Assignment 1: Blog Posts

You will write three blog posts for this course, with each post worth 10% of your final grade. Topics and prompts will be introduced in the relevant weekly posts. Your posts should be clear, engaging, and well-structured. For more guidance, please see the What Makes a Good Blog Post Reflection resource.

Due: September 17, October 1, and October 15. Value 30%

A rubric for blog posts is available here

Assignment 2:  Case Study Analysis of a Learning Community – Presentation

For this group presentation, you will conduct a detailed case study analysis of a specific learning community that utilizes social media as a primary platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing. Your objective is to explore how the learning community operates, the role of social media in facilitating learning interactions, and the impact on personalized learning experiences.

Instructions:

  • Select a Learning Community: Choose a specific learning community that utilizes social media as a central platform for communication and collaboration. You may select an existing online course community, a professional learning network, or an educational group focused on a specific topic or subject area.
  • Case Study Research: Explore the community’s goals, membership demographics, modes of interaction, content-sharing practices, and community norms. Pay attention to how social media platforms are utilized within the community.
  • Analyze Learning Dynamics: Analyze the dynamics of learning within the community. Identify common learning activities, such as discussions, resource sharing, collaborative projects, and peer feedback mechanisms. Evaluate the effectiveness of these activities in promoting meaningful learning experiences.
  • Personalized Learning Assessment: Evaluate the extent to which the learning community supports personalized learning experiences. Consider factors such as learner autonomy, individualized learning pathways, adaptive learning resources, and opportunities for self-directed learning.
  • Challenges and Opportunities: Identify any challenges or limitations faced by the learning community in leveraging social media for learning purposes. Explore opportunities for improvement and innovation to enhance the learning experience for community members.
  • Recommendations for Enhancement: Based on your analysis, provide recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of the learning community and maximizing the potential of social media platforms for supporting personalized learning experiences. Consider strategies for fostering community engagement, improving content relevance, and addressing barriers to participation.

This is a group work assignment and I strongly recommend you create your group based on your interest, e.g. Short-form videos on TikTok, long-form ones on YouTube, or blogging. Explore your favourite one and explain how it can support developing a personal learning network.

You will attempt to connect with other students using Mattermost to create your working group (4 participants).

The final submission could be in the form of creating a video or recording a podcast. (10-15 Minutes).

You can use Zoom to record your presentation—either with a slide show presentation or by speaking in front of the camera, similar to in-person courses. Feel free to be creative!

To share your recording, consider using an untitled video on YouTube. The following link provides quick instructions on this process, but if you have another preferred method, go ahead and use it!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Your participation in group activities will be assessed through an anonymous peer assessment. (Please complete peer review once the project has been submitted)

Due: November 5, 2025, Value 30%

A rubric for this assignment is available here

Assignment 3: Building a Personal Learning Network (PLN)

For this assignment, you are expected to form your own group (it can be the same as the one which was created for assignment 2 or you can reorganize your group member) and then make a walkthrough of personal learning network (PLN) themes, platforms, and practices that you have explored during the term.

This project requires you to discuss how a PLN should be created, managed, and engaged. It can include discussions about how a PLN interacts with social media platforms and highlight aspects that were the most meaningful during the course trajectory, and any instances of personal experience devoting a PLN within a professional capacity.

You will include descriptions of the process and steps that a person would need to take in order to build a (PLN) using a variety of social media platforms that would best support your professional and personal learning goals.

As you are working on your project you can consider the following prompts:

• Describe the key characteristics of any discussed social media platforms.
• What features & characteristics of existing media technologies make them effective for personal learning?
• How does the technology allow you to enhance/develop your digital identity/reputation?
• What are social considerations that should be accounted for?
• What are the ways the technology tracks and uses your data – how can this be used to benefit a PLN?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of privacy for social media platforms?
• Provide examples of individuals who have used a PLN to become leaders in a field of interest, and discuss their presence on the platform?
• How do they use social media platforms to build their reputation/presence?
• How will you know that your PLN is a success?

The final project should be submitted as a written document no fewer than 1,700-2,000 words.

Marking will be based on evidence-based examples, the use of professional and engaging language, and the quality of presentation delivery.

Your participation in group activities will be assessed through an anonymous peer assessment. (Please complete peer review once the project has been submitted)

A rubric for this assignment is available here

Due: December 2, 2025, Value 40%