Comments on: Safer Out In The Open http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:39:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Corrina Gideon http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13623 Corrina Gideon Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:32:28 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/#comment-13623 When I first began my blog (only a short while ago!) I struggled with the decision to remain private or go public. I made a pseudonym and created an avatar, and then I changed my mind. I’m not saying my heart didn’t beat a little faster, but what I ultimately decided is that the activities I'm involved with online are important to me and I want to fully 'own' my participation. The internet is the most powerful medium of change within my lifetime. We have only begun to scratch the surface of the power it can bring to the world of education! I think the best way to set a good example for my students is to show them - by example - how to navigate and use the social power of the internet for the good of us all. How can I help them do this if I'm not "out there"? What message would I give them if I showed them my contributions but it was not my name or my face that they saw? Of course, the safety of children is paramount, and the serious nature of risks to unmonitored children online must not be taken lightly. However, it seems to me that reacting in fear by lessening the online presence of those of us who desire to do good things would be unwise. Aren’t we better off maintaining a strong presence so that students can look at us and see hope and possibility? We could make an analogy here, to the concept of “neighborhood watch” – only now, our neighborhood is considerably much larger! When I first began my blog (only a short while ago!) I struggled with the decision to remain private or go public. I made a pseudonym and created an avatar, and then I changed my mind. I’m not saying my heart didn’t beat a little faster, but what I ultimately decided is that the activities I’m involved with online are important to me and I want to fully ‘own’ my participation.

The internet is the most powerful medium of change within my lifetime. We have only begun to scratch the surface of the power it can bring to the world of education! I think the best way to set a good example for my students is to show them – by example – how to navigate and use the social power of the internet for the good of us all. How can I help them do this if I’m not “out there”? What message would I give them if I showed them my contributions but it was not my name or my face that they saw?

Of course, the safety of children is paramount, and the serious nature of risks to unmonitored children online must not be taken lightly. However, it seems to me that reacting in fear by lessening the online presence of those of us who desire to do good things would be unwise. Aren’t we better off maintaining a strong presence so that students can look at us and see hope and possibility? We could make an analogy here, to the concept of “neighborhood watch” – only now, our neighborhood is considerably much larger!

]]> By: mrsdumicich http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13622 mrsdumicich Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:55:18 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/#comment-13622 We are considering this very issue in our school at the moment. Fortunately we have a Principal who is very supportive of Web2.0 technology and teaching students to use technology to their advantage, not hiding away from the unknown "baddies". So the aim is at the moment to create policy that both allows digital expression and education within the school and keeps the naysayers happy......not easy but I am sure it is do-able. So lets allow teachers and students to create a digital footprint that will do them both proud I say!! We are considering this very issue in our school at the moment. Fortunately we have a Principal who is very supportive of Web2.0 technology and teaching students to use technology to their advantage, not hiding away from the unknown “baddies”. So the aim is at the moment to create policy that both allows digital expression and education within the school and keeps the naysayers happy……not easy but I am sure it is do-able. So lets allow teachers and students to create a digital footprint that will do them both proud I say!!

]]> By: Graham Wegner http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13618 Graham Wegner Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:08:02 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/#comment-13618 @blb. I'm not very sure of what advice to give you considering all of my online digital footprint has been created as an adult professional. It would seem to be me that keeping one's personal separate from one's professional is going to become more increasingly difficult. @everyone else - it's nice to hear an affirming echo back. That term doesn't always have to be of a negative tone. @blb. I’m not very sure of what advice to give you considering all of my online digital footprint has been created as an adult professional. It would seem to be me that keeping one’s personal separate from one’s professional is going to become more increasingly difficult.
@everyone else – it’s nice to hear an affirming echo back. That term doesn’t always have to be of a negative tone.

]]> By: vawnjordan http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13616 vawnjordan Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:12:29 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/#comment-13616 I know there are scary things happening to teachers out there but I agree with you! Post what you believe in. Be genuine. Think. Act. Be a guide and a model. We cannot let a group of people sabotage a great place to share and communicate important ideas. I know there are scary things happening to teachers out there but I agree with you! Post what you believe in. Be genuine. Think. Act. Be a guide and a model. We cannot let a group of people sabotage a great place to share and communicate important ideas.

]]> By: John Larkin http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13611 John Larkin Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:29:09 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/#comment-13611 I agree Graham. I have everything out there online. Of course I am sensible and responsible with what I publish. I had an online presence six years before I my return to teaching in a secondary school. There was no way I could take it all down. Too much history. In fact, with the advent of my return I began adding additional material to the site at an accelerated rate. I returned to blogging after an absence and I use the site as an exemplar to the teachers and students at school. I agree with yourself, Sharon and Mike. Model exemplary work and contributions online. Create a digital footprint that you can be proud of and proud to share. Cheers, John. I agree Graham. I have everything out there online. Of course I am sensible and responsible with what I publish. I had an online presence six years before I my return to teaching in a secondary school. There was no way I could take it all down. Too much history.

In fact, with the advent of my return I began adding additional material to the site at an accelerated rate. I returned to blogging after an absence and I use the site as an exemplar to the teachers and students at school.

I agree with yourself, Sharon and Mike. Model exemplary work and contributions online. Create a digital footprint that you can be proud of and proud to share.

Cheers, John.

]]> By: blb http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13607 blb Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:08:50 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/#comment-13607 As a student going into the education field, would you suggest to only keep a professional rapport when being online. I know that know a lot of the items I have on the internet may not be appropriate for a prefessional atmoshpere. Should I be sure to delete items on my blog before being hired into a school? As a student going into the education field, would you suggest to only keep a professional rapport when being online. I know that know a lot of the items I have on the internet may not be appropriate for a prefessional atmoshpere. Should I be sure to delete items on my blog before being hired into a school?

]]> By: janning http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13599 janning Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:08:27 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/#comment-13599 Just like lots of the kids I have two on-line profiles - my public and professional presence and my private and personal one. It's not hard to keep them separate :) I agree with you Graham - being able to explore the public personas created by many on-line educators has made it possible for me to identify and tap into a valuable professional learning network. Just like lots of the kids I have two on-line profiles – my public and professional presence and my private and personal one. It’s not hard to keep them separate :)

I agree with you Graham – being able to explore the public personas created by many on-line educators has made it possible for me to identify and tap into a valuable professional learning network.

]]> By: Mike http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13598 Mike Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:32:26 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/#comment-13598 As soon as we start training to be teachers, we are hit over the head with the need to provide positive teacher role-modelling and authentic learning experiences. This “under a rock” mentality does not sit at all well with me. It’s hard to imagine how anyone with an interest in education could have a problem with your argument Graham. As soon as we start training to be teachers, we are hit over the head with the need to provide positive teacher role-modelling and authentic learning experiences. This “under a rock” mentality does not sit at all well with me. It’s hard to imagine how anyone with an interest in education could have a problem with your argument Graham.

]]> By: Sharon Peters http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13597 Sharon Peters Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:54:18 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/safer-out-in-the-open/#comment-13597 Graham, thanks for the post - I am in absolute agreement with you. It is naive to turn a blind eye to the fact that our students are out there using the web every day, communicating and sharing materials (i.e. photos). And you can believe that our students will and do look up their teachers' profiles and online activities. They were certainly doing that as long ago as five or eight years ago when I was working in a computer lab with students daily. We are ALL now potentially under scrutiny. Very likely our potential employers are also doing searches. The question becomes, how ARE we conducting ourselves online? If we have a digital footprint that demonstrates we are active social participants who are conducting ourselves with professional conduct, all the better for us. The bottom line is that we are models for our students - offline and online. I have heard school administrators state frankly that if they cannot find a potential employee online - if there is no digital footprint - that they take that as a warning sign. We should be modeling online behaviour and we should be including opportunities in our curricula to build positive online communication and collaboration skills. Graham, thanks for the post – I am in absolute agreement with you. It is naive to turn a blind eye to the fact that our students are out there using the web every day, communicating and sharing materials (i.e. photos).

And you can believe that our students will and do look up their teachers’ profiles and online activities. They were certainly doing that as long ago as five or eight years ago when I was working in a computer lab with students daily. We are ALL now potentially under scrutiny. Very likely our potential employers are also doing searches.

The question becomes, how ARE we conducting ourselves online? If we have a digital footprint that demonstrates we are active social participants who are conducting ourselves with professional conduct, all the better for us.

The bottom line is that we are models for our students – offline and online. I have heard school administrators state frankly that if they cannot find a potential employee online – if there is no digital footprint – that they take that as a warning sign.

We should be modeling online behaviour and we should be including opportunities in our curricula to build positive online communication and collaboration skills.

]]>