Final Course Reflection

Blog Summation

At the start of this course, I hoped to learn as much as I could about social media, media literacy, AI, and their impact on education and society. I was not very aware of the importance of a Professional Learning Network (PLN), so I was open to exploring how networks can be used for learning and education. I have never been much of a content creator. Instead, I usually observe others who create content and share it through my personal social media accounts such as Facebook and Instagram. As this course comes to an end, I have developed a much deeper understanding of the value of building a PLN, being more mindful of the impacts of social media and AI, and understanding how Canada policy and emphasis in investing in the fields of AI and media literacy.

Growth & Reflection

Intellectually
My understanding of social media, media literacy, Professional Learning Networks, and AI in education has grown significantly throughout this course.

To start, I now see social media as much more than just posting content. It is about being aware of your public image and deciding how you want to influence others, while also recognizing how others influence you. The people we choose to follow shape the information we receive and the communities we become part of. Through social media, we build connections with people who share similar interests and values. It is also important for organizations to have a social media presence if they want to reach people where they already spend much of their time consuming information.

I also gained a stronger understanding of media literacy. Media literacy is about learning how to communicate effectively while also recognizing misinformation, bias, and fake content. As I wrote earlier in the course, the author of The Media Literacy Handbook suggests we should “Decide if a story is Fake vs Biased, increase our digital media literacy to be more objective, and find a way to put more money into fact-checking news using AI that does not impact the volume of sharing or the money earned.” (Edwards Post 3).

As media becomes more influential in our daily lives, it is important that creators use reliable information and build trust with their audience. This means gaining permission when needed and properly citing sources so that others can verify the information being shared.

Professionally
As someone preparing to enter the field of education, this course benefited me in several ways. It improved my understanding of inclusion, helped me recognize the value of building a PLN, and strengthened my awareness of educational policies and professional responsibilities.My thinking about inclusion changed significantly during the course. Early on in the course, I wrote:

“True inclusion recognizes that every student has unique strengths, challenges, and learning needs. When schools embrace those differences, students are more likely to feel successful, valued, and connected to the people they study with, while making the course content that is studied more relevant and meaningful.” (Edwards Post 2)

Later, my understanding grew even further. I began to see how inclusion also means helping students develop their own personal, social, and intellectual goals. As I reflected in another post:

“I hope to be involved in intentionally helping students develop their own personal, social, and intellectual goals. I believe that involving students in co-creating a classroom vision can give them a greater sense of ownership, belonging, and purpose. By valuing student voices and focusing on individual strengths, I hope to create a learning environment where every student feels included, respected, and capable of success.”(Edwards Post 2)

My learning about PLNs was also very valuable. I now understand how important it is to have diverse perspectives within a professional network. As I wrote earlier, I value having people with, “views of many backgrounds, ages of professionals, and consultants in my network.” (Edwards Post 2).

The blog posts, peer responses, and final project activities helped me feel connected to a supportive learning community. They gave me confidence to contribute my ideas and learn from others. In Blog Post 4, I reflected that “my willingness to be humble, caring, and supportive will help me grow professionally.” (Edwards Post 4).

Looking back, I see how sharing different perspectives strengthens learning. Our differences make the overall community stronger. In the final project, I explained how trust and support are what give professional learning networks their strength. Social media technologies also play an important role in helping us build connections, communicate, and develop our collaborative digital identities.

Reflection on Key Challenges and How I Addressed Them
One challenge I faced was understanding the difference between personal social media and professional networks. At first, I thought I would need to combine my personal interests with my professional identity.

However, after listening to the podcast interview with news anchor Sophie Lui, I realized that even professionals often separate different platforms for different purposes (Edwards Post 3). This showed me that I can keep personal and professional networks separate when needed.

As a result, I plan to continue building a LinkedIn profile where I can connect with educators, schools, and other professionals. I also want to stay active in professional online spaces, such as blogging communities, where I can continue learning and asking questions.

Another challenge was balancing the workload of the course with personal responsibilities. There was just enough reading, video watching, note-taking, blog writing, and editing, At the same time, I spent a lot of time helping my grandfather in the hospital, supporting my grandmother, and volunteering at a Bible camp for children.

Although managing my time was difficult at times, I made sure to stay organized and complete assignments before their deadlines. This helped me meet course expectations while still fulfilling my family and volunteer commitments.

Learning Through Course Activities
The blog posts that I created and the posts I read from classmates helped me see many different perspectives. I especially enjoyed responding to ideas that I agreed with, disagreed with, or found interesting. These responses encouraged critical thinking and helped deepen my understanding of the course topics. The readings and videos were also very helpful because they provided valuable information that supported my learning goals.

When I audited a peer’s blog, I had the opportunity to reflect critically on their ideas while also providing an alternative perspective based on my own experiences. One interesting realization was that I found myself supporting the future use of AI in education, even though some aspects of AI still make me nervous because of the unknowns surrounding its future development. I hope that my feedback contributed positively to my peer’s growth and encouraged further reflection without being offensive.

Final Project Reflection
The PLN group that I worked with for the final project was an excellent team. Everyone was decisive, responsible, inclusive and committed to completing the project successfully. Although working remotely made it difficult to build relationships in the same way we could have in person, there were also many benefits. Because we lived in different locations and time zones, we learned how to work efficiently. We used a shared Google Doc to organize responsibilities and Canva to create our presentation. This approach saved time and allowed everyone to balance summer schedules and personal commitments. In the end, the project came together very well. Throughout the course, I felt that the discussions in Teams and the interactions through blogs created a unique PLN where everyone shared their learning in different and meaningful ways.(Edwards Final Project)

Feedback and Personal Growth
One of the most valuable parts of the course was the feedback I received. Both the professor and my peers provided encouraging and specific comments that boosted my confidence. As I worked to apply a Canadian educational perspective to my learning, I appreciated that many people noticed and commented on the Hong Kong perspective I brought to my posts. This showed me that people genuinely valued the experiences and viewpoints that I shared. Moving forward, I hope to be just as encouraging to others. I want to continue learning from people with different backgrounds and experiences so that I can become a more well-rounded educator and learner.

Forward-Facing Goals
As a future teacher who values meaningful technology integration, student choice, and digital citizenship, I hope to pursue the following goals:

1. Build and Expand My Professional Learning Network
As I continue my studies at UVic, I want to stay connected with classmates and future educators through study groups, LinkedIn, WordPress blogs, and professional social media accounts. I also hope to attend conferences, webinars, and professional development opportunities offered by educational organizations and communities.

2. Explore Responsible and Ethical Uses of AI in Education
I want to continue learning how AI can support productivity, teaching, and student learning. I plan to explore new AI tools and features while also paying attention to issues such as bias, misinformation, and ethical use. I am particularly interested in learning how educators communicate their AI use to students and how transparency can support responsible practice.

3. Improve My Media Creation Skills
I want to become more confident in creating videos, podcasts, presentations, and infographics. By improving these skills, I will be better prepared to inspire future students to create meaningful digital content of their own. I also hope to model ethical research practices by properly citing sources and using credible information.

Final Reflection

During my remaining years at UVic, I hope to continue growing my PLN, exploring AI responsibly, and strengthening my media literacy skills. By doing so, I can become a more effective learner and eventually help my future students become thoughtful collaborators, critical thinkers, and responsible creators in an increasingly digital world. This course has had a significant impact on my professional identity. I feel more confident in how I engage with discussions about social media, media literacy, identity, online collaboration, and the future of AI in education. My ability to create meaningful blog posts and presentations has improved, and I leave this course with a stronger understanding of how technology can support learning when used responsibly. I am grateful for the peers who shared their ideas with me and for the professor who created such a meaningful learning experience. This course has helped prepare me not only for a future career in education but also for becoming a more responsible and informed member of Canadian society.