What Footprint Are You Leaving?
Dear Readers,
Have you ever Googled yourself? What would you find?
After hearing Dave Burgess speak, my students and I started talking about social media. He made a fantastic point.
"It's about building communities and connecting with people."
It reminded me of another powerful message heard earlier this year when coach and motivational speaker, Scott Fitch, came to speak during a school wide Morning Meeting. He too spoke about the power of using social media to make connections and build a positive profile of yourself.
On the other hand, Coach Fitch also talked about the repercussions of posting without thinking and the negative profile you might be building. He told us stories of students who were denied jobs, scholarships or admission to universities because of what was found on their "digital footprint".
After his presentation, I thought about something he had said, how he had Googled his players' names to see what kind of social media trail they were leaving behind. Out of curiosity, I decided to Google a few of my students. Luckily, nothing inappropriate showed up.
As middle school students will, some of my 8th graders turned the tables around and decided to search me out! It led to an extremely interesting and fun class last Friday. We had a modified schedule and therefore only a 20 minute class period. What I thought was going to be a lesson in blogging turned into a lesson in social media.
One of the students commented that she tried to find me and stumbled across my Twitter feed. I asked if she looked at it and she said yes. My comment was, I post knowing students, parents, administrators and colleagues have access to it. I always think before I post anything. What I suggested, actually, was that she check out our class Twitter page. The primary focus is our classroom, it might be more interesting for her.
My Facebook page was also brought up. My response was it is locked pretty tightly, it is not accessible to the public and I rarely share on it. Perhaps once a month I might add something. It's primary use is really for me to follow others and see the photos of their lives. Therefore, I choose to keep it private.
Just in those two examples, they were able to see a model of a platform I keep private and one that is open to the public.
This prompted one of the other students to image search me. Much to my amazement a ton of profile pictures popped up! She was searching through them and asked me about them. I explained anytime I change my picture or someone adds my picture to a guest blog post, etc. then I am associated with it.
I noticed one of my students holding up his phone and his eyes darting back and forth between me and the screen. Finally, I said what? He said, I was trying to figure out if this was you or not." I said, "Bring it over here." Much to my surprise, this is what I found.......
I had completely forgotten about this! I admitted, yes it was. They were commenting on how blonde my hair was, which was entertaining, and naturally the crown on my head. I said that was a funny story. I was recognized a few years ago as a Champion of Literacy by an intervention company and was presented with the crown, a certificate and flowers at a faculty meeting (arranged by the company) that I knew nothing about. In addition to this, there was a small write-up in the local paper and I was entered into a contest to receive a free trip to the conference. The catch was, I had to post a picture wearing the crown and with the flowers and certificate. The focus was not on the recognition, but rather the embarrassing moment at the faculty meeting and then a colleague bringing in the newspaper with my photo.
What a natural way to not only build relationships, but grab onto a completely, 100%, real-life teachable moment.
I let them do a little investigative work. Then a student asked me about this.......
I told her it was a profile. She asked me about "She, Her, Hers". I explained they are pronouns I identify myself with. Some people are born into a female body and identify as female or a male body and identify as male. However, some people are born into a female body and identify as male or a male body and identify as female. It caused the class to pause and think. Then one student said, I was born female and identify as female and another said I was born male and identify as male. That was as far as our conversation went because the class period ended at that moment.
As a Language & Literature Teacher, Reading Specialist and Speech Therapist, I see myself as a positive role model for reading, writing, speaking, building language and vocabulary, as well as listening. I realized, more than ever, that I am also a positive role model for social media.
This weekend, I decided to Google image search myself and just in the first batch of photos there were 77 that I immediately recognized as either profile pictures, Tweets I have posted, posters I have created for various reasons and visuals from my classroom. In the second batch I counted 22 images. That is a total of 99 images that immediately came up associated with my name. (Of course, they were dispersed among others having no connection to me, but I was still a little shocked at that number.)
There is power in using social media. I personally believe, it is part of my job to integrate it as much as possible into our classroom. Getting our class Twitter page off the ground took work, patience and instruction for my students. However we have made connections that would have been impossible! Not just "one and done", but have built relationships that have lasted for a couple of years! They have had the opportunity to participate in a live chat moderated by students in a town within New York State. How cool is that? They have received postcards from the Philippines! I am so grateful for the amazing educators who have allowed us to be part of their classrooms and lives.
In reality, I taught myself most of what I have learned. I was that motivated and determined to figure "it out".
However, I decided to pull out any professional resource I owned that even mentioned the use of social media and this is what I came up with.......
Those are 14 titles that encourage educators to "get in the game" and become connected educators. Of course, my mind automatically then grouped these in two more piles.......
On the left are resources that support social media with students in some way or fashion, on the right are books geared more towards adults. As Dave Burgess says in Twitter Tip #127, it is our responsibility to become "digital citizens" and share our stories!
"You have amazing ideas and experiences that are unique to you and your path as an educator. And what you have to add to the conversation may be exactly what someone needs to hear. Share everything!"
"We change lives. We literally save lives. We need your contributions. We need you to share your special perspective and to add your voice to this ongoing discussion centered on transforming the world into a better place. We are so glad you're here!"
I shared this belief with my students. I told them how Dave encourages educators to share and have a voice in their field. I told them you need to do the same. You are important. You have ideas. You have a voice. It needs to be heard! Would my message be as strong if I was not out there doing it myself? Why should my kids blog if I myself am not blogging? Why should my kids listen to me about positive digital footprints if I myself have little to no knowledge of the world of social media?
A page in P is for Pirate Inspirational ABC's for Educators by Dave & Shelley Burgess that resonates with me, is the "C" is for crew.
In the amazing and connected world we live in today, why would we choose to not share? To not connect? To not collaborate? To remain isolated?
Our students live in a world where what used to be the impossible (or very far fetched) is now possible. The walls of classrooms and schools extend world wide. They have access to unlimited resources. So do we. If we take the jump, be risk-takers and dive in. There is an entire world waiting for us.
I hope you take some time to look at these wonderful resources on becoming connected educators and bringing the world of social media into your classrooms. Just try one thing! You will be amazed how much you will love it.
Warmly,
Teresa
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