Tech Task #4 - Digital Identity/Footprint

I've taken a look at my digital identity and footprint, there are no surprises for me. Anything that comes up for me I have taken the decision to put there. The main one is for professional purposes, Twitter. The other online services I use reflect a person who is at the top of the beginner scale/bottom of the intermediate scale. I have certainly built up my capacity in taking the two courses offered by Dr. Nantais that would otherwise not have been possible on my own. 

I am in awe of the scope of understanding and patience in the way that Matt and Eleni are able to synthesize all the implications of our digital identity and footprint. They have set the bar high! Great video about the mind-reader and Youth and Media - Digital Dossier Eleni!

The way to teach these matters firstly is by example and also access to informative resources. Recently I have started following other teachers who are teaching on this very subject.  Here are some standouts for me: George Couros, Alex Couros, Jennifer Gonzales (The Cult of Pedagogy), Sylvia Duckworth and most recently added Kevin Brookhouser of The 20 Time Project. This last one I watched at the suggestion of our presentor last week Daniel Dillon as well as Justin Rowe's suggestion on his blog. I am glad I spent the time exploring this furthur. Mr. Brookhouser also interviewed a former student of his on this very subject of digital identity and footprint. Her name is Grace Khieu and here is the link for the podcast I listened to. 

The insights I gained from this talk were many. I especially liked the swimming pool metaphor that shows how teaching about digital identity and footprint is similar to teaching children how to swim. For our students that are growing up with a digital presence that was started by their parents most likely, they are best served if they can be taught what the internet is and what the rules are and given opportunities to practice and build on their skills. We simply cannot just fence the area around it and prohibit them from using it until they are older. Likewise, we should not be throwing them in at the deep end and expect them to float! Incremental steps that build capacity are what is needed. Students will learn best by being empowered to make positive digital  choices. 

Another theme that came out in the video is that Ms. Khieu discovered for herself that her initial presence on the internet via vlogging tended to be more of a personna that she was putting forth, now that she is a college student she realizes that the real power of an online presence forms connections by being real and authentic. Her original presence on Facebook for example was one of putting her best foot forward in a contrived way to please her 'audience', like a meal that she was proud to arrange the presentation of. Now, it is a blog that documents how she has accepted a 3o day challenge of documenting gratitude that generates more authentic feedback and deeper connections with her friends and followers. That said, because of the volume of digital presence that there invariably will be, there is also a growing tolerance for published mistakes. This is interesting, but I also believe that we need to exercise caution nevertheless as some published 'mistakes' can and will always be deal-breakers for potential employers or clients. 

I also have been thinking about integrating a way for students to become aware of and improve their curating habits. So in this way, I think I can invite students to think about their own digital presence and make time occasionally for students to focus on their curation and footprint more consciously rather than the passive way they engage with their digital presence on a day to day basis.