With all the technology that puts the world and then some in our hands comes with some perks and also creates eeary situations. The current generation and some before it grew up with being tech savvy. They know how to navigate themselves around technology even with their eyes closed. As a teacher we might not fully be on the same technological level as our students but we need to be able to get deeper. To help navigate ourselves and our students in the right direction.
Everything we do on the internet leaves a trace that follows us whether we know it or not. So, understanding how our digital footprint happens and what is left behind matters.
Our digital footprint happens with everything we do,
- Websites we visit
- Emails
- Submissions we make
- Purchases
- Social Media Posts/Shares
- Accepting cookies when a site asks/ Accepting terms and conditions
- Surveys
- Games
- Chatrooms
- Google/Google maps
Your digital footprints speak volumes than your CV — Bernard Kelvin Clive
https://quotessayings.net/topics/digital-footprints/
Since the dawn of social media, lots of people have said to children of all ages be careful of what you post online, who you talk to and where you go. A lot of the time people resort to scare tactics, the ‘stranger danger’ trope, “speak with any educator and they will tell you that when a child is frightened, learning stops. This is an important reason why I believe that when teaching children, we need to “enlighten and not frighten.” (The White Hatter) We shouldn’t just focus on the negative. People don’t always listen to ‘authority’ telling them what to do.
“Many children and teenagers are being discouraged from freely using the internet, in an effort to protect them from making mistakes . Media stories that unduly focus on the dangers posed by the internet (stalking, identity theft, cyberbullying, and internet addiction, for example) frame children as passive, vulnerable consumers of digital culture endangered by the online environment. This portrayal of children as powerless victims rather than resourceful participants overlooks the multiple ways children use the internet to establish their identities, build skills, communicate, and engage in their social worlds.” (Buchanan et al. 51)
Students are smarter than we think. There is a lot of unknown with how the internet works but we need to think of the positives that come along with it. The internet is a tool for students, just should be treated as a smart tool. Think about what and how much you are sharing.
As a teacher understanding digital footprints helps keep us safe and the ability to keep our students safe. Especially since technology is used in and outside our classrooms. We can’t hide from technology we need to embrace it. Parents, teachers, school admin, districts etc have a responsibility when it comes to the internet and how we use it and how our children use it.
- What’s the message they want to convey?
- What’s the best tool for doing it?
- What are the best techniques to use in creating that message?
- Who is your audience?
Also, it is important to understand digital footprints as teachers and as students because what others find about us online shapes how they see us or feel about us. When applying to jobs some look you up on social media and see if you would fit with their company right from the beginning. Teachers should as well understand that parents, schools, and students may come across social media profiles. Starting children young in understanding their footprint helps them in their future endeavours.
Buchanan, Rachel, et al. “Expert Insights into Education for Positive Digital Footprint Development.” Scan: The Journal for Educators 37 (2018): 49-64.
The White Hatter. “Stranger Danger Doesn’t Work in the Real World or Online World – The White Hatter.” The White Hatter, 29 Aug. 2022, thewhitehatter.ca/blog/stranger-danger-doesnt-work-in-the-real-world-or-online-world.