Inclusion, Diversity, and my PLN

Digital moment of the week

This week, I caught myself scrolling past certain posts almost automatically while stopping longer on others that felt more familiar or comfortable. I didn’t think much of it at first, it felt like a normal habit.

Later, while working on this week’s topic, I started wondering if that small moment says something about how my online spaces are shaped. Maybe, the things I engage with most reflect not just interest but also comfort. I am not sure yet, but it feels like one of the those daily digital habits that is quietly connected to how we structure our PLNs.

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This week’s content

In this post, I reflect on inclusion and diversity within my Personal Learning Network (PLN), as well as the ways in which social media both supports and complicates public communication. Drawing on course videos and assigned readings, I consider who I am learning from, which voices tend to be amplified within my network, and how learning through these spaces can feel both comfortable and, at times, challenging. This reflection focuses on identifying patterns in my current PLN and examining how these patterns shape my learning.

What makes up my PLN?

To better understand the structure of my PLN, I find it helpful to distinguish between online and face-to-face contexts.

Online:
My online PLN consists of individuals from a wide range of age groups, academic fields, and cultural backgrounds. While these spaces are diverse, I tend to use Japanese—my first language—most frequently. In some cases, I share similar values with people in these networks, while in others, perspectives differ, contributing to both familiarity and contrast within my learning experiences.

Face-to-face:
In offline contexts, my PLN is largely shaped by interactions at college and in the workplace. At college, most connections are with individuals in the same academic discipline, while my workplace environment includes many people with similar cultural backgrounds. Reflecting on this, I recognize that these face-to-face spaces may function as an echo chamber, where shared experiences and values are reinforced more often than they are challenged.

Inclusion & Diversity: areas of exposure and limitation

When reflecting on inclusion and diversity within my PLN, I notice that I am exposed to a range of perspectives related to nationality, culture, and academic background. Conversations in these spaces—whether at school, work, or among friends—often involve exchanging experiences rather than debating differences. These interactions tend to emphasize understanding and curiosity, such as learning how practices differ across cultures or academic fields.

In contrast, I tend to avoid online spaces that are driven primarily by confrontation or criticism. Content designed to provoke outrage or reinforce division—often amplified by algorithms on platforms such as X or TikTok—feels less conducive to thoughtful engagement. I find that highly sensationalized content can discourage deeper reflection and encourage more superficial responses.

Public Communication and Social Media

Social media plays a significant role in enabling communication. It allows for two-way interaction, helps maintain relationships, and makes it easier to connect with people regardless of location. It also provides opportunities to learn from others and share ideas quickly. However, social media also introduces challenges. Because communication is often text-based, it can be difficult to convey tone and intent, which can lead to misunderstandings. Additionally, while it is easier to form connections online, those relationships can sometimes be fragile or easily disrupted.

Through Dr. Shelley Moore’s video and readings, I learned that inclusion does not mean making everyone the same. Instead, it means recognizing and respecting differences, and creating spaces where individuals can participate as their authentic selves. Inclusion is not about assimilation, but about allowing diversity to exist and be valued.

Does My PLN Amplify Others’ Voices?

I can’t say with certainty how much my PLN amplifies others’ voices, but I do believe that participating in EDCI 338 has expanded my perspective. Reading my classmates’ blogs and engaging with their reflections has introduced me to viewpoints I hadn’t previously considered. This experience has shown me that even small interactions within a learning community can broaden one’s PLN.

Misinformation and Public Media

From Obama’s Stanford speech and A New Vision for Public Media, I learned that we are not just consumers of media — we are also participants in public communication. This means we have a responsibility to think critically about the information we encounter and share. Misinformation can exist on any platform, and its impact often depends on how individuals interpret and respond to it. Developing the ability to evaluate information carefully is essential for participating responsibly in digital spaces.

I also believe it is important to separate personal and professional digital identities. The way we present ourselves online today may influence future opportunities. Our current PLN is not only a reflection of who we are now, but also a bridge to our future professional lives.

Conclusion

Reflecting on my PLN helped me better understand how inclusion and diversity shape my learning. Every person brings unique experiences and perspectives, and recognizing those differences makes learning more meaningful.

This reflection made me realize that building a diverse PLN requires intentional effort, not just passive participation. It is easy to remain in familiar spaces, but meaningful growth often comes from engaging with different perspectives, even when they feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable.

This reflection also reminded me that developing a thoughtful and diverse PLN is an ongoing process. By being more aware of whose voices I engage with and how I participate in digital spaces, I can continue to grow both personally and professionally. Using social media responsibly and intentionally will help ensure that my PLN supports not only my current learning, but also my future career and identity.