Just your everyday Lurker..

Dennen, V.P. (2026). From lurkers to networkers:  Cultural and epistemic dimensions of developing professional learning networks in online graduate education.  Proceedings of the International Conference on Networked Learning, 15.

https://doi.org/10.54337/nlc.v15.10887

To me, one of the most interesting ideas in this article was the concept that many people begin their professional learning network (PLN) journey as 'lurkers' before becoming active contributors.  As someone with more than 30 years of leadership experience in casino and hospitality operations, I found this concept completely relatable.  During my career, I often learned by observing experienced leaders, listening carefully, and studying successful practices before contributing my own ideas.  The article helped me realize that this behavior is a natural part of the learning process and not a weakness.  

The article argues that developing a PLN is much more than simply joining online groups or collecting professional contacts.  Effective network development requires us to identify trustworthy sources of information, understand the culture of different communities, and gradually build the confidence to contribute knowledge of our own.  I found it particularly interesting that many students initially focused on collecting and organizing information before moving into sharing, discussing, and creating content.  This progression models not only my online behavior but also mirrors many workplace learning experiences where observation and information gathering often preceded active participation.

The article also reinforced the importance of lifelong learning which is something I value greatly.  The farmers say, "Either you're green and growing or you're ripe and rotting!"  In today's rapidly changing professional environment, formal education alone is not enough.  Sustainable success relies on continuously seeking both new knowledge and connections.  As I prepare for a transition into the instructional design field, this article highlighted the value of intentionally developing a professional learning network that can support ongoing growth, collaboration, and learning long after my degree program is completed.  

My biggest takeaway from this article is that my social media anxiety and 'lurking' is not atypical.  This article inspired me to pursue a more aggressive path of PLN exploration for an upcoming project.  

More to come!




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