MnLV Musings

We have to stop treating social media like a junk drawer when we’re trying to use it as a professional learning tool.  It’s extremely easy to save posts, follow pages, join groups, and collect resources with good intentions.  The problem is that collecting information is not the same thing as learning.  At some point, the pile gets so big that it becomes noise. Muljana and Luo (2023) discuss the need for self-regulation when seeking internet solutions.  The authors use Zimmerman’s self-regulated learning model as a framework for facilitating personal learning.  Here are three steps that will assist the shift from aimless internet wandering to strategic research and problem solving: First, start with a problem, not a platform. Don’t open LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, or Facebook groups just to “see what’s out there.”  That’s how the junk drawer starts.  Instead, begin with a specific question:  What am I trying to learn?  What problem am I try...

I found an article (cited below) that ties directly with my recent participation in a class assignment.  I was tasked with using a digital platform to curate a small collection with a learning intent.  I chose Pinterest as my platform.  Pinterest can be useful because it gives curators quick access to ideas, visuals, activities, and materials from others.  For someone like me, new to the concept and the platform, that kind of access can feel like a lifesaver. The lesson my instructor was teaching, and the article reinforced, is that just because a resource is attractive, popular, or easy to use does not mean it creates strong learning.  In other words, finding resources is not the same thing as finding good resources.  Curation for teaching is intentional. Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying there is anything wrong with collections, interest boards, vision boards, or the like.  I found some great inspiration while perusing the platform.  I’m ...

I recently wrote about a question that has been sitting with me: what would life look like if one self-defeating habit disappeared? That question became the starting point for a curated learning collection called Replace the Pattern: Body-First Habits. The collection is built around one idea: bad habits are rarely changed by willpower alone.  A stronger approach is to replace the pattern with a better routine while also supporting the physiological base that makes follow-through easier:  sleep, nutrition, and movement. The collection includes resources on habit formation, behavior design, sleep, healthy eating, physical activity, and an original reflection tool called The Six-Week Habit Replacement Experiment. The purpose is not to create another motivational list.  The purpose is to organize useful resources into a simple learning path:  reflect, understand the habit, strengthen the body base, choose a replacement behavior, and track what changes. Pinterest collecti...