Digital Footprints & the Impact of Technology

For this week, I have learned about how a digital footprint or tattoo can impact the future of a person.  Last week, I gave a lesson to my first graders on Digital Citizenship. I showed them four things- toothbrush, padlock, permanent marker, and toothpaste- and explained how these things were like digital citizenship.  The permanent marker and toothpaste are examples of digital footprint/tattoos. The video from Common Sense (2013) says that they can be searched, copied, shared, broadcasted, and permanent. The footage that Steve Johnson (2009) states that it is where we’ve been, who we’ve been with, where we’ve wandered, and where we are going.  As I was explaining both examples, I told the students that once they put something on the internet, people could find it again (even if they try to take it down.) I also told them that they should make sure that they do not put anything hurtful to someone else.
I have realized that I have a long line of being on technology.  In elementary school, I have a vague remembering when I was in a class that had basic programming on a big white computer.  In middle school, I had a class that had some more programming on the computer. At my university, I had a Computer math class and an email for the first time, so I spent a lot of time in the library.  As I entered the classroom, I found out that I could get “stuff” (like Elmo or tech things- 2000s) when I went to technology classes. After just substituting for a few years, I went back to the classroom and once again, started to go to the district technology classes.  This time around, I was able to get a Chromebook, two iPads, and lots of other things. I started to find programs like Seesaw and greenscreen that would help teach things in the class. The PD in the PJs in Seesaw introduced me in all sorts of stuff like videotaping myself or the students.  Seesaw has been a great way for me to see what the students know about a specific topic that I am teaching.    
As I have been in the DLL program at Lamar, I have added not only to my e-portfolio but also to my You-Tube account.  An intentional digital footprint/tattoo are things like pictures or statements that “person” put on the internet. An unintentional digital footprint/tattoo are pictures or comments when other people mention the “person.”  I need to remember that there are pictures of friends that being used and I need to get permission from those people.  
This week, I went to the Tech Liaison training for my district and found out that the district wants all of the schools to be a “Common Sense School.”  I found it surprising all the information that is on this site about the impact of technology with different media. There is so much information that talks about apps, games, and websites.  My video of how Pinterest has impacted digital citizenship is below.

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As I finish this week, I will remember that I should always be positive what I put out on the internet.  Everything is public with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and school websites. It is important to think about the pictures and words that will be looked at for years to come.  A footprint might be washed away, but a tattoo is hard to get off.  

References
Johnson, S. (2009, November 09). Digital Footprints - Your New First Impression. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZjmrJvL_eg
Sense, Common (2013, August 12). What's in Your Digital Footprint? Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P_gj3oRn8s

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