Since the turn into the 21st century, society has evolved from the industrial age into the age of communication. Knowledge and learning is literally at the touch of a person's finger tips, and anything a person needs to know can simply be discovered in seconds through the use of technology and computers. Easier access to information has allowed our society to share ideas and innovation more easily, and as such, has opened up the way we see the world to new ideals and ways of thinking and doing things.
It is important that our education system and the classroom addresses this shift within society. The classroom is no longer viewed in terms of its productivity and its capacity to turn out the educated learner, but rather the shift has occurred to view the student as a differentiated learner, capable of many things if given the forum to display his or her learning and creativity. Technology has given the learner the ability to do this, not just by accessing information quickly, but also by allowing the learner to display his or her ideas, thoughts, abilities, and learning in a multitude of new and innovative ways.
The teacher has consequently become less of an instructor and more of a facilitator within the classroom. The role of the teacher is meant to guide the learner, to use technology and access information safely, while allowing the student to display new learning, with a focus on what the student knows rather than what the student does not know. This has allowed the learner to discover new learning more freely, independently, and through a means that works for them, rather than the student being told what he or she needs to know, and all students being taught in the same way.
As an educator, I believe it is impossible to not have a digital footprint of some kind existing online. Communication with parents, students, colleagues and administrators is all done online today. The more of a digital footprint that one has, the easier it is for people to access what is happening in class, and what the directives of the educator are. There are many benefits for educators to be online as much as possible, within their own personal and professional lives. That being said, the question of how much information an educator should share online can be answered simply by asking ones self another simple question: Would I be comfortable with anyone seeing this post I've shared? The lines between private and public, with regards to what is being shared online line is quickly fading away. Everything is becoming public, and a teacher needs to be mindful of this change within his or her own posts and information shares.
Tim - I have to agree that the issue of public and private is becoming increasingly evident as social media become more prevalent. People (students, educators, etc) need to understand that online, nothing is really private anymore - even our own intellectual property sometimes. It is most important that we have a filter on what we are saying online, and as you said have a level of comfort with our dialogue online. Well said!
ReplyDeleteTim-- I agree with you that it is becoming impossible for educators to not have a digital footprint online. You really do have to be aware of what you are posting and with the fact that anyone could possibly see that post. It is up to you as an educator to be professional in manner and comfortable with the digital footprint that you leave behind.
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