Establishing a Personal Learning Network (PLN) is crucial in building an online network. Social media platforms offer great accessibility to opportunities to connect professionally, collaborate and learn from others in your field or another field. Actively engaging with others’ content and profiles can help you expand your knowledge on various topics. These platforms allow professionals to form connections with others worldwide, allowing us to learn from like-minded people. 

You can use your PLN for personal and professional purposes by sharing your personality online while promoting yourself professionally. Your PLN should reflect not only your professional accomplishments but also your interests and hobbies. It is essential to maintain a positive and professional presence online when engaging in conversations, you can learn new skills and learn from others’ insights, creating mutual learning opportunities. You can engage with others by asking questions or commenting encouragingly on their post. You may also join relevant groups or chats where you can share your insights and learn from others. By creating a well-rounded and diverse PLN, you are creating an inclusive community online. Social media platforms allow for inclusivity as they are accessible to a vast majority of people, all of whom have different backgrounds and expertise. This is different than traditional networking as many times, it requires you to be at the same event or conference to meet certain people. Not only does social media foster new knowledge and skills, but it also allows for a wide range of perspectives and ideas to be shared. Social media has broken down the barriers and allowed there to be more inclusion when networking with others, fostering continuous learning, growth and innovation.

I would create a PLN using a professional platform such as LinkedIn. Firstly, I would add my experience, skills and interests to my profile to attract connections with others with similar interests or careers. I would ensure my profile is complete, professional and aligned with my personality. I would then browse others’ profiles and organizations I align with to find those I can connect with and learn from. I can also use the platform to promote myself when finding jobs. From there, I can network and explore opportunities that I find helpful, such as events, workshops, or webinars.