As I examine my existing PLN, it contains various aspects of diversity, as it is composed of peers ranging in ethnicity, nationality, gender, and academic background. While there are a lot of voices that contribute to the makeup of my existing PLN, I want to widen the inclusivity of my PLN to allow for growth and learning as I actively seek out ways to diversify my network both professionally, and personally. As I continue to meet more people, the more diversity that exists in my PLN will continue to grow.
As I think about my continued learning regarding inclusivity and diversity, I am reminded of the value of an inclusive workplace. From a business perspective, creating an inclusive company can contribute to improving business results. Not only does a diverse workplace allow room for long-term growth, but an inclusive culture also requires a company to create a sense of belonging for everyone. Not only does it allow for mutual respect amongst colleagues, but it is also the foundation to encourage different ideas, brainstorming, and team-building initiatives that allow everyone to contribute to meeting goals collectively.
Diverse viewpoints provide strength to any environment. I have seen that within my own PLN as it continues to grow with more opinions and diverse viewpoints. While diversity and inclusivity are often said together, I learned that they are not the same. Inclusion directly relates to the policies and procedures of a specific organization or entity that allows for every person that participates within that environment, whether that be a customer or an employee, to feel accepted, comfortable, and free to share their ideas and thoughts without hesitation.
Through social media, I am able to participate in a silo of information sharing. While I am drawn to sharing with others about my personal interests, I also learn more about a wider range of topics that I was previously unfamiliar with when I hear the thoughts of others. Sharing information through social media has become commonplace. While it is easy to “follow” friends or colleagues online, there are still ways to be inclusive and welcome when sharing information via social media. In the workplace, maintaining boundaries while interacting with colleagues is an important way to positively contribute to the company’s culture. Freedom of speech is important, and I would never want to censor myself when posting. However, I want my social media presence to make others feel comfortable and included (Bhaimiya, 2021).
Information sharing is a valuable way to expand inclusivity within my existing PLN. I want to continue to learn more about how a PLN can contribute to success in a variety of environments. While I believe I have a lot of voices within my PLN, I want to continue to expand the discussion for more non-traditional viewpoints and get a variety of opinions from diverse groups. The main learning outcome for my PLN is to take better advantage of my social media and mindfully connect and communicate with those I interact with. While continuing to communicate with like-minded individuals about my interests and issues that I am passionate about, I also want to make sure my online presence includes an intentional effort to join other communities.
To ensure that I am diversifying my PLN, I want to honestly share about myself online. Not only to enhance my own well-being, but to keep me grounded, challenged, and supported. The benefit of a diverse PLN allows me to learn about the differences and similarities I have with others. While social media can be a great place for online social support, I also want to use it to inform myself about issues that I am not aware of and widen my worldview. Through the readings, videos, and my own research, I seek out new ideas and invest in my own knowledge. Becoming better connected, while leveraging social media and other sources, is the best way to collaborate and expand my PLN.
References:
Bhaimiya, S. (2021, October 4). Your boss just followed you on social media – here are 5 ways to start maintaining personal boundaries online. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-navigate-social-media-when-your-boss-follow-you-2021-9
(2018, November 5). Don’t should on me: It’s not easy being not green [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeRNhz0nGts
(2018, October 1). The Evolution of Inclusion: The past and future of education [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQgXBhPh5Zo
spadger
HI RUOBINGBAI, I agree that you want to continue to expand the discussion for more non-traditional viewpoints and get a variety of opinions from diverse groups. I think about what inclusion means to me, I think of the differences every person has, the uniqueness, and how that can all come together to broaden our understanding of not only each other but the world. In education, we often claim to be the most inclusive and diverse – it is in our very nature to be accepting of everyone, to want everyone to succeed and grow.