Exploring Your Digital Portfolio

ABOUT ME:

Hello, my name is Melissa Suriano. I am a student at Stockton University. My intended major is Bachelor of Health Science with a concentration in Physical Therapy. 

I am a dancer and I have been dancing for 16 years, I have been doing Martial Arts for 15 years and have a 2nd degree black belt and also been in Jui-Jitsu for 8 years and on my down time I go to the gym. I am going for physical therapy because I have been active my entire life and I feel as if though I can help those in need with injuries in the future and help them get back to their physical state. 

THE CONNECTED EDUCATOR: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age

Networking is important in any field of work. It is essential because we are able to contact those in our profession globally and can find jobs much easier that way as well. Networking is not only about the individual, but it is a place to connect. It is a way for individuals to share information about themselves that may be related to their field of study and meet others as well as getting inspired by each other. As this is my first time blogging, this is a great way for me as a student to learn and adapt to new things to add onto my experiences. What is such a helpful tool in becoming part of this blog, is the need to design and have a sense of community based project where others can engage in the activities, help each other, and share information.

NETWORKING: The Twitter Experience

I've learned that through networking you can really connect to individuals who share the same interests as you. Ellen Lague spoke much in depth about how she has been a part of twitter since back in 2011. I must say that I myself have had a twitter account in the past, however with exploring my digital portfolio by taking this course, truly helps me to ensure a more professional setting in my networking. Looking at twitter in a different way knowing that I can come that much closer to my profession with just a simple tweet, really helps me to tune in on what other professionals in my intended field are tweeting about.

Twitter is a helpful tool to keep communication alive. It is amazing how much I was unaware of how twitter has so much access to so much information and ways to communicate with certain professions. I've learned to start with only a minimal amount of people to follow. From there you can really branch out and end up with so many followers in your intended field of study. Although twitter is only embedded with 140 characters, I never realized until just recently from Eric Shanager, that you can simply attach links to websites and so much more.The conception of social networking, especially with young students and cellular devices instead, using the phone as a tool for learning which can definitely help shape young individuals lives for their future.   

In order to be a part of twitter or any type of social networking, you must set up a profile with an actual image of yourself. As mentioned by Steven Hughes, you do not want to show up as an "egg". Once that step is completed, you can go on with trying to follow a few people who in return, share the same interests as you. Otherwise, people may not follow you. Twitter is a way to help build your digital portfolio so that professionals can see who you are and may even want to get in contact with you because you are being a part of a network that entitles communication and helps to identify who you are without going into your personal information. 

Networking overall, is a learning and growing experience.