In the entire universe, everything is connected. Thus, a network means a relationship being social capital and intangible resource. It is a meaningful relationship forming support, expertise, idea, introduction, insight, feedback, resource, cooperation, and referral in a common interest. However, it should be transparent, compassionate, valuable, trustworthy, mutual, and sustainable for personal and professional growth. It enhances various opportunities, awareness, trends, and information. Social network theory explains the details about how people are connected.
Consequently, I experience that a network should not be intentional and opportunistic since it builds naturally in personal and professional life. The main reason is that a relationship transmission carries automatic exchange, reward, and fun through integrity, comfortability, and mental peace. Naturally, an opportunistic relationship cannot be sustainable.
I also comprehend that there are three types of networks operational, strategic, and private. Operational networking indicates an internal system in an educational institution comprising colleagues, administrative demand, and working structure. In the educational institution, a teacher can be a peaceful and affluent with a deep, valuable, and respected relationship. Generally, my professional network enhances through seminars, conferences, meetings, social activities, online networking, blogging, and sharing information. Some networking sites also connect professionals through group posting, blogs, information sharing, searching, and identifying candidates, e.g., LinkdIn.
However, the strategic network is a political game to search for an opportunity. The significant point of a decent strategic network is to leverage inside and outside. It influences a relational environment for subordinates, colleagues, professionals through restructuring and lobbying a system for personal and institute goals that higher authority and leader ensure in the educational institution. It indirectly influences and convinces a person to achieve something inside or outside the network.
I recognize that a private network indicates a mutual relationship between people for personal and professional development through current and future interests comprising the external environment. Generally, private link enhances through some scheduling for connection, getting involved in lobbying, volunteering, profitable and nonprofitable activities, keep in touch for existing relationships and social media tools. Although there are different types of networks, all the links get a shape through interpersonal chemistry and cultivated connection. However, all the social networks can not make the same performance due to diversified values of people. Therefore, social network analysis is conventional in society.
Consequently, I always maintain a formal and informal relationship, personal development, and stakeholders’ demands through personal values and integrity. As an active networker in a professional teaching career, I always stretch more than I get. I share with my teaching colleagues in a safe and comfortable setting since networking is two-way communication belonging to mutual benefits. Usually, a network in the educational institution can be taken care of by keeping in touch, connecting the contacts, asking for help, sharing resources, collaboration in social events, responding queries, updating social media sites, and sending newsletters or blogs. Also, a teacher can seek and identify a private and professional network for the mutual benefits of a person and institution.
Reflection on group works and teaching in AC session:-
In the Bastu group, one team member prepared the slides after getting all the related articles and information from others. Our topic was social network theory and analysis. We did excellent cooperative work, which was student-centric. However, in the end, due to different opinions, teamwork was not well. I observed the application of social network theory in our Bastu group. Practically, the problem can not be solved in a virtual environment apart from rearrangement. In the end, we somehow managed to work together.
However, the slides were logical and structural, with several discussion parts. We mostly used multimedia, which was an in-depth learning approach due to graphics, sound, and interrelated issues. My colleague and I did cooperative teaching, which was more comfortable and made a positive classroom environment. Within a short time, we went more in-depth on social network analysis that all learners understood well. As a teacher, I was happy that I activated and taught the learners regarding the social network and analysis through digital media instead of traditional teaching. This is the reason why I like digital media in professional education. My colleague also performed well in the teaching session. We had a perfect combination. Also, our listeners were more passionate about learning.
Moreover, group Owl invited us as guest lecturers to share our experience regarding networking that was really fascinating to me. For their convenience, I made a video and shared that on YouTube. The teacher was professional and fluent in the classroom environment. The teacher activated us well. The team also used a graphical picture that attracted us to be attentive in the classroom. In the topic, the teacher was more knowledgeable to explain the importance of networking in the professional level, for example, idea generation, curricula, and project development. However, the slides might be much more transparent. In the Tree group, the teacher was so professional. She explained the social media merits and demerits in working life. The lecture was student-centric. However, team Tree might reduce some texts because I was not so attracted by their slide preparation. However, I liked their discussion part well. They might go more in-depth about social network theory. They also might show the connection between theory and practice that might be well for students.
Finally, I learned about that slide preparation is essential to attract students. Also, I learned how to teach from the group Owl and Tree. Compared to Owl and Tree, the Bastu team worked well to explain the entire phenomenon digitally. I learn that we need digital pedagogy to go in-depth in the virtual and frontal classroom setting.
Reference:-
- Herminia Ibarra and Mark Lee Hunter (2017), How leaders create and use a network [Online]. Available at https://hbr.org/2007/01/how-leaders-create-and-use-networks (Accessed on 26.11.2019)
- Lauritsen Jason (2016), five ways to create a robust personal network [Online], Available at https://talentanarchy.com/2016/12/13/5-ways-to-create-a-powerful-personal-network/ (Accessed on 24.11.2019).
- Glover Laurie (2014), three types of networks you need to succeed in your career [Online], Available at https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/growth-strategies/2014/02/3-networks-you-need-to-succeed-in-career.html (Accessed on 24.11.2019)
Dr. Arup Barua 