#Blog3: Personal Digital Identity vs Professional Digital Identity

1. What digital platforms are students currently using to develop their professional network?

I saw a lot of students in Canada using Facebook and Twitter to develop professional networks, and some of student also using blogs and emails. But students in China are mainly use WeChat, Educate Credits Website, Small Red Book and Bilibili as their development tools of professional network.

2. What could the student consider in expanding their professional learning network?

While developing a professional learning network, students can focus on areas of interest, areas of expertise, expectations and plans for the future, current state, and build their own unique ideas and understandings.

3. How do data privacy and security limit and/or promote a PLN?

In my opinion, the security of data privacy is a big issue of personal learning network. For example, It is undeniable that the unconventional file sharing and downloading of pirated media is a huge obstacle to personal learning network, which undermines the enthusiasm of data producers and extremely deteriorates the network community environment. And there is not a really good way to solve this problem.

4. In your network how can you create a digital identity/ reputation?

First, I will establish a personal digital account on my favorite social media, watch the works of other creators in the field I am interested in, and communicate with other visitors and creators by thinking and commenting actively. Choosing a direction of interest for in-depth research exploration and collection of data, sorting out a unique system. Conducting tests when everything is ready, collect experimental data, and iterate reasoning to make sure I get the right result. Publishing my own paper or other form of media document when everything is finished. After publishing, I will communicate with visitors, collect comments on the strengths and weaknesses of the work, and selectively optimize future works.

5. How did pivots to work-from-home during the COVID-19 pandemic change how we should consider our social media connectivity and professional balance?

During the pandemic, professional learning networks on social media became one of the mainstreams, more valuable data and materials were shared online, and a new trend was born. This means that social media connections and career balance will be more closely linked, which is a more efficient way to access data and profiles. Tweaking your personal learning network is a good idea.