Own your Footprint

We all have digital footprints from personal information that is stored about us to information that we have uploaded and created. Some try to minimise this footprint by reducing the amount of content that is purposefully uploaded; often by opting out of social media as a means to reduce this content. However, this does not stop others from uploading images, text, video and sound clips about them. It is not a conspiracy (although I think that sometimes it is seen to be), people just like to share and to discuss and this is now done on a global scale. Therefore, I think we can not ask “Should you have a digital footprint?” as we all have one, albeit small for some and is some cases unwanted. I think it is preferable to ask “How should we model a positive digital footprint?”Last year our school invited Dr Jason Ohler to discuss the topic of digital footprints, he talked to the staff and the pupils about the term digital footprint and the importance of curating your own footprint online. He believed that you have a digital footprint, whether you chose to have one or not, and it is vitally important to ensure that this footprint is as positive as possible. However the crunch question within education is how  to facilitate pupils in the development of their online presence?Lisa Nielsen writes:

“Teaching kids to manage their Digital Footprint really starts with the adults. Teachers can't teach this effectively if they, themselves have not managed their own digital footprint. It is also important not to confuse managing a digital footprint with being hidden or private.”

I do think that as professionals we have a responsibility to model good behaviour and as such it is important that we can demonstrate how we manage our digital footprint. Some of my colleagues use twitter as a teaching tool and insist that all pupils follow certain feeds, including theirs. Pupils are shown, through teacher modelling, tweet etiquette, commenting and separating personal and professional activities (the teacher has a personal account and discusses the importance of considering what you tweet).  Blogs are also being used throughout the school and pupils are encouraged to comment on each others - hopefully enabling pupils to establish commenting protocols before they comment on a more global scale.However, I also think that demonstrating how to keep things private is also part of modelling good digital footprint management. At our school teachers are not allowed to befriend pupils  on Facebook and if I am honest I agree. I have work space and private space and for me this is a very important balance, However, I also think it is a balance that pupils need to achieve. They need to have their own space, with their peers, and it is important that we show them how to maintain their privacy within this space (whatever it may be) as this is a transferable skill and can be adapted to whichever software or app they are using.My biggest concern is the ad hoc method with which these skills are being delivered to the pupils. To see these skills being modelled they need to be in a class with a teacher who models good practice, if they are not then they will not get to see it. We do some stand alone lessons on developing a good digital footprint, however I personally believe these are not as effective as good teacher modelling and integration into lessons, especially as we are working with High School pupils who already have clear ideas about how they wish to use technology. When it is  taught as a separate entity pupils regard it as something they only need to do in these sessions, not something they should be developing throughout their life.One of the most rewarding things I have done is to work with parents, discussing the development of digital footprints. Once we moved away from the fear of content on the web to a discussion about how it could be managed ideas sparked and imaginations raced. Maybe the key is for everyone to look at their digital footprint and to take ownership of their online presence.[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79IYZVYIVLA[/youtube]Nielsen. L (Feb 2010) Teaching Kids to Manage their Digital Footprint. Retrieved from https://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.ch/2010/02/teaching-kids-to-manager-their-digital.htmlJalger (April 2011) The Power of a Positive Digital Footprint for Students. Retrieved from https://edjudo.com/the-power-of-a-positive-digital-footprint-for-students.htmlKnorr. C (Jan 2015) 5 Myths and Truths About Kids' Internet Safety. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/5-myths-and-truths-about-kids-internet-safetyYouth and Media - Digital Dossier. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79IYZVYIVLA