This weeks session was all about digital footprints, netiquette. Lets start by addressing what a digital footprint even is!
A digital footprint is the collection of information, pictures, and anything else that has been posted by an individual online. It also include any 'trail' that has been left behind by a user as a result of; visiting sites, signing in to accounts, and sending emails. According to http://www.internetsociety.org/ one can have a positive or a negative digital footprint. A positive digital footprint can look like; creating a positive online reputation, having appropriate online screen/usernames, keeping appropriate privacy settings. Unfortunately one can also have a negative digital footprint, which can be caused by; inappropriate posts, and pictures, rude and destructive behavior, and comments, and posts and pictures that you may later regret sharing and sending. A fabulous resource I found while researching digital footprints was http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/. This website is a resource for kids, teens, parents and teachers that talks about digital footprints, as well as many other topics all surrounding digital media!
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| http://www.sjscomputerlab.com/digital-footprint.html |
So how can we create digital footprints, and encourage others to do the same? One of the most important things to remember when online is that once its posted it's hard to delete it. In the digital age we live in, digital content can go viral in a matter of hours, and often things posted online can't be taken down. For this reason it is important to 'think twice, and post once'. If we take the time to consider what we are posting how it could impact not only ourselves but others, we begin to make a conscious effort to create a positive digital footprint, as well as a positive digital experience for all! This is a large part of netiquette.
Netiquette is basically online etiquette. It includes things such as; acting appropriately online, not posting, or commenting rude and inappropriate things, respect other users, and respecting your own and other privacy. Albion.com has a great outline of netiquette rules, that are understandable and easy to follow! After taking the netiquette quiz, I learned that there are still things that I need to learn about netiquette, and that it never hurts to brush up on your netiquette!
In addition to learning about digital footprints, I also had the opportunity to complete the 'Digital Driver's License Exam' from the text Digital Citizenship In Schools (2011) by Mike Ribble. Through the completion of this short quiz I have discovered some areas that I need to continue to educate myself on in regards to digital citizenship. The two main areas being; digital law, and digital rights and responsibilities. In his text, Mike Ribble notes that digital law is the rules that are used when digital technology is in use and digital rights and responsibilities are the rights and responsibilities that each digital technology user has within the digital context. Over the next few weeks of this course I hope to become more familiarized with these elements of digital citizenship.
Overall this session was very informative and a good review for me. I learned about digital footprints, which made me evaluate my own, and change some online behaviors.
I look forward to the next session, and some more digital learning!
~ Hannah
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