How diverse is your existing PLN?

I have never taken the time to look at my PLN connections to see if it was diverse. To me, diversity is such a large container of people; it includes all ages, ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual orientation, disabilities, socioeconomic background, education levels, personal experiences, opinions, and so much more. And when looking at each of these types of diversity, my PLN has so much more growth to do. I have connections with different ages; however, most people are 20 – 40 years old. I am missing out on so many people who are accomplishing things, sharing their stories and creating ideas and inventions. 

My PLN is diverse in ethnicities, religion, gender and sexual orientation; this diversity can be seen in my social group since I am the type of person to talk to anyone and everyone. I have met people of various ethnicities and religions that have taught me so much about their faiths and beliefs, which I love learning about. I am friends, peers and co-workers with people of all genders and sexual orientations. It is interesting to listen to each of their personal experiences, things I have never experienced and never will and something that I can understand because of my own life experiences. 

My group member for the class EDCI 338 has brought attention to those who have a disability, and I took a moment to think about my PLN connected to those with a disability, and it again has room to grow. But I am connected to many public speakers who have disabilities who share their life experiences and what they studied and learned. I also like comedians who have disabilities I follow and engage with.

Looking at my PLN, it is diverse. Still, there are so many people I am not connected with and so much learning that I am missing, even though my feed is frequently updated with different people’s views, opinions, research, and personal experiences. I don’t want to say, “Yes, my PLN is diverse. It includes everyone,” because it doesn’t. But my future experiences will connect with more people that will grow the diversity of my PLN.

 

In your PLN, are you learning from various voices, or are you the loudest in the room?

My PLN is filled with various voices from uploading new posts about their research, experiences and sharing content. I like to engage with people and hear what they have to say and respond to the person with my own experience helps show I understand the topic or ask questions for clarity. I prefer to take the opportunity to hear others’ opinions and thoughts and be allowed to exchange views. I always leave room for others to share their ideas, or I reach out and create a discussion with others.

This is seen in my group discussion on mattermost. My group is doing a great job at being respectful and reading each other’s comments and thoughts, and writing a reply. We share ideas and ask each other questions to create a more engaging and depth conversation. However, I find it easier to share my opinions in a group discussion where we interact with each other versus when I will comment on someone’s that I don’t know work online. I tend to hesitate and stop myself from creating a discussion. Instead, I make comments like ” I like this point..” ” this was strong..” instead of helpful feedback. As I find when commenting on a post, there is no body language or tone of voice so people can interpret what you are saying in any way, and I would never want to hurt or offended someone. It is easier to give feedback to someone you know or have worked with before because they know that you mean only to help. 

However, I have found that it is easier to give constructive feedback in a private conversation instead of commenting on their post. In this class (EDCI 338), I directly message people when I think I have helpful feedback instead of commenting on their post where anyone else could read and could make someone feel bad or embarrassed.

So I do not think I am the loudest voice in the room, but I am a voice in the conversation.

Do you participate in a silo of information sharing (similar themes or a wide range of interests)?

Sils of information sharing is when the exchange of information does not leave the team, department, group etc. I know first hand the problem that can arise with silo information; in my degree, we learn a lot about health information systems. There are different systems created for various needs of the patient. However, these systems do not communicate. It causes a person’s information to be split up into different systems. This is not helpful. Having a connected system and exchanging information between each other is much more beneficial for everyone as there is a less likely chance of losing or duplicating data.  

Being taught the importance of sharing information, I have implemented that in my personal and educational life. For example, working in groups, I take the experience good and bad from other groups to share it not to make the same mistakes again or share a successful strategy. When making a point, I have drawn on personal experience to show the depth of my understanding. I take what someone taught me and use it in so many different places. Sharing your knowledge is power.

However, there was a time I participated in silo information. It is hard to get the confidence and courage to speak with people you don’t know or speak in front of a large group. I did not always feel comfortable sharing my thoughts and ideas or asking questions because I wasn’t familiar with the person I was working with. I remember a group project I was working on, and team members would shut my ideas down or interrupt me, inhibiting me from sharing my opinions or thoughts. And I pulled back until one other team member noticed that and would say, “Hey Asha, what were you saying?” and gave me the floor to talk. Or in class, I am too nervous about raising my hand even though I have a great point to share. Sometimes it is hard to take part and share and be part of the discussion. 

After talking to people, I realize I am not the only one nervous or scared, and no one will judge me for raising my hand and speaking that took a while for me to learn. But now I raise my hand in class, share my ideas, participate in debates, and I also help give my friends and team members the floor to talk by doing what that person did for me, saying, ” Hey [name] do you have and idea or what were you trying to say?”. Sometimes we need a little help to break out of the silo form of information.

How can you use a diverse PLN to broaden your views of inclusion?

Diversity to me means “everyone” of all ages, genders, sexualities, education, etc (Moore, 2016). By connecting with all different people, I am learning about different life experiences, topics, opinions etc. By engaging with a diverse set of people, I am changing and maturing my world view. A quote by Muhammad Ali perfectly fits what I am trying to say ” A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at 20 has wasted thirty years of his life”. And if you are not engaging with anyone new or with people who have different views and experiences, you will never be able to learn and grow as an individual. And having a diverse PLN will ensure that I am engaging in continuous learning. 

It will teach me about the needs and wants of other people. For example, I saw a post on my Instagram feed of Nike coming out with a pair of hand free shoes for people with disabilities; I would have never thought of the need of hand free shoes because I don’t need that type of help. Hence, it never came to my mind that there is a need for these types of shoes. And that was due to not having met people who need that, which showed that my view on inclusion was smaller than I realized. My PLN helps see the world in others’ eyes, which grows the understanding of what needs to be included in society to be inclusive.

In your professional setting of choice, do you think inclusion is actively embraced?

Yes, I want to become a doctor. My professional setting of choice would be in a clinic or hospital helping people. This career has become more inclusive over the years as it now opens the opportunity to study medicine to different degrees. They don’t just look for students studying science but students who studied music, art, engineers, etc. We see doctors of all colours, ethnicities, religions, genders and sexualities. Some doctors have disabilities, such as dyslexia, doctors who are deaf. 

And because of inclusion, we are working with and learning from people who have a different way of thinking and solving problems(Moore, 2016). We are learning about new ways that can improve patients outcomes. For example, we have known that colour and music can positively affect someone’s health, which we wouldn’t have figured out without including people with different passions and perspectives of the world.

What is the learning outcome of your PLN, and how are you ensuring your exposure to diversity and inclusion?

I have no specific learning outcome of my PLN besides growing my knowledge and learning new things. I want to be exposed to as many different people as possible, watch as many various ted talks and video that helps me grow my understanding of other people and different topics. I want my PLN to be like a classroom. I am always be engaged in a new topic.

How has your thinking about inclusion and PLN evolved after reviewing the videos and readings?

After watching the video and reading,(Moore, 2016; Moore, 2017; Moore, 2018 and Moore et al 2021) I have learnt that my idea of inclusion was tied with integration. After the video, I did not have a good understanding or idea of what inclusion entirely looks like. That it is beyond sitting in the same room as different people, it is by creating an environment where everyone’s voices are heard, where everyone is engaging and interacting.

 I have also practiced inclusion without knowing it, and an example of this I shared in my mattermost group was that when I worked at Starbucks, an adult down syndrome group came in. I was at the cash register taking all their orders, and I did not treat them any differently than any other customer. I ask about their day, what drink they wanted, and when one of their cards wasn’t working, I put their coffee on the house. After the group all got their drinks, they left and about 3 hours later, my manager got a call telling them to say thank you to me because they have not seen someone treat them with so much kindness and respect like that, as people talk would talk to them like they were children or dumb. And I was somewhat shocked about this because I never saw this group of people any different than myself. I have always treated everyone in the best manner, no matter who. And I would say this is part of what inclusion is. 

References 

Moore, S., Miller,J. (2021, February 07). EDCI 338 A01 Week 5 A Conversation with Shelley Moore. February 09, 2021, YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGx0ejnMLVc&feature=youtu.be

Moore, Shelley. One Without the Other : Stories of Unity Through Diversity and Inclusion, Portage & Main Press, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/lib/uvic/detail.action? docID=4832579.

Moore, S. (2018, November 05). Don’t Should on Me: It’s not easy being NOT green. February 9, 2021, YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeRNhz0nGts&feature=youtu.be

Moore, S. (2016, April 04). Transforming Inclusive Education . February 09, 2021. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYtUlU8MjlY.

Ali, Muhammad. “A Quote by Muhammad Ali.” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/quotes/41404-the-man-who-views-the-world-at-50-the-same.