Aastha B

  If someone had told me years ago that one single Facebook message would completely change my life, I'd have likely laughed . Social media is all noise—likes, shares, tags—but it provided me with something life-changingly true: love.     I met my future spouse on Facebook. At the time, he was a total stranger. I honestly can't even recall who initiated the first friend request, but I do remember the conversation that followed. It started small: a hello, a comment on a post, shared interest. Over time, we started talking more. One thing that surprised me was how easy it felt, even through a screen. He was mannered, thoughtful, witty, and genuinely wanted to get to know me.   Over time, our chats grew long. We had become good friends, never having even met. Then, eventually, that friendship blossomed into something more. What began as a surprise Internet connection transformed into a relationship of trust, laughter, and love.     Fast-forward to today—...

  This week forced me to question critically the difference between being somewhere and actually belonging . I used to think that if people were reading the same page or using the same hashtag, they were part of a community. But through dialogue, blog entries, and analyzing my own digital habits, I've come to understand how an authentic community is built on something much deeper—interaction, intentionality, and connection.   I thought about my experiences on LinkedIn, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Some groups I’m in feel silent and disconnected, while others feel warm and supportive. The difference? People actually engage. They share, respond, and care. That’s what makes a digital space meaningful.   As an international student navigating all these various roles, finding communities—both on- and offline—has been a major part of my feeling of grounding. And this week really made me remember how important it is not only to exist in online spaces, but to be engaged, purpose...

When I initially signed up on LinkedIn, it felt like another place to place my degrees and experience. I did not fully get the purpose of it, apart from being a virtual resume. However, as an international graduate student trying to juggle professional and academic life in a new country, LinkedIn slowly evolved into something else.   By simply following teachers, researchers, and professionals in my own line of work, I began to learn, think, and no longer feel isolated. I began to engage—posting messages, writing my own observations, and connecting with people who truly inspired me. That was when LinkedIn became more than just a profile and a place of growth.   It may not always feel like a true community, but in moments of meaningful connection, it reminds me I’m part of a global network of learners and leaders. And that’s powerful.  

Ever since becoming an international student and relocating to the U.S., the word "community" has had a very different meaning to me. When you're leaving everything familiar behind—language, food, culture, and habits—you start looking for communities where you can reconnect. Naturally, much of that searching is done on the internet.   I initially joined various Facebook groups for international students and Nepalese communities. I also monitored hashtags like #DesiInAmerica and joined WhatsApp groups formed for new students. But with time, I realized that not all of these platforms were so much like communities. Some were just pages with postings and announcements. People would post and leave—no conversation, no replies, no real support. It was almost like a bulletin board rather than a group of people coming together.   In contrast, I did have some online groups where I felt really accepted. My regular online space was a Nepali student group chat with some other un...

Scrolling through social media these days feels like plugging into a giant hive mind. Whether it’s a trending TikTok explaining a scientific theory, a Reddit thread solving a coding issue, or a Facebook group offering emotional support for grad students, there’s no denying that we’re constantly learning from each other.   This is the wonder of collective intelligence. We benefit from what others know, often in real time. Need help with an idea? Someone's probably done a YouTube tutorial on it. Want to learn about a subject? There's a forum with hundreds of perspectives. It's learning without walls— and for the most part, it's incredible.   But it's not all sunshine and shared wisdom.   The biggest challenge? Misinformation. Not everything that spreads in the hive is a ccurate — or helpful. And when e veryone’s a "creator," i t’s easy to confuse confidence with credibility. I ’ve d efinitely gone down a few rabbit holes that led to more confu...

Even when I did not realize the term produsage , I was already doing it. As a grad student, I was not just reading and listening; I was producing. Creating blog posts, leaving comments, responding to classmates, and joining online forums became part of my learning process.   That is what produsage is all about—being a producer and user of content at the same time. And for me, it made learning more enjoyable and applicable. When I write or create something, I am learning more. I also feel more connected to my classmates—we are learning together, side by side.   It's not always perfect, and sometimes I wonder what I am saying. But produsage isn't about perfection— it's about participation. And through it, I've found myself more confident, reflective, and curious.   -Aastha

I ' ve  been called a  " digital native "   fairly often  because of the  shared   birth   year , but I don ' t  feel  that  about   myself.   Of   course , I 'm   glued   to  technology  all   the time —Facebook, Zoom, Canvas, Google Docs—but that doesn ' t mean I 'm   constantly   competent   at   using   it  to   serve   teaching  or  learning . There are times  when  switching between apps, tabs, and  projects  feels more  draining  than empowering. This week ' s readings helped me see why. Kirschner and De Bruyckere (2017) explain  how   growing   up  in the digital age  does   not   equate   to   being   computer literate  or  adept  at multitasking. I could  easily  relate to that. I may  appear  comfortable with technology, but ...