I like to think of a PLN as a garden–it requires constant planting, weeding and watering to become productive, but that effort results in beautiful flowers or food we can use. A PLN works under the same premise, the more we contribute, create content and answer other people’s questions, the more support, knowledge and resources we receive back.

It takes a long time to learn the proper skills and practices to maintain and strengthen your PLN. Every person’s expectations and needs from their PLN are different, resulting in different ways to foster their network.

Below are a few different strategies for maintaining and improving your personalized learning network over time:

1. Active and Regular Participation: it is important to regularly contribute to your PLN by asking questions, sharing insights, resources and commenting on other people’s posts. The bidirectional flow of information, that being from you to others and from others to you, is essential in developing a successful PLN. This reciprocity is essential as it allows the PLN to be mutually beneficial and support collaboration and interconnectivity between members.
2. Stay Informed on Trends: to remain up-to-date on the changes in research, industry and trends of your network, it is important to stay up to date and continuously look for new released information in your field. This is important as it ensures your practices, knowledge and skills align with the present ideas within the field. For example, if I am a therapist and have a PLN associated with therapeutic practices, it is important to seek and look for new strategies of motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy as they come out, instead of maintaining old practices.
   • some ways to do this:
     • attend conferences or webinars regularly
     • monitor industry publications and news sources
3. Authentic Connections: interact with others under the premise of maintaining respect, trust and privacy. To do this, try to be genuine and transparent with your intentions. By doing this, you are fostering close, meaningful relationships within your PLN and supporting a collaborative work environment.
4. Promote Collaboration: by maintaining authentic connection and actively contributing to the PLN by offering resources, suggestions, knowledge and support, the network can be strengthened through social connectivity resulting in more peer collaboration.
5. Take Advantage of Technology: Utilize the access we have to technology to broaden your PLN and maintain connections with others. Some ways to do this are to reach out over email or LinkedIn to people in your field, share your email when you meet likeminded people at a conference, or look on YouTube, X or Facebook to find other individuals within your PLN. .

Social Media Dynamics for PLNs

Social media is a huge contributor to the success of personalized learning networks. Social media supports peer collaboration, diverse viewpoints and resource sharing through its ability to connect individuals from across the globe. Social media dynamics are the patterns and behaviors that emmerge on social networking platforms as users communicate online. These social media dynamics help users like us make the most out of each platform’s features.

Different social media platforms allow you to contribute differently. Some may allow for additional peer engagement, others allow likes and comments and some allow for networking. When creating a PLN, it is important to recognize the different benefits of each platform and create a community on platforms that offer engagement opportunities that align with your needs. For example, if I am trying to create a PLN related to betta fish caretaking, I may choose to use a social media platform that includes discussion opportunities and resource sharing such as Reddit so that I am able to recieve resources and start discussions to ask questions as needed. Below is a table of different types of social media platforms and what types of dynamics are fostered:

Social Media Platforms

X: Quick updates, discussion and proffessional and personal networking

LinkedIn: professional network, sharing resources, sharing industry insights

Reddit: community-based learning, resource sharing

Instagram: visual and short form content, professional networking

Facebook: group discussions, resource sharing

TikTok: visual and short form content, personal networking

YouTube: visual and short form content

There are two key features to social media dynamics— engagement leads to visibility and real-time connections. Real-time connections with individuals online fosters global connectivity through the sharing of ideas, resources and information cross-culturally. Engagement in the form of likes, comments and shares leads to individuals’ resources and ideas being shared with more people. For example, if I were to share a post on Facebook about the importance of vaccines in the reduction of illness, my friends, who may have not seen the post otherwise, are now more likely to have access to the information.

Why do Likes, Comments and Shares Amplify the Spread of Information?

1. Extrinsic Motivation: recieving shares, likes and comments results in the spread of information because it taps into people’s motivation to share information. By receiving likes and shares, it externally reinforces their behavior of creating a post, and makes it more likely that they will create, share and engage with content in the future.
2. Ripple Effect: if individuals repost and share other people’s posts and information, then the post itself has the possibility of being seen by more people. If an individual reposts their friends post about the importance of eating fibre, then not only does the viewers and followers of the initial person’s post see it, but there is the possability that the followers and users that engage with the second person, see it aswell.

Impact of Social Media on Learning, Academics and Professional Environments.

Social media is growing in popularity, with over 5.20 billion users, making up 64% of the world population. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Quora, Reddit, X and LinkedIn leave lasting impacts on individuals’ academic and professional success. Social media can be used to aid individuals as they pursue educational and professional pursuits.

Social media and personal learning

I have used social media numerous times in my life to further my learning. I have used it in my personal life as a quick resource to find tutorials or suggestions, collaborate with others or to expand my viewpoint associated with topics. For example, my car’s brake light went out last weekend, and instead of paying to get it fixed, I utilized social media, namely YouTube and Reddit, to find a tutorial and suggestions for how to make the swap. Without access to these resources on social media, I likely would not have been able to change the light bulb. That is just one example of how social media can be used to learn new skills.

Social media and proffessional learning

Similarly, social media platforms such as LinkedIn, YouTube and Stack can be used to support professional and academic endeavors. Social media platforms allow people to share information, resources, communicate and network with one another, allowing professionals to cooperate towards common goals. Social media has created more diverse professional networks and allowed for more collaboration. For example, in my practicum in an inclusive education classroom, I have utilized social media to further my understanding of the science of reading and phonics. I have personally used Reddit (namely the subreddit, r/scienceofreading), YouTube videos and podcasts such as Sold a Story, to further my understanding of phonics and develop new strategies to teach reading and literacy skills.

How to use social media to enhance learning, career development and engagement?

There are many ways to monopolize social media to aid your learning in professional environments. Below are a few ways that individuals can use social media to support learning and engagement in professional and personal environments:

Enhance Personal Learning

1. Real world application: social media incorporates real world events and applications into the learning process. Learning from social media incorporates the real-world problems and issues that transpire from the theoretical constraints into the learning process. For example, learning about discrimination from social media gives a better understanding of the implications and influences than a definition given in a textbook.

2. Reinforce Learning Behaviors: social media offers immediate feedback to learners. This form of engagement, reinforces individuals’ innate curiosity as they are able to receive answers or suggestions immediately.

3. Collaboration: social media allows students to engage in learning with one another. This allows students to brainstorm and discuss topics together, receive real-time feedback regarding their performance and share resources and knowledge across the world. Additionally, social media offers the ability to share documents on Microsoft or Google Docs.

4. Improved Literacy, Communication and Reading Skills: reading and interacting with posts and comments on social media provides plenty of information online, and opportunities to practice literacy skills. This exposure to online resources such as blog posts, articles helps them develop stronger reading and writing skills.

Enhance Career Development:

5. Access to opportunities: social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook and other platforms allow individuals to find new job opportunities, and research companies and job openings. Additionally, social media also allows individuals to research potential jobs that they would not be aware of otherwise.

6. Collaborations: individuals can utilize social media platforms such as Slack or X to collaborate and work alongside individuals within their field. This results in the sharing of ideas, and allows individuals to recieve feedback on their own work.

7. Proffessional Identity: social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook and X, allow individuals to create a curated digital identity or brand that aligns with their work and career goals.

Key Takeaways:

1. A personalized learning network can support both personal and professional development through resource sharing, exposure to viewpoints and collaboration.
2. By actively participating, staying informed on trends and by building authentic connections we can create strong, long-term personalized learning networks
3. Social media can positively enhance career development and personalized learning.

Key Terms

Personal Learning Network: the connections in which an individual gathers, collect, communicate, creates and share knowledge and experience with a network of individuals.

Privacy: Keeping ones information, messages, data and files safe on the internet.

Digital Identity: the digital information that is present on the internet about an individual

Ethics: Behaving responsibly and respectfully online

Security: keeping digital interactions safe.

Digital Citizenship: the responsible and ethical use of technology, particularly the internet and social media platforms

Echo Chambers: an environment in which a person only encounters information or opinions that reinforce their own ideas

Confirmation Bias: when an individual seeks out information that reinforces their own beliefs

Universal Design for Learning: an approach to learning that aims to increase the accessibility and success for all students.

Inclusivity: welcoming and accepting different people, ideas and perspectives.

Diversity: the differences in key characteristics between people.

PERSONAL LEARNING NETWORKS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

With a world becoming more digitalized by the day, less and less education in transpiring in a classroom setting. Personalized learning networks (PLN) are a network of trusted connections in which you communicate, interact, create and share knowledge and experience with one another. If this is your first interaction with PLN’s, they may seem broad and daunting a feeling I once shared too. Before university, I was unaware about PLN’s and focused my learning directly within the classroom setting. It was only once I started university, I realized the positive influence that interpersonal connections, online participation and social media could have on my ability to learn new information from diverse perspectives.

Our PLN’s can encompass face-to-face, interpersonal connections such as your fellow students, employers or professors but our PLN can also include digital connections.  Social media platforms such as X, Reddit, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook can all be used to expand your digital PLN. Personally, I use social media to build a broader connection with individuals across the globe to expand my knowledge and supports. There are many ways to leverage social media to build your PLN, but some ways that I do this is:

• Connecting with professionals: I follow professionals within my field of interest that can share resources and information that can further my learning. For example, if I am trying to learn about dinosaur species, I may follow different archaeologists who specialize in dinosaur remains.
• Professional Account: I create an account that aligns with the knowledge I am trying to develop. I try to have a username that reflects the purpose and include bios that further explain your interests. For example, my username may be ScientificReader if my interests are about learning and sharing information regarding the science of reading.
• Join groups: Many social media platforms have different groups that allow you to engage in discussions, resource sharing and collaborative work with other individuals with your shared interests. A great place to look for these groups is Reddit and X.

Personalized learning networks are a great way of furthering our knowledge and understanding of topics Additionally, PLN’s allow interested individuals to connect with others who have similar interests.

Below are a list of other, benefits to fostering an online PLN for yourself:

1. Increased Motivation: Individuals are free to choose and engage with accounts and individuals that allow them to learn what interests them.
2. Get Challenged: I enjoy that my PLN allows me to have my ideas challenged. It is refreshing to interact with other people who may have different perspectives or experiences to develop a holistic understanding of nuanced topics. Sometimes we struggle with the same challenges and barriers when learning because we haven’t been looking for a new idea. For example, I used to struggle to teach reading skills to certain students, but once I listened to some podcasts, I was able to learn new skills to reach a broader audience.
3. Support System: Developing virtual networks allows you to act as support for others and have others support you through the process of learning. This allows you to share your story and connect with others.
4. Continuous Learning: The biggest benefit to PLN in my opinion is that they offer a wealth of relevant information to peruse at your finger tips. You are able to continuously interact with others to learn more about the topics that are of interest to you. This is beneficial as if allows users to learn anywhere anytime—as long as they have cell-reception and Wifi.

PRIVACY, ETHICS AND SECURITY IN DIGITAL SPACES.

Privacy

When an individual places themself on the internet, it is important to recognize the possible risks associated with digital exposure. Privacy on the internet is the control you have over where your information is going and how it is being used. Maintaining privacy when on the internet is important for maintaining your digital identity.

Below are just a few ways that I have maintained my privacy when using the internet:

How To Maintain Privacy

Using a Private Browser: a private browser limits the information that service providers, websites and apps can collect as you are browsing the internet.

Maintain Digital Identity: being mindful of the personal and professional identity you put forwards online. This includes what you post online, ensure it doesn’t include your location or other personal information.

VPN: if you are completing work for school or work use company VPNs to keep your information and work safe. A good VPN to use is the Norton VPN

Antivirus: you can download computer programs that can prevent, detect and remove computer viruses on your device.

Passwords and Double Verification: It is important to use strong passwords and double verification systems if offered for your accounts. This makes your information harder for individuals to hack.

Digital Ethics

Digital ethics is an essential skill to develop as you navigate online sites, forums, videos and social media platforms. Digital ethics is promoting and preserving human rights, values and dignity by showing respect and responsibility when interacting in digital settings. With the increase in Artificial Intelligence and social media digital ethics is becoming seemingly more and more important. To foster digital ethics within my own practices, I try to develop digital citizenship skills. Digital citizenship is the responsible and ethical use of technology in specific internet and social media when online settings.

Key principles of digital citizenship:

Becoming a Good Digital Citizen: Navigating the Online World Ethically

1. Respect Others: being kind, not cyberbullying, communicating free of hate, or online harassment
2. Privacy Awareness: safeguard your own privacy and the privacy of others
3. Ethical Thinking: Make sure you verify the accuracy of something before you share it
4. Be aware of biases on the internet
   • Echo Chambers: certain groups have spaces that continuously reinforce the same ideas without challenge or opposite opinions. It is important to recognize the value of receiving other people opinions and find yourself in online forums that incorporate numerous perceptions and ideas.
   • Confirmation Bias: the tendency that individuals must seek out information that reaffirms their own ideas. It is essential to recognize this bias in yourself as you try to interact with individuals and websites on the internet.
5. Online Etiquette: use proper language and tone

INCLUSIVITY AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING IN PERSONALIZED LEARNING NETWORK

Inclusivity

With a world that is diversifying by the day, I think it is important to be mindful of how we can foster inclusivity within our personal learning network (PLN). Inclusivity in our PLN includes welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. An inclusive personal learning environment can offer an individual new perspective and a comprehensive and holistic understanding of challenges and issues. I have found that reaching out to individual of diverse background and experiences has deeply increased the breadth and quality of my understanding. As an example, I currently teach reading skills at an elementary school and found that my skillset and abilities as an educator increased when I reached out to individuals who had been taught or developed skills that were different from the ones I learned in my own training. Every individual should try to take the steps to diversify their PLN to include different ideas, groups and perspectives. Some ways to create a more inclusive PLN are:

1. Seeking out voices: create a globalized PLN that allows you to hear the voices, opinions and experiences of individuals from different ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds
2. Respectful communication: ensure that you are fostering positive, supportive relationships and communities that encourage individuals to share their ideas.
3. Value other perspective: take the steps to recognize the value of others

Universal Design for Learning

The universal design for learning (UDL) is an approach to teaching that gives all students and equal access and opportunity to succeed. The main purpose of UDL in my opinion is to help every individual that is using the materials. For example, a wheelchair ramp helps children in wheelchairs, but also helps moms with strollers, people with crutches or an individual bringing a bike to school.

3 Principles of Universal Learning Design

1. Multiple Means of Engagement: motivating and sustaining the interest of the learner
   • Let them make choices regarding how they can engage with the material
   • Ensure assessments and teaching practices are culturally relevant
2. Multiple Means of Representation: offer information in more than one format
   • This could be offering students different ways to learn from the course materials such as podcasts, audio, videos, written or kinesthetic opportunities.
3. Multiple Means of Action and Expression: offering students numerous ways to interact with the material to show what they know
   • This can be offering a combination of summative and formative assessments that include exams, oral reports, videos, group projects, essays and podcasts.

How Universal Learning Design influences education

Universal Learning Design is a useful model to create more accessible digital education. Multiple means of engagement in digital courses can make the learning more accessible. For example, providing accessible document formats such as PDFs, Word documents or Google documents allows them to engage with the work using whatever is easiest for them. Additionally, I have found in my experience that offering students both written and visual representations of course material has resulted in their increased attention and engagement with the material. As essential aspect of engagement for an online course is the website, or course system that the instructor chooses. It is important that it is easy to navigate, clear and organized.

The representation and presentation of the course material can become more accessible using universal learning design. An instructor should be mindful of their use of colour and ensure that the fonts are clear for individuals who experience blindness, colour blindness or other accessibility issues that may be hindered by the presentation of the material. Instructors are also recommended to create the curriculum or goals of the course first, then create the resources as it will allow them to ensure that the goals of the curriculum are properly executed in the course work.

When having students engage in an online setting, offering multiple means of action and expression is crucial as it allows students to showcase their learning in meaningful and accessible ways. As an instructor, it is beneficial to offer numerous ways to showcase learning such as essays, exams, podcasts, creative projects or group projects. This allows students with differing abilities, learning styles or interests to complete the assessments in a fashion that aligns with their preferences. UDL is a great tool to ensure that your course is accessible for all learners.

CHALLENGES AND IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY IN DIGITAL LEAERNING

Diversity is a difficult but essential aspect of online education. Diversity as a broad idea, is the key differences in characteristics between people. This can include differences in ethnicity, age, gender, generation ability, sexual orientation and more. As one can imagine, effectively integrating all diverse individuals equally into education is a challenging them. Some challenges to maintaining equitable diversity are:

Challenges

1. Marginalized Population: individuals who are apart of marginalized communities such as race, gender and location have differing levels of accessibility to online education.

2. Gaps in training: Many educators are not trained for inclusive education in online settings.

3. Systemic issues: Institutionally, there is a lack of equality for individuals of different races, gender, sexual orientations or abilities regarding course content, instructors.

4. Limited representation: Many cultures, perspectives and ways of life are not accurately or equally represented in course material.

5. Language Barriers: Lots of online courses rely predominately on English written language,, creating barriers for individuals who speak different languages or have differing abilities that influence their ability to comprehend spoken word.

5. Accessibility Issues: many online courses are not accessible for students who have varying physical, auditory or visual difficulties creating barriers for accessability.

With all of those barriers in mind, It believe that it can become evident how important equitable diversity and inclusivity is in online education. Diversity is important as it reduces biases in instructing, course material and student interaction. Additionally, diversity enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills and aids to foster a globalized and diverse perspective amoung young learners.

How to Promote Inclusivity within Digital Learning Environments

1. Understand different learning styles: As an instructor, it is important to be mindful of how you can reduce barriers and increase engagement in the material for student. Universal Design for Learning, can be used to increase accessibility and incorporate individuals of all learning styles.
2. Ensure Material is Culturally Sensitive: instructors should be diligent in ensuring that their course material is both accessible for individuals of different cultural contexts and that their material is respectful to different culture groups.
3. Multilingual support: offer subtitles or translated materials for students who speak different native languages.
4. Offer in multiple formats: Ensure the material is offered to your students in numerous ways. For example if you have audio, offer text, if you have text, offer audio
5. Class Climate: make sure it supports the participation of all students
6. Design Elements for Accessibility: recognize that not all student have access to reliable technology
   • Ensure you are offering recordings, written material, include transcriptions for recorded lectures
7. Reflect on own belief about teaching to maximize self-awareness and committment to inclusion: As an instructor, it is important to recognize the biases that you bring to the table regarding gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation and age and reflect on how that may influence the way you treat, reply and aid your students.
8. Take training for Diversity and inclusivity educational for online settings: Inclusivity looks different in every setting. It is important to ensure you have the proper training to offer diverse, accessible and inclusive education in an online environment.

As an instructor, it is important to recognize your role in creating and fostering an inclusive, accessible and diverse learning environment for your students. By recognizing your own shortcomings and biases, you can begin to foster an equitable and inclusive digital space!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Social media such as TikTok, Reddit or LinkedIn can be used to strengthen our personalized learning networks

2. You can use private browsers, ad blockers, VPN’s, anti-viruses and strong passwords to product your privacy whilst using the internet.

3. Inclusive personal learning networks foster a richer exchange of ideas and a more globalized, holistic understanding of information.

4. Universal Design for Learning is an approach to teaching that maximizes students engagement and ability to succeed through maximizing engagement, representation, action and expression.

5. Diversity and inclusivity can be promoted in digital learning spaces by understanding learning styles, creating culturally sensitive course materials, offering multilingual support and designing the class elements for accessability.