Final Blog Post!
Blog Summation
When this summer course first started, my main goal was just to figure out how to actually use the internet with purpose, rather than mindlessly scrolling through a consumer-driven algorithm. Looking back at my blog posts, my starting point was pretty basic, as I saw social media as just a way to escape reality and pass the time. I figured it was only really useful for influencers trying to sell a product, and I didn’t understand the point of networking online at all. My digital skills were limited to being just a consumer, and I had absolutely zero engagement with a Professional Learning Network (PLN) because I didn’t know how to utilize those platforms to make real connections, and I didn’t want to try until joining this course and learning about PLNs.
Growth and Reflection
Over the course of the term, I have grown intellectually, professionally, and in terms of my digital skills. I now understand the difference between just being a visitor on an online platform and actually engaging the internet as a resident who leaves a real, meaningful footprint behind. One of the biggest challenges for me was definitely pushing through the heavy and robotic academic readings and then dealing with some burnout at the end of the course. I got through it by pushing through on my final assignments and discussing the readings with my peers. As I audited Neena’s blog in my blog reflection post, I was inspired by her habit of going to peers to help break down and talk through complicated subjects, and I practiced this habit to make the course material a lot more manageable and interesting.
A few specific things we did in this course really helped bridge the gap for me. Working on the group project, with ours specifically being on emotional safety in professional learning networks, showed me what great online collaboration and shared digital responsibility actually looked like. A lot of the time, I am quite hesitant about doing group projects, especially when the only forms of communication are online, because they tend to not work out and are very undercommunicated. However, I believe that integrating the digital habits in this course into this project, while also having an amazing group, made me think differently about online group projects. Also, having readings and a blog segment focused on the AI boom, especially in education, really caused me to consider my previous opinions more deeply. I thought a lot about how biased algorithms are and how easy it is for AI to spread misinformation. Although I still keep my very anti-AI opinion, the course challenged the idea of learning how to safely deal with it instead of completely eradicating it, since there is nothing we can do to stop it from being in our lives.
I also enjoyed how Canadian-centred this course was. I got to research the terrifying reality of AI misinformation for senior folks by exploring a crypto scam involving Judy Skene and a deepfake video of Mark Carney. On a lighter note, it was fun to look at media literacy through the Canadian classic house hippos and local news anchor Sophie Lui!
The feedback I got from my peers was very helpful, especially on my posts about AI misinformation. I got some great positive feedback for balancing different perspectives and grounding confusing topics in real human consequences, such as the financial impact of AI scams, and even bringing in underrepresented topics like the environmental impact of AI. But the constructive criticism really pushed my understanding, such as backing up my claims with solid research rather than just stating them as my own observations. This helped me realize that digital literacy is not about expressing our own experiences, but about double-checking sources and grounding my arguments in real evidence.
Forward-Looking Goals
I really want to actively build a digital network that supports my future career and my student identity by expanding my PLN and online communities. By connecting online with those in similar fields and interests, and those ahead of me to give advice, as well as those who are different to gain new perspectives, I can share resources and build better in-person trust, which starts with strong digital connections.
I want to keep a critical viewpoint on AI tools and how to use it responibsily. My plan is to start noticing the algorithms on my own social media feed to make sure I am seeing new perspectives and posts, and actually understanding how AI is using my data, rather than just trusting whatever it is showing me. If my feed is getting too personal or repetitive, then I know it is time for a break or a reset.
I also want to try to stay up to date with Canada’s future plans for AI. I don’t want to scare myself too much with the technological advancements, but I want to learn about updates on Canadian digital privacy laws to keep myself and others safe and to stay informed. That way, in my future career, I can advocate for safe online use and communication.
Overall, this whole course journey has reshaped how I see my professional identity. It has taught me that while technology is inevitably going to keep advancing, meaning I have to advance with it, keeping things centred on the human experience is the most important thing, and the thing that actually makes online networking useful. I am leaving this course feeling more ready, confident, and safe to navigate online platforms with more empathy and with a critical mind, which will only benefit me in the future!
Best of luck to you all!