Blog #2 - Building your Connected Learning Community
This chapter goes into how to start and build your PLN and tips on how filter out some people that would not be beneficial. One of the tips that they offer when it comes to vetting is, when you find someone who matches your criteria Twitter and a few other social media sites give you similar people to follow. Some of the things to look for when following someone is whether or not they're using their real name or an alias, the posts they make, and if you're interested in what they are posting. They went into maintaining a PLN as well mentioning things such as how many people you should have, cutting connections when necessary, and nurturing the connections you have already. There are some who think you should keep a smaller circle and others who believe more connections will do more for you.
They also go into how to manage a community, I can kind of relate to this because of a Discord server that I assist in running. I'm not on it often but help out with moderating and making sure everyone's needs are met. The chapter goes into designing your community and how it is beneficial to be a little loose with the rules when you're first starting, along with choosing the right person to assist in maintaining this community. Another topic mentioned is making sure others are providing their input and content, having it just be you or a small group is suffocating and can lead to people becoming disinterested. Being sure that there is always an invitation to share your voice is crucial to being sure everyone is heard and accounted for.
They give some guidelines on what you should look for when starting a community. Some of those include, whether or not you want a closed community, the communities' purpose, and what characteristics you want in your community. Along with mentioning some of the characters you may meet when building or joining a community. Some of these are assigned but they are likely determined by how much you are participating. The amount of interaction increases as follows, linking, lurking, learning, and leading. Nothing is set in stone, and everything is subject to change. I tend to be more of a lurker but contribute to some of the communities I am a part of on occasion. But there are roles that can be assigned, such as someone being a moderator. Someone can be involved enough to take on the role of a moderator but that's usually something someone is asked to do.
I can see the point you made about vetting connections for your PLN and finding the right balance between a large or small circle. Since you help moderate a Discord server, how do you keep the community focused and respectful while allowing everyone to participate?
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you touched on the balance between a smaller, more focused circle and having a wider network in your PLN. I agree that it’s important to nurture the connections you already have while still being open to new ones. I also relate to your experience of being more of a lurker but still contributing when needed. How do you think you could shift from lurking to leading in a community, and what would make you feel more comfortable doing that?
ReplyDeleteI like the point that you made no roles are set in stone. I am a lurker myself and it goes hand and hand with learning. What community is it that you are apart of?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the breakdown you gave of the chapter as well as how you found a way to connect it to your experience moderating a whole Discord server. like you said finding people who align with your goals and connecting with them is important! knowing who you follow is vital in building your network and brings value to your PLN. I like how your insights show how to manage a PLN and how its not just about connecting with others but also making sure everyones voice is heard!
ReplyDelete