Welcome to my new blog as a part of my course “Internet for Educators” at Brandon University.
This week in class talked about Digital Identity which is defined by techopidia as;
"an online or networked identity adopted or claimed in cyberspace by an individual, organization or electronic device. These users may also project more than one digital identity through multiple communities. In terms of digital identity management, key areas of concern are security and privacy." http://www.techopedia.com/definition/23915/digital-identity
Our digital self is an extension of who we are, and the digital footprint we create is another way to show who we are by what we choose to show the world, whether it is in the form of a blog, Twitter, Instagram account or Facebook.
When considering my own digital Identity I am mindful of what I am putting out there for people to see. The main social networking sites I use are Facebook (which I keep on lock down), as well as twitter, and Istagram. I obviously also have a blog, although I find blogging difficult because I find it difficult to believe that many people would want to read what I have to say. It is only in a situation where I am require to do so (such as for this class) that I would put so many of my thoughts out there, however it is something I wish to get better at.
What does Digital Identity mean for educators?
Even though my students will have grown up in a world where something such as a Digital Identity exists, it does not mean that they have an understanding of what it means. When posting something on the internet there can be the feeling of a shield or wall that separates us from what we say. We may be so bold as to say something that we may never say in person, good or bad. There is also desensitization in the sense that we cannot see the people we are interacting with. We do not always understand that although the words are not coming our of our mouths that they still have the same impact. If we had an understanding of what an Digital Identity is, and realized that our digital life is a part of our real life, would we better understand the damage that could be done?
On a more positive note…
Which proper guidance there are many possibilities when teaching students about their Digital Identity to extend their learning, and connect them to a digital community.
Blog looks great, Sam. Interesting thoughts in this first post, I agree we need to help people (kids) get their head around the idea that online is part of 'real' life.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the problems that comes up with the concept of digital identity is the dissonance between the myth that Internet activity is essentially anonymous and the reality that virtually everything we do can and is being tracked by a multitude of agencies. There's this huge notion of the Internet being a 'Wild West' and as far as most people are concerned, that hasn't been true for some time now. As teachers, we have to try very hard to make sure that students understand that their online activity is a.) traceable and b.) permanent.
ReplyDeleteAs educators we have such an important role in helping our students create their digital identities. I believe our biggest challenges will keep evolving as social media and the use of technology by students grows. It is crucial that students understand (even in early years) that the stuff posted on the internet will always be there. Making sure students understand digital identities and how they can effect their futures will play a major role in our technology lessons.
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