This was an interesting exercise for me, as I was struggling with finding a way to visualize my own networks. I loved the nodes that could be created with software like Socilab, but knew LinkedIn would not be a good representation of my networks ( currently sitting at 14 connections). I found one app just to look at Twitter, but due to my lack of use of Twitter in the last 3 years, the connections were heavily weighted to my B.Ed network. In an ideal world, I would use my connections that I have between three platforms: facebook, twitter, and google. As I did not want to spend hours learning a new software to do this, I chose to draw it the best way I could on my Ipad using my Notability App.
When thinking about my networks, I initially categorized my connections in at least one of four options: University of Victoria, Friends and Family, School District connections, and Part Time jobs. I can no
w add a fifth category option, which would be Royal Roads. Full disclaimer, I did forget about this RRU initially as it is still so new. I am curious how different this map would be in one year as my RRU connections grow.
From here this is where things get messy. I am fortunate to work close to where I went to University, not far from where I grew up, and where I held many part time jobs. This makes my map into a web, and shows my how interconnected my networks are. It also reminds me how important it is to maintain networks and keep connections alive. My B.Sc and part time job categories are not nearly as intertwined within my networks as others. As time goes on and we become further removed from our initial commonality, I am sure they will only become more removed. My map reminds me that it is important to maintain these past relationships as you build new ones, something I know but seeing it is always a good reminder.
This thought lead me to some research where I found an article that discusses how “Social ties are continuously being created and lost as well as changing their nature over time.” (Feld, S. Suitor, J. Hoegh, J., 2007)
As the MALAT program becomes a larger part of my life, some of these other categories will change, but with the use of digital platforms, I hope to still keep them within my larger network.
References
Feld, S., Suitor, J., & Hoegh, J. (2007). Describing changes in personal networks over time. Field Methods, 19(2), 218-236.