Introduction

Hi everyone! My name is Aashi and I am currently a fourth year undergraduate student at UVic studying Economics.  Some of my hobbies include listening to music, reading, going on walks and baking. I love animals and spending time around them! I have a dog and also a cat. This summer, I decided to take EDCI 338 to further educate myself about social media and how it can be used as a learning tool.

Social Media and its Role in Education

Social media truly surrounds us everywhere and there is no way to escape it, unless somebody plans on going into hiding. Social media is somewhat of a double-edged sword. It has its pros and also its cons. Personally, being on social media truly makes me learn something new everyday. It also has helped me dive deeper into my interests and also find new ones. Recently, I was in a photography course and discovered an online photographic editing community on Instagram which allowed me to find more techniques and processes to further include in my course practice. If used appropriately, social media provides a broader perspective on traditional learning which can be used for one’s advancement and progress.

Benefits Challenges
• Rapid knowledge sharing (Twitter threads, LinkedIn posts)

• Peer-to-peer support via study groups (Discord, WhatsApp)

• Global networking for internships

 • Distraction & information overload

• Variable content quality / misinformation

• Privacy concerns & digital fatigue

 

Personalized Learning and Digital Literacies

Personalized learning is like having a class that changes to fit you. The lessons, how fast you learn, and the way the class is taught are all based on what you need, what you want to learn, and what you already know. It’s like a syllabus that changes as you learn. . Digital literacy, meanwhile, refers to the ability to locate, evaluate, create, and communicate information through digital technologies while understanding privacy, ethics, and technical troubleshooting. When combined, these concepts turn online courses and quizzes into powerful learning tools. You can go back to things you didn’t understand, skip things you already know, and work with others online. My favourite personalized learning tool is Quizlet. I make my own custom quizzes on the website and sometimes also use quizzes created by other people to help me test myself on content and learn. However, while I do that I am always careful about double-checking the content online and making sure that I am not consuming any misinformation. This is how digital literacy and personalized learning online go hand-in-hand. 

Digital Identity and Online Presence

The world might forget, but the internet will always remember. Living during the peak of social media and the internet, it is important to be aware about your digital identity and online presence. Any accounts or posts that you create online on any platform are tied to your digital identity. For me, it is important to have an appropriate and private online presence to uphold my reputation in case a colleague or recruiter tries to search my name online.

Here is a list of things I do to have a positive online presence:

  • Keep all my social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook etc.) private and locked
  • Maintain a single, public profile (e.g., LinkedIn)
  • Audit my name on Google time to time
  • Respond to all comments in a polite and respectful way

 Navigating and Using Online Platforms Ethically

With the plethora of new online tools, it can be overwhelming and time consuming to learn every new platform. The last online platform that I learnt how to use was Notion. At first, the empty space was confusing. So, I started simple: I watched a five-minute YouTube video, copied a free class planner template, and then clicked all the buttons just to see what they did. After an hour, I had a nice dashboard that kept track of deadlines, readings, and project notes all in one spot. While I was setting up the page, I also checked the sharing settings so only I could see my work, not the whole internet. This is important because once something is public, it can be copied, misquoted, or taken the wrong way. By citing sources, giving credit for images, and keeping private information off sites, I made sure my workspace stayed useful and private. These kinds of habits don’t just protect me; they help make an online community where everyone feels safe to share and learn.

Additional Resources