This event is part of The Burnaby Festival of Learning a free, multi-day celebration of lifelong learning by community, May 5-9th, 2023

Mastodon, a decentralized social networking platform, has skyrocketed in popularity in recent months. It is an open-source alternative to microblogging services like Twitter that allow you to post (or “toot”) your thoughts and ideas and join growing communities of people hoping to create a better future for social media. As an open-source tool, Mastodon isn’t a business. It doesn’t monetize personal information to sell advertising. What should you know about Mastodon? This session will orient you to Mastodon’s decentralized model, how it can be used as an information source, and everything else you need to know to get started.  Mastodon gives you the freedom to reshape your relationship to social media on your own terms. Gain familiarity with the basic features and functions of Mastodon, including how to create an account, choose the right server for you, and interact with other people. Compare ethics of Mastodon with other platforms (i.e. Twitter and Facebook). Envision how Mastodon can support your teaching, learning, and communication objectives.

Presenter Bio:

Ian Linkletter is an Emerging Technology and Open Education Librarian with BCIT Library. He has extensive experience piloting and implementing technologies to support teaching, learning, and communication. Exploring emerging technologies through an ethical lens is his passion.