Another week…another blog! The focus this week is about digital citizenship. Digital citizenship is very important for everyone that uses the internet. Many people forget that the things that they post on the internet will stay there forever. So, my goal for this blog post is to bring awareness to your online identity and presence.
What was the most interesting thing you found when you googled yourself?
I’m sure that when you first meet someone, you google them. You’re curious about who they are, their accomplishments, what they look like, the possibilities are endless. So, why would someone not google you? It is an interesting experience googling yourself, you can learn so much.
I do not have a large digital footprint. When I simply google “Kyra Tyson” only one result of myself appears. I have made a TikTok video about a month spent in Thailand. This video encapsulates my wonderful experience in this beautiful country. I am happy to share it with others…please see below!
As an effort to try to find more results, I searched “Kyra Tyson Victoria BC” which brought up my private Facebook profile and academic and athletic scholarships from my secondary school education. Throughout my education, I have put in tremendous effort. So, I am proud to have these results appear in a google search of myself.
Being a future educator, I find that it is very beneficial to my career that I have been mindful about my digital footprint and the possibility of others googling me
Will you change your use of social media after the talk and Q&A with Jesse Miller?
Social media has become a huge aspect of people’s lives. It has both a positive and negative power in society with lots of impacts. I believe that it is important for everyone to know safe and mindful internet usage, especially as an educator.
As Jesse Miller discussed, the upper elementary students will search you up on the internet to find your social media. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of your internet presence. As a future educator, I will ensure that my social media platforms are private so that my students will not be able to access these profiles. Students should not be connected with their teacher on social media platforms. I find that this in inappropriate and unnecessary as it is private information that students do not need access to.
I currently have a positive digital identity. The talk and Q&A with Jesse Miller were helpful reminders on being mindful on the internet. My digital identity will not be available to my students as this is not information that they are granted. I am aware of my digital identity and my profiles uphold my values, which is essential as a future educator.
How can we help our learners manage their digital footprints?
As Jesse Miller suggested, we need to prepare kids for a connected world. The government of British Columbia is taking digital footprints seriously as they provide helpful resources to teachers, parents/guardians, and youth. This website discusses numerous components of online safety, Online safety – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca). I find this website to be highly beneficial in helping teach learners how to manage their digital footprints.
In Jesse Miller’s talk and Q&A on Zoom, I found this quote to be very powerful…
“Part of the guidance role in the 21st Century isn’t preparing kids for a reality of the past. It is to help children make sense of their on-demand media and online experiences. Teaching and guiding how to uphold enduring values and empowering their communications expectations in the reality they live in, not the one we grew up in…”
We can help our learners manage their digital footprints by demonstrating a positive digital citizenship and the values that relate to this. Maintaining a positive digital citizenship involves “thinking before posting” as once it is posted, it stays on the internet forever. Many learners do not comprehend this and that the things they post may have negative consequences in the future. Therefore, an educator must teach students all these important aspects to properly manage their digital footprints. This website provides information on how to help students manage their presence on the internet, 12 Tips For Students To Manage Their Digital Footprints (teachthought.com). The video below is a very helpful resource to help learners manage their digital footprint as it incorporates various community members.
My goal with this blog post is to inform educators on the importance of being mindful on the internet. What you post will stay on the internet forever…including this blog!
Take care,
Kyra
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