Student · Department of Psychology & Child Development ·
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Conversations via Social Media...
Social networking websites are virtual communities where users create individual profiles, interact with real-life friends, and meet other people based on shared interests. Billions of people use one or more social networking sites for personal and/or professional reasons. Many of these sites provide opportunities to connect with others in similar career fields. Professionally, social network sites can be used as tools that allow individuals to network, share information, and provide news to others. Below, I have included three examples of the ways I have used social networking sites to connect with professionals within the field of child development and education. These platforms include Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Conversation #1 - Twitter
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The first conversation I started was on Twitter. To start this conversation, I scrolled through the Twitter feed of @edutopia. Edutopia is an online community that increases knowledge, sharing, and adoption of what works in pre-K-12 education. As an aspiring elementary school teacher, @eduptopia is a great resource filled with ideas for the classroom and opportunities to connect with others in the field of education. On the Edutopia Twitter feed, I found an interesting article titled “The Building Blocks of Dramatic Play.” After reading it, I was inspired to find out more regarding how I can incorporate dramatic play in my future classroom. I reached out to @edutopia asking for some tips and they sent me a link to their website, where I was able to find some great ideas!
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Conversation #2 - Instagram
The second conversation I started was on Instagram. I contacted child development expert, Allison McDonald, via the direct message feature on the Instagram app. McDonald has a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and a Masters of Science degree in early childhood development. She is a preschool teacher, author, blogger, and speaker who shares her extensive knowledge in the field on various platforms. Since McDonald specializes in early childhood education and I am interested in teaching a K-3 grade, I directed my question toward this topic. I am always brainstorming the books I want to have in my future classroom library, so I asked her for some recommendations! I am looking forward to ordering these books so that I can read them with my future students.
Conversation #3 - LinkedIn
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The third conversation I started was on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the internet. It is used to find jobs/internships, to connect and strengthen professional relationships, and to learn skills that one may need to succeed in their career. To start this conversation, I found Taylor Duguran’s profile. Duguran has her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and her Master of Education degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from UC Santa Barbara. She currently works as a sixth grade teacher at Peabody Charter School in Santa Barbara, CA. Since Duguran is a professional working in my future career field, I thought she would be a great person to reach out to. I used the LinkedIn direct message feature to get in contact with Duguran. I asked her what her favorite part of her job is and what she finds most difficult, and I received an encouraging response!
