Learning through the network
Do you think Facebook is just for fun? Would you like to be able to use Twitter for education? And what are social networks good for, anyway?
Facebook has a (largely justified) reputation among many people as a time-wasting service. It's the place we go to kill time. Yet social networking sites, including Facebook, can be significant to the learning process, though you need to know how to use them properly. Here, we will try to show what they can be used for in general:
Communication and community are the essential functions or structures that underpin social networks. And - not coincidentally - the learning process. So if you're learning, it's natural to want to talk about it, to be part of communities that are solving the same problems you are, to form teams, to find solutions. In this respect, social networks have an indispensable role to play. Professional communities differ in what social networks they use, but in general, you can't do much of the learning process and PLE constitution without them.
Influence is a topic that is being talked about more and more in the context of social media. By being active on them, sharing content, discussing and interacting, you often gain the surprising ability to change or influence many things. Also, what you say will be taken with a different level of seriousness than when it comes from a novice.
Sharing is part of the PLE and the portfolio, and undoubtedly belongs on social media. Think about what you want to share, not only for advertising the final product but also concerning your potential contacts. Try to identify the places you would like to infiltrate and why. Sharing your work on social media is also essential for future job searches or self-presentation. For example, on or , you can share the results of your research or scholarly work; on , you can share design output, etc.
If you're on social media, you'll almost certainly have gotten a whiff of how to on social media, write posts that have reach and engage someone, and share videos that get a lot of likes. Knowledge of industry-specific content marketing is in high demand today, but at the same time, it represents a specific mindset structure that can be counted on going forward.
Social networks are a great source of information. We recommend making at least one or two that you use primarily professionally. They give you a chance to get in touch with interesting people, find out what's going on, and see more under the hands of experienced researchers and artists,... besides, you can also get an insight into their work habits and practices, as well as expanding your network with their contacts.
Lastly, you can ask for help on social media. In a community, chances are there's someone around who's dealt with a similar problem who can help you.
