As a Gen Z, the readings for this week on Tik Tok in my EDCI 338 class did not teach me much that I didn’t already know. However, it did get me thinking about how I can use it as a professional and to connect with other educators.
So, what is Tik Tok? Tik Tok is a social media platform where people can post short (max. 3 mins) videos on essentially whatever they want. The app started as primarily dancing/lip-synching videos but through the COVID-19 lockdown, a lot of people began to use it as a place for connecting and relating with one another. There is controversy around the safety of Tik Tok for children (though Tik Tok is the only social media platform out of the top 4 most popular that have parental controls and added safety measures) but I think Tik Tok is a great app for all ages to connect with others and express their true selves.
How could I use Tik Tok as a professional? I can use Tik Tok the same way I’m using this blog, to document teaching journey, including any insights or questions that arise, and connect with other educators.
How can I find people on Tik Tok to become part of my PLN? As someone who already follows a couple of teachers on Tik Tok, I’m already one step ahead! Another way I can find people to become apart of my PLN is following and connecting with my peers in this course. Additionally, I can share my Tik Tok account on my Twitter so my connections on that platform can also follow me (and vice versa) on Tik Tok.
