This exercise made me realize how critical it is for teachers to educate students on leaving a positive digital footprint. Students don't always understand that what they do online is often permanent. When they grow up and mature, those embarrassing pictures or comments are still available to be retrieved. I recently came across a Gaggle article on Twitter which emphasizes that nothing is private when it has been posted on the internet. Students need to learn that it is necessary to protect their reputation. We’ve all heard of the job applicant who gets edged out or even a teacher getting fired because of inappropriate Facebook pictures or comments brought to light.
Gaggle tweet about Digital Citizenship
Since it is so easy to extract information about people on the web, now more than ever it is time to take control of your web presence and ensure that you are communicating a positive image for yourself. Steve Dembo lectures passionately about the need for students to have evidence of their creative work available on the internet. He says that not having a digital footprint is worse than having a bad one! When there are only a few spots open for scholarships or admission to a prestigious school, you can bet that some admissions personnel will be googling student names in order to learn more about them. Besides, Dembo notes, wonderful work deserves to be shared with the world, not buried away. As educators we can model a positive, professional online presence for students and help them put their best digital foot forward!
Steve Dembo believes that teachers should help students cultivate their online presence.
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