The Introduction to Blended Learning and Online Teaching course has had a positive influence on me as an educator. The course has allowed me to collaborate with peers and see many different facets of education in the 21st century. I have learned valuable tools that I have been able to and will continue to be able to utilize in my classroom.
This course is just and introduction and to me it has done just that. It has become an introduction to further exploration into the key philosophical viewpoints that this course had brought up briefly. I can bring the knowledge of tools back to my corporation to share but more importantly, I can take the lead in asking the tough, guiding questions that need to be asked. We need to plan with foresight proactively when looking into what is best for our students rather than planning re-actively.
I will be taking on leadership roles next school year in planning for teaching a segment of the teachers on how to appropriately and effectively use technology in our role in remediation and everyday teaching. This course has opened my eyes to different viewpoints and uses for technological tools that I will be able to use on a daily basis. I hope to continue to learn and utilize the resources provided during this course to seek out this continuing education through collaboration and exploration.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Tracking Cyber Sasquatch-Digital Footprint of Adam Clark
Not surprisingly, there are several Adam Clark's in the world. When simply Googling my name, I do not show up on any of the 18 pages. The only thing that remotely links to me is a link to Facebook and LinkedIn where you can peruse through 617 Adam Clark's to find me. When Googling "Adam Clark Indianapolis," you would have to go to page 10 to find information about mt attendance at an iPad conference. I know employers are thorough, but with so many candidates, I have my doubts about how willing they are to go through page after page and link after link in order to dig up information. Luckily for me, there are no red flags that will show up but also nothing to promote myself to my potential employer.
With such a common name and overall nonexistent search results I have work to do to create a positive digital footprint. A lot of the work that I have done in my career that would provide a digital footprint was at my previous employer that was a small rural school with very little digital presence and at a time when the internet was used mostly to research browse, shop, and email. For me to improve my footprint, I will need to become more involved in activities and projects that are noteworthy and hopefully successful. This will take time but slowly I can add to my footprint one activity at a time and hope that it somehow registers as a blip on the Adam Clark Google radar.
As for students, this is where the digital footprint becomes vitally important. These students are growing up in a time period where their every action digital or physical, can show up for the entire world to see. Not only do the students need to be cognizant of what they post and reveal to the world via social media. They also have to be aware about what can be revealed beyond their control. Pictures, video, and descriptions of actions or activities can be posted at any time from anywhere by anyone. Nearly everyone always has a camera that can record video, sound, and images with access to the internet. These students live in a world where anything they do or say can become public knowledge. Anything they do during the formative years can be used against them when they are 25, 30, or even older. They will have a written record of their mistakes and growing pains on full display. We need to teach them to be aware of the digital responsibilities and to approach everything with maturity. It basically comes down to making the right choices and knowing the possible consequences.
Not everything about being in this digital world with an increasing probe on our everyday lives is a negative. Students today have ample opportunities to create positive digital footprints that were not around when I was growing up. If you were lucky, you made it in the newspaper for an achievement or activity when I was growing up. People might read it that day or that week and then the paper was recycled or thrown away. Today, that information is archived and available online. Potential employers may be able to see the activities and the positive change that you made to your school and community. In order to help as teachers, we need to continue to foster growth through positive opportunities for students to showcase their leadership, determination, intelligence, and abilities. These students have amazing opportunities but it is up to them how they will be viewed. When viewing their digital footprint will they be the shining star, the beacon of light that the search results are drawn to that emit a positive gleaming beam? Will they be the dark shadow, every word sucking the life out of every job possibility? Or will they be like me, the Great Cyber Sasquatch, where even with an extensive search, you only find partial footprints and unverified stories about the existence of their digital footprint? The choice is up to the students and the support group around them to make their footprint a positive one that will enable them to be successful and at the top of every employer's want list.
With such a common name and overall nonexistent search results I have work to do to create a positive digital footprint. A lot of the work that I have done in my career that would provide a digital footprint was at my previous employer that was a small rural school with very little digital presence and at a time when the internet was used mostly to research browse, shop, and email. For me to improve my footprint, I will need to become more involved in activities and projects that are noteworthy and hopefully successful. This will take time but slowly I can add to my footprint one activity at a time and hope that it somehow registers as a blip on the Adam Clark Google radar.
As for students, this is where the digital footprint becomes vitally important. These students are growing up in a time period where their every action digital or physical, can show up for the entire world to see. Not only do the students need to be cognizant of what they post and reveal to the world via social media. They also have to be aware about what can be revealed beyond their control. Pictures, video, and descriptions of actions or activities can be posted at any time from anywhere by anyone. Nearly everyone always has a camera that can record video, sound, and images with access to the internet. These students live in a world where anything they do or say can become public knowledge. Anything they do during the formative years can be used against them when they are 25, 30, or even older. They will have a written record of their mistakes and growing pains on full display. We need to teach them to be aware of the digital responsibilities and to approach everything with maturity. It basically comes down to making the right choices and knowing the possible consequences.
Not everything about being in this digital world with an increasing probe on our everyday lives is a negative. Students today have ample opportunities to create positive digital footprints that were not around when I was growing up. If you were lucky, you made it in the newspaper for an achievement or activity when I was growing up. People might read it that day or that week and then the paper was recycled or thrown away. Today, that information is archived and available online. Potential employers may be able to see the activities and the positive change that you made to your school and community. In order to help as teachers, we need to continue to foster growth through positive opportunities for students to showcase their leadership, determination, intelligence, and abilities. These students have amazing opportunities but it is up to them how they will be viewed. When viewing their digital footprint will they be the shining star, the beacon of light that the search results are drawn to that emit a positive gleaming beam? Will they be the dark shadow, every word sucking the life out of every job possibility? Or will they be like me, the Great Cyber Sasquatch, where even with an extensive search, you only find partial footprints and unverified stories about the existence of their digital footprint? The choice is up to the students and the support group around them to make their footprint a positive one that will enable them to be successful and at the top of every employer's want list.
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