Interlude; Reading in Public - An Introduction to Social Constructivism in Professional Networking
Introduction
I've decided to post monthly blog posts; that's my loosely guaranteed commitment. But what if I feel like making more?
I've decided to create a series of brief blog posts called Interlude for those times when I feel like writing short thoughts and excerpts that may develop into larger blog posts for my discussion.
I argue that this is also yet another excuse to showcase my photography with illustrations that act as metaphors for what I'm talking about. For example, I shall title this 'Interlude.'
You can figure out what that means. Relationships? Art? Phenomenal questions.
These blog posts will be shorter than the monthly discussions I'll delve into and prioritize quick insights and interests. Like the blog posts, I will write monthly, they will not have a fixed topic, either.
Reading in Public - Foundations of Social Constructivism in Professional Networking
As I have referenced once already and will be bound to reference until the end of this fad or time, I've fallen into the hobby of reading. More specifically, reading in public. I don't read much at home unless I'm on the last ten or so pages. Otherwise, I'm reading on the streetcar, cafe, bar, or just before class.
While many people use reading as an escape, I like to see it as a bridge between people in general. In dialling in on a focus here, I'd like to look at reading in social settings as a catalyst for better networking in a professional context.
The experience of reading in public has increased my connection to people to a degree I never thought possible. I will provide more clarity on what I mean by that. I primarily mean the social enjoyment you get from learning about others, feeling more grounded, and aware of your surroundings. For example, when I read on the streetcar, I might look up and just take in the scenery and think more actively about those around me in between shoving my nose into the book.
Reading in my spare time has helped me connect with others and provided access to more thought-provoking conversations, which I find myself frequently drawn to these days.
The thought-provoking component is vital, considering I often feel like nothing is happening with the hamster wheels in my head. So when I can see gears turning on other people's trains of thought, I find it encouraging and exciting.
Recently, my fascination has grown so much that it's drawn me to social constructivism in professional networking.
Quick surface-level breakdown of a profound theory;
Social constructivism is "a sociological theory of knowledge according to which human development is socially situated, and knowledge is constructed through interaction with others."
- McKinley, J. (2015).
In simplified terms, you create new knowledge through your social life. Extroverts, rejoice. Introverts, it'll be okay. Probably.
I'm drawn to the theory of social constructivism as an extrovert because my interest in listening to random folks' stories has more purpose in developing a greater understanding of the person I'm talking to and the world around me. Not that it didn't have a purpose to begin with, life or the conversation.
However, how I choose to network in professional contexts these days is often framed around hearing the stories of others. The stories revolve around what they go through during their experiential learning processes throughout their careers. Usually, it seems that there is or should be a more direct approach rather than telling someone, "go nuts and tell me your story." But I am drawn to people's stories of their passions and pursuits. I may have no connection to their material or passion, but a conversation spark can ignite a fire in me to learn. So, I often reach out to understand the other person's perspective more. It's fun!
Oddly enough, such a spark happened the other day. I was conversing with a colleague about social constructivism, reading in public, and career pursuits when, lo and behold, a passerby found her way into the conversation. It enhanced the conversation by adding terms and context to social constructivism I didn't know.
She spoke to us about situated learning and communities of practice and how she teaches those subjects. Situated learning and communities of practice are theories about learning in professional contexts. The situated component learning implies it is a circumstantial endeavour where skills grow through apprenticeship. The community of practice means that those who learn and engage alongside people with similar interests will grow in their abilities. In my interest in social constructivism of professional networking, where the point is that you are creating new knowledge through conversations in professional circumstances, those two theories go hand-in-hand as steps that follow. Of course, this is all new to me, but I'd like to look further down the line.
Once I learn more, I'll be sure to pass that on.
Sadly, the person preferred to avoid follow-ups. That happens, and that's okay. You only know once you ask, right? I wasn't going to push that matter. I was happy that she felt comfortable enough to share the insights she already had anyway.
Before I wrap, though, I'll stress that the joys I've had in reading publicly are not for everyone. I know that for many folks, reading is an escape rather than another form of connection to their surrounding environment and people.
I'm sure the focus of escape will be something else to follow up on.
Source:
McKinley, J. (2015). "Critical Argument and Writer Identity: Social Constructivism as a Theoretical Framework for EFL Academic Writing" (PDF). Critical Inquiry in Language Studies. 12 (3): 184–207. doi:10.1080/15427587.2015.1060558. S2CID 53541628
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