When I first heard the world reflection as part of the ONL course, it ”scared” me. My mind went back to high school when we had this course called ”Composition” or something like that, where you are given a topic and you should write an essay about it. I was never too good at that and in general putting my thoughts in writing. So, I haven’t really ”reflected” on anything since then in this way, writing a whole essay. Moreover, doing this openly and pressing the publish button was for sure a big step 😄.
When it comes to the actual topic, the group work and the supporting material has given me a lot of food for thought. Stepping into an open online course has forced a sudden, necessary audit of my digital presence. To answer who I am as an individual in the digital age, I would describe myself as a “cautious explorer.” My journey so far has been characterized by a high level of digital consumption—using the web as a vast library—but a hesitation toward digital creation and public contribution. I have mastered to a good enough level the tools necessary for my work, yet I have remained largely “invisible” in the wider professional network. For years, I have operated primarily as a visitor in professional spaces—logging in to perform a specific task or find a resource, then leaving without a trace. In my private life, however, I am more of a resident not so much as in sharing in public but mostly connecting and sharing with friends or small groups/communities (or even public figures sometimes 😝) on platforms like Facebook, Instagram or Discord.
The challenge I face now is reconciling these two worlds: how do I inhabit the professional web with the same ease I feel in private spaces, while maintaining a clear boundary between them? In an online course, communication is “persistent”; my thoughts don’t just spark a conversation and vanish—they remain as a digital artifact. This creates a psychological barrier where the fear of being “wrong” in public outweighs the desire to contribute. I think digital identity is not a fixed persona but a curated one as I have understood so far in this course. I can choose to be “visible” as a professional educator—sharing reflections on pedagogy and tech—without ever compromising my private life.
For me, ONL represents the bridge between using the web and inhabiting it. I expect this journey to be uncomfortable at times. Moving from the safety of private silos to an “open” networked environment feels like learning to swim in the ocean after a lifetime in a pool. The insecurity I felt at the start of this course was not a lack of technical skill, but a lack of practiced identity. As I transition from “visiting” these tools to “residing” in these professional discussions, I am finding that the “open web” is not a vacuum to be feared, but a workspace to be claimed. This journey is less about mastering software and more about mastering the confidence to be seen as a learner in a digital age. It requires a shift in mindset.
I am no longer just “using” a site; I am collaborating in a global community of practice. My goal is to transform from a silent observer into an active, collaborative node in this learning network.
References
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, Part 1. On The Horizon, 9, 3-6.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10748120110424816
Visitors and Residents: A new typology for online engagement by David S. White and Alison Le Cornu. First Monday, Volume 16, Number 9 – 5 September 2011, https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3171/3049
Sara Ramezanian
I enjoyed reading your reflection on Topic 1, and I totally relate to your experience. Just like you, I also decided to make myself uncomfortable during this ONL journey. I particularly liked your view on collaborating in a global community of practice. Looking forward to your next reflections.
Kirsty Dunnett
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Dimitrios. Some of your hesitations about public contribution and observations about being primarily a visitor in professional usage ring so true. I don’t have the personal side of the web at all really (beyond email), but also lack a practiced professional identity – to borrow your eloquent phrasing. So ONL is an opportunity to push my boundaries, to think about and decide what my contribution(s) will be – and what sort of contributor I will be is a part of that, which also couples to considerations of who (or what) benefits from any contributions I make, and who has long-term control over my original content (derivatives are another matter).