VR-MAP

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

In order to develop their professional network, students are mostly using to main social media network which is LinkedIn and Facebook. However, one can approach to building a network by utilizing the potential of another digital platform like YouTube and Instagram. Although, the most important platform is LinkedIn only which provides great help in building a network with people on the basis of your educational and professional details. In this way, one can, directly and indirectly, connect with an individual who once was in their physical network from school time to their college. Additionally, in their professional working space as well.

• What can you (as a student) consider to expand your professional learning network?

It is necessary to expand professional learning network and as a student one can utilize the potential of the available digital platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and even Twitter. However, the expansion of the professional network can only work when an individual knows the purpose and direction to network. After that, the student or even in my approach I will start connecting and adding myself to groups of people which eventually helps me in adding a new member to my professional learning network. Thus, to expand the professional learning network I consider utilization of digital platform available and also looking for an emerging digital platform which supports community-building process like YouTube as well.

• In your network, how can you create a digital identity/reputation?

The digital identity or reputation related to the digital footprint of my online approach to different platform or websites. Thus, I can create a digital identity on the basis of the application or websites which I use to build my reputation. For an instance, if I want to create a digital identity in terms of creating art or photography. I can start sharing images and photography related website material over Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Additionally, if I want to grow my network I can also make videos on YouTube and share with my subscribers. In this way, I can create a digital identity within my network.

• Consider what a local employer would do if you applied for a job with them – can they search the content, is it of benefit to the career path, does it hinder the opportunity of employment?

It is unlikely that a local employer for which I applied for a job started searching for my digital identity. However, if I share my own website address related to my digital identity. Then, they can search for the content. Yes, if my digital identity is similar to the job which I am applying with the local employer. It will certainly benefit the career path and does not hinder my opportunity of employment.

• What does it mean to the network using social media?
In the modern digital world, it’s become common to have a network using social media and the current pandemic situation due to COVID-19 also give a great boost to the same. Social media offers an internet-based platform which helps in getting connected with friends, family and relatives from anywhere in the world. It can provide a variety of purposes such as social and business (Hensel et al. 87). Networking through social media means a lot as one can search and relate to a group of people who shares a common interest or opinion on a cause. Thus, building social media networking provide a great feasible and more connectivity to an individual. However, it affects the relationship in longer terms.

• How are we motivated to participate in networked public?
In order to motivate towards participating in networked public, there is a variety of motivation to the general public. First, the independent platform for sharing information and opinion about any cause. Second, the less knowledge about the working of networked public and get motivated to use the free platform which connects multiple devices to a network without permission (Wang 662). Last, the networked public offers a large number of audience which seems attracted to the general public who are in search of the indirect public for sharing their information or opinion.

• What are the risks & rewards of public communications?
The public communication offers both risk and rewards due to wide implications over society. In terms of rewards, it offers a free- information sharing platform to the users and let them have a large number of the audience (Burris 851). While in terms of risks, one can take advantage of a large number of connected devices to steal information and data. Therefore, one should carefully use public communications as it can be rewarding and risky at the same time.

References

Hensel, Kyle, and Michael H. Deis. “Using social media to increase advertising and improve marketing.” The Entrepreneurial Executive 15 (2010): 87.

Wang, Xuequn. “How do people participate in social network sites after crises? A self-determination perspective.” Social Science Computer Review 32.5 (2014): 662-677.

Burris, Ethan R. “The risks and rewards of speaking up: Managerial responses to employee voice.” Academy of Management Journal 55.4 (2012): 851-875.