It is important to use internal and external communications tools for inclusion and community engagement in education. Through online communication, it provides a platform for people to meet, learn, exchange information, and discuss solutions (Clark & Aufderheide, 2011). Having a wider range of accessibility to public networks have given people the opportunity to communicate and connect and build relationships. Having this access is very beneficial for educators when wanting to connect to others with a similar experience, sharing their experience or learning new ones. In addition, using publics provide opportunity for inclusion of students where teachers are not familiar with a student if they have a learning disability or need another form of support, educators can use public networks to learn more about how they can help they student learn to their best ability and how to provide meaningful learning opportunities for them.
Even when you think you know everything, there is more to know.
Shelley Moore
In her 20 Moore minute interview with Jesse Miller, Shelley explains how everyone in a community is a teacher (whether online or in person) and learning is reciprocal between both parties where we need to learn from all perspectives (Moore, 2021). This is important to keep in mind when being a teacher when thinking about inclusion in the classroom. Every student is diverse and has strengths and we should be seeing them as wavy dots, but instead their own individual pattern (Moore & Schneller 2017). As teachers, we need to understand not everyone learns the exact same and need to provide multimodalities like video, hands on activities, partner work or individual to provide our students the best opportunity to help them learn. With this in mind, social media is a create way to connect for educators and learn a variety of ways to teach lessons and behavior strategies to use in the classroom.
As a teacher, creating a PLN needs to be diverse and have purpose whether you are advocating or learning. I think my PLN is quite small, I use social media like Tik Tok and Instagram as more of a visitor when looking at teacher related content. I know when I am ready I can expand my PLN and I know it can be very beneficial when wanting to learn or to reach out to other people in the same field as me. My PLN is slowly growing where I am learning through new creators and people who have shared their experience, in a field of teaching, I think it is easier ensure diversity and inclusion in my PLN because there is a lot of content out their for me to look at and interact with, the education system is continuous and there are always opportunities to learn so much more.
References:
Clark, J. & Aufderheide, P. (2011) A New Vision for Public Media Open, Dynamic and Participatory. https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/content/pdf/10.1057%2F9780230119796_5.pdf Media and social justice
Miller, J. [miller]. (2021, May 30) EDCI 338- 20 Moore Minutes [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeSV0rUl1bA
Moore, S. & Schnellert, L. (2017, February 13) One Without the Other Stories of Unity Through Diversity and Inclusion (p 6-12). Portage & Main Press. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/lib/uvic/reader.action?docID=4832579&ppg=6
nemeko98
June 6, 2021 — 11:27 pm
Hi Tori,
I really enjoyed reading your post. As you mentioned, I think social media can certainly help build connections, which can be extremely beneficial as they could lead to amazing resources and opportunities.
I also really liked that you pointed the importance of having a diverse PLN, as you said it can help you learn and reach out to other individuals within your field!