The digital era, a gift or a curse?

The access to technology has been a double edge sword for both myself and my students. We have the opportunity to learn and collaborate more now than ever before yet the devices in our hands could pose a threat to creating meaningful relationships and the opportunity for critical thinking. As someone who went through most of my education with out devices and Internet access, I didn't have all of the answers at the tips of my fingers, I had to sit without the instant gratification of looking it up online. This lack of immediate information forced me to critically think and try to come up with the answer. This feeling of uncomfortable not knowing, drove me to look things up and filled me with the urgency to attain knowledge. That has been the main detriment to my students. Students who grew up with devices in their hand and access to every resource available have a very difficult time when they don't know an answer and can't just "google it". They are overwhelmed with anxiety and have been denied the skills of critical thinking when they can't access the information in 10 seconds. They haven't learned the patience of sitting with some question and trying to work through it. The other threat to my students, who are 16-18 years old, is their lack of filter on social media. They often post things that are either private, offensive, or inappropriate without a second thought or the realization that what they posted is now on the Internet forever.

A digital footprint is the identity of a person that is created when they post, share, comment, or any other data that exists online in a permanent way. Digital footprints could be left intentionally by the creator, whether by posting certain content or through purchasing habits, or unintentionally by people other than the creator. The identity that is made online could be positive or negative, true or false, but either way is a permanent record that can have effects on people "in the real world". Students can deliberately cultivate a digital footprint by researching themselves to see what information is available about themselves online. They can create secure passwords and be more mindful about what they post, share, and like on the Internet. Their ePortfolios should highlight attractive traits and qualities, they should be aware that nothing is private when it's posted online and should expect data to be shared and keep that in mind when creating an ePortfolio.

Resources:

Take Charge of Your Online Reputation. (2020, November 25). Retrieved from https://er.educause.edu/articles/2018/10/take-charge-of-your-online-reputation

Education, C. S. (2014, September 04). Oversharing: Think Before You Post. Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyjd73tUXig

Common Sense Education. (2020, November 25). What's in Your Digital Footprint? Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P_gj3oRn8s