Five Takeaways: Also Known As What I Learned

 

Social media has been a massive part of my life. I have a job in social media, and I grew up with it. It is not too outlandish to say that I do not remember a time without it. Like it or not, the online world is a prominent part of my everyday life. However, I learned a lot of valuable lessons while taking this class. 

Learning means you're growing. It means that you can grow, no matter what stage of life you're in. When I first started this class, I knew some things about social media. I learned how to use it and how to make something look good. I'm a Gen Zer, so I took plenty of the new developments of social media for granted. After taking this class, however, I look at social media differently. Instead of a consumer of social media, I see how a librarian/educator sees social media. Social media is a tool for both learning and growth. It is a way for patrons to engage with their library. 

My Top Five Takeaways

My top five takeaways are divided into five sections: privacy and digital safety, digital footprint, making connections, and rules and settings. All of these takeaways were conceived while working in a library: 

1. Privacy and Digital Safety: 

It is essential for not only librarians but also patrons to learn about Internet safety. As librarians, we need to be educated on safely engaging with social media. Whether teaching patrons how to turn on their private settings or educating them on scammers, librarians should encourage online safety. 

2. Digital Footprint: 

Everyone has a Digital Footprint, no matter how small you think your presence is. If you're online, you have a digital footprint. What matters is how you use it. As librarians, we can't force patrons to engage with social media however we want them to. Instead of being forceful, we must lead by example. 

3. Making Connections: 

Throughout this class, I learned how social media can build connections between librarians and patrons. Plenty of libraries use social media to connect with other librarians and patrons. This class taught me how to use social media to foster relationships with librarians and patrons alike. 

4. Rules and Settings: 

While encouraging patrons to follow our social media pages, librarians need to enable them to look at the Terms and Conditions of each site. Although unnecessary, every patron and user should learn about a site's rules. 

5. Education: 

While taking this class, I realized how critical it is for librarians to be educated about social media. To help our patrons, we must know about different types of social media and how to use them correctly. Remaining educated about the Internet should be one of our goals as librarians. 

Overall, I enjoyed this class. I enjoyed our discussions and reading all of the fantastic blog posts. I enjoyed learning about digital media safety and recounting my social media adventures with my peers. This class was an enjoyable experience, and I recommend it to any librarian or teacher who wants to learn how to engage with social media effectively.