Hello! This week I've been thinking about professional learning networks (PLNs) and how I engage with them. Collaboration with people in your field is such an important part of professional development. If you are curious about PLNs I recommend this website it has great advice and even includes a handbook to engage with PLNs, https://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/pln-define/.
Thinking about PLNs I have experience with I think about my library support Facebook groups. I like how members are from all around the world and work in different communities and settings. It is interesting to see what solutions to problems work for one library but may not work for another. It is a really broad network and it is a good way to see different points of view.
Another PLN I have not used but I am curious about is Reddit. I know Reddit has many different members and categories. The main drawback of using Reddit is it is so big and anonymous it might not have the same community feel as other networking spaces.
To stretch myself and look at how I can be a better asset in networking spaces, I looked at the following activity:
(Image Provided by Nicole M Zumpano)
After I took these quizzes I looked back at how they affect my role in PLNs.
Big Five Personality Test
I always find it interesting to self-evaluate and I like having labels to better understand myself. Each of these personality trait tests were interesting in their own way. I started by taking the five-factor test, I only got broad results because of a paywall but what I did see was really interesting. This is the website I used to take this test Big Five Personality Test
(Image from Truity)
Looking at these results it looks like my two strongest traits are openness and neuroticism. These make sense to me. Authenticity is important to me I also feel things very strongly and I am not afraid to hide my feelings. Now, knowing that I have these traits I can watch how they manifest in my behavior. For example, with my "openness," I know it has helped with how I approach customer services which has been an important part of my jobs. People see that I am being honest with them and it makes me trustworthy and relatable.
(Image from Truity)
This also was a result of that same site and test. These results were not hidden behind a paywall. I think the "empathetic idealist" is a pretty accurate description of me and how I view the world. Often, I call myself a "hopeless romantic" which feels like a similar description. Having this description seems more professional. Using this terminology is something I could potentially use in interviews or cover letters if I can justify why it makes me a good candidate.
Leadership Skills
The next quiz I took was a leadership quiz. Here is the website I used for this quiz. I have a difficult time seeing myself as a leader. However, it is an important part of most careers. For this quiz, it wasn't the results I received that interested me as much as the questions. As I answered the questions I tried to think about not only what I would do but what I would like to do and be. I like leaders who give clear directions, and offer support, but also trust me to work on my own without micromanaging. Approachability and open communication are probably the two qualities I want in supervisors. As you can see in the screenshot below, communication was not a strong skill for me. I believe this is partly because I do not like confrontation or giving criticism. As I prepare for potential leadership roles in the future I think this will be an area to work on.
16 Personalities
The next quiz I took was the 16 personalities.
Here is where I took the quiz and I highly recommend this site because it has good questions and thorough results. This is one I have taken in the past but could not remember my results. It gave me the most details and I found the different categories the most interesting.
According to this, I am a "mediator" or "INFP-T" Below you can see the breakdown of what that means and the different categories and what they indicate. Now, I have heard this type of personality test criticized in the past. I remember the main criticisms are that people take these results too seriously and that it feels very in-depth but that people are too complex to be boiled down to a few traits. These of course are important things to keep in mind.
However, I really did enjoy reading these results. Knowing that I am introverted is a word I've had for a while and it has really helped me. It makes me feel less awkward when I feel drained from social activity. It has also helped me because knowing that socialization can be tiring I can better plan for activities by building in rest time or recognizing when I am tired and ready to leave. The other categories also really resonated with how I see myself and the world.
(Image from 16 Personalities)
(Image from 16 Personalities)
(Image from 16 Personalities)
(Image from 16 Personalities)
(Image from 16 Personalities)
(Image from 16 Personalities)
End Thoughts:
Now, I would like to return to PLN's. Taking these quizzes helped me see myself and understand how I approach the world. Knowing what skills and faults I have can help me know what I can bring to a networking group. I know that being a leader is not the role that I would like, but I know that I am empathetic so I may be a good person to offer encouragement or kind advice. Also, knowing that I am open will explain why I feel comfortable sharing personal experiences.
Thank you for your post: I really like your link to PLNs. I will bookmark it for myself. I too am hoping to obtain my MLIS and can attest to the importance of having a network of trusted people to learn from and hopefully to teach something to. I see that already physically in display at our library, in the childen services where you can always learn something new from somebody else' storytime or program. Sometimes our materials get old and you just need something new to get you going again. PNL come in handy then.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Hello! One of the things I like about library networking is it can be so fun! It's awesome helping people think of names for their new teen group, or ways to promote reading in the community. It's a way to give and take as needed. I thought this was a really interesting topic to explore!
DeleteI'm so happy that it wasn't the results but the questions that caused you to reflect on leadership skills, Kira. These tests are by no means scientific but do give us the opportunity to think about what we bring to a PLN. For that, they are powerful.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the 4 growth areas of a PLN, which one is most relevant to you, Kira?
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DeleteThank you! It was a really interesting exercise. I enjoy self evaluation so it good to take those observations and think about them in a networking environment. Of the growth areas I think social was the one that resonated with me. I enjoy connecting with people and building relationships. Social to me is making sure there is room for everyone at the table and you are getting to know the people you network with. This can make networking more meaningful and more personal. When I think about on and offline spaces I want to be in I like to get to know the people I am building a community with.
Delete*Edited for grammatical errors
Hello Brendan, thank you for the feedback. I appreciate that information, I find the simplistic more laid quizzes more accessible. Definitely need to take the information with a healthy dose of skepticism though. Hey they are better than the Buzzfeed quizzes that will tell you the initials of your true love based on pizza preferences.
ReplyDeleteHi Kira,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I did a different assignment, I thought this one was so interesting. It is important to understand what you and your personality bring to a collaborative space. When I was researching for my own assignment, the concept of openness came up in its own way. Some of the websites with tips, etc. acknowledged that educators might be afraid to share their own experiences and resources through a PLN. The resources I read also suggested at least engaging with others if you don't feel comfortable sharing right away. As far as leadership skills, or other skills people may need to work on, I feel that a PLN is a great space for that. From my experience, PLNs are safe spaces to give and receive feedback and develop new ideas.