After completing the google search of the online identity calculator it was a bit shocking to see how many times my name was there. Well, actually only four of those hits were really me. I was initially afraid because I saw a search result number of 758,000. Did I like what I saw? When reveiewing the information that was up and running about me, most were consequences of social media websites, such as, Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. There weren't any pictures or videos out there of me, but I really was worried as I hit that search button.
I would consider myself as "identified" and as Thomas Friedman says, "hyper-connected" especially to the social media outlets. Does this bring positive or negative attention? Well, that depends on whose accessing the information and how they portray what they see or read. Am I relating to others and making powerful connections? This question was also asked by Friedman and I think this is a fair question. The information that you put out about yourself should allow for everyone to make a positive connection with your identity. Is what I'm saying useful? When talking about creating a teacher web, I think it is important for educators to make a powerful connection to many different audiences. Educators are held to a higher standard and I think they have to prove that.
Of course, my teacher web page is going to create an environment that is positive and friendly with all those that I deal with in education. It's the social media sites, such as, Facebook that can sometimes tarnish our images. Unknowingly, friends and family could post a picture of you that you would never want your students to have access to. Not saying, a law breaking picture, but maybe a pic of you in a swimsuit at the beach. I give this example because I have seen educators (including administrators) in these types of positions.
No, we cannot control everything that is out there, but we can limit access to those that we do not feel should see, like our sudents. If we make a conscious effort to filter out and look at and re-examine questionable material, then I think we are doing what is appropriate, but this still allows us to be identified in a positive way.
It was funny reading that you came up with 758,000 hits! That's just crazy, but it shows the power of the Internet. Somewhat concerning is based on what you said-only a few of those results were really YOU. Like you said, what if there were pictures and videos out there...and what if they were not you? I imagine that would be tough to deal with.
ReplyDeleteThomas Friedman has written some wonderful books. I agree that when you create your teaching web it is essential to look it from the standpoint of connecting with a variety of audiences. You want all different types of people to be able to connect with you. For many looking at your site, it is their first impression of you, if they hadn't met you personally.
We have to be conscientious and just take a few extra seconds to think about what we put out there about ourselves. Looking from a few different perspectives is especially important as an educator.
I think it is amazing how many hits that you had when you typed your name into the search engine. Although you are able to search and identify which ones are you, how are other people that are deciding to hire you or make decisions about your character going to know which ones are you? I ran into an opposite scenario that some of the things I have done professionally and I want people to see when they do a search on the Internet will not show up because my name has been changed. It makes me wonder, will I lose some of my digital identity again when I someday get married?
ReplyDeleteHi Kari,
ReplyDeleteYou wrote, "When talking about creating a teacher web, I think it is important for educators to make a powerful connection to many different audiences. Educators are held to a higher standard and I think they have to prove that." Yes, I agree with you on both points. We can definitely use the web to make powerful connections to different audiences. That is one of the wonderful aspects of life on the web. When I was teaching, we didn't have YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, etc., and I didn't have a website to communicate with the world. Now, things are different, and not only can we make positive, personal relationships with our students in class, we have the opportunity to increase communication with our students and parents via our blogs and teacher pages.
I agree that we are held to a higher standard by society, but as educators, we SHOULD hold ourselves to a higher standard as well. We are standing in front of impressionable students every day, all day, and that is a huge responsibilty. Those kids look up to us, and we need to show them good examples.
I checked out your other blog, which I take it as the one you use with your students, and it was really nice as well: colorful, engaging, neat. Good work.
Thank you so much for your post.
Christi S