We are living in a time where technology is a huge part of our daily lives. People use them to keep in touch with family and friends, form new relationships, keep up to date on current events, as well as to learn new information. When doing this they are forming a personal learning network. This network is something that can grow and evolve over time in order to create a platform for life long learning.

I think these networks can be used as a very positive way of learning, especially in the times of Covid-19. Because of online networking we have the ability to continue going to school and keeping in touch with people. It made it so we don’t have to put our lives on hold and wait for it to be possible to be allowed in large groups for learning.

There is a whole lot of benefits to having an online personal learning network. But it is also important to consider things such as privacy, online image, and sometimes how there could be a negative interactions. Every time people go online to shop, do research, or just browse the internet; it tracks what you look at in an algorithm and from there displays ads and directs information that will interest you. Along with that I think it is important to consider how much information and the image that you are putting out online. Privacy is a something that is very important and you want to make sure that the people you are including into your personal learning network are supportive, inclusive and are bringing positive value into your life. It can be so easy to fall into a place where the people around you online are not those things and it can bring a real negative impact to your life.

Personal learning networks are something that can really bring a great new dynamic into your life, if you decide to use it in a positive way.