Just to be clear….. I argued for the “agree” side of this debate with JR, voted for this side in pre and post-vote. I would have voted “agree” side even if I didn’t actively participate in the debate. In spite … Continue reading →

I think the biggest thing we need to be sure of when discussing this topic, is ensuring we are all using the same definition of a ‘digital footprint’. When I think of a digital footprint, it is similar to the definition found online,

The information about a particular person that exists on the internet as a result of their online activity. “There are several ways to ensure your digital footprint doesn’t damage your reputation”

To me, this means monitoring what your students are posting online and ensuring that they are being appropriate & careful. If we are going by this definition then I believe this runs into a whole world of problems. For starters, no two parents will have the same ways of regulating their child online & making rules for them. Do all parents want their child to be respectful over the internet? I think I can confidently say yes. Do all parents monitor that respectfulness and put rules in place to ensure it is happening? Absolutely not, so how can teachers be expected to find that bridge and ensure no lines or boundaries of these expectations are being crossed?

The article Digital Natives: Citizens of a Changing World Fostering Digital Citizenship in the Classroom shares a quote,

“Students must understand how to use personal technology in ways that enhance their learning experience and lead to self-empowerment and awareness…”

I think if this is the definition people are using to explain digital footprints, then that may be where the problem lies. To me the quote above is just basic expectations for myself as a teacher for incorporating technology into the classroom. Anything good comes with responsibility and if I choose to incorporate technology into the classroom as a learning tool, then I am also taking on that responsibility of making sure my students know that it is there to enhance our learning experiences and it is to be respected. Is it my responsibility to ensure students are using technology in a positive, respectable, non-damaging way? Within my classroom absolutely, but that could fall flat the second they walk out my classroom door.

Both sides of the debate for this week did an excellent job! It definitely made me think critically and was once again I was left flip flopping between sides, view points, and comments made during the discussion. I love when a class really stumps me on my own beliefs of something & can deepen my understanding. That is what a good debate should do! I did come out of it with a clear understanding that I do not think teachers should have a responsibility to help their students develop a digital footprint. However, this debate also made me think of my own classroom and how I could maybe have some more discussions and/or teaching points to help my students become AWARE of their digital footprint. Maybe educating our students on the fact that they will always have a digital footprint is helpful enough.

Just like Jerred addresses in the video, “Reasons Teachers are Quitting Their Jobs in 2022”, along with Jessica from the debate, some very crucial points were made with already worrying about our own digital footprint. We are encouraged to constantly monitor and watch what WE as educators are posting and I honestly struggled to keep up with it. Between commenting on posts that might not be “approved”, to getting tagged in photos I didn’t know were going to be posted, it was all too much to monitor. How are we supposed to help students create their own digital footprint if we can barely keep up with our own. I truly feel like this responsibility needs to be on the shoulders of their parents.

I believe that my expectations as a teacher should not include something that involves so much of the outside world. In regards to the photo below, ensuring a child is always thinking long-term before posting, using privacy settings on social networking pages, keeping personal information private, protecting your privacy and the privacy of your friends, and applying the Golden Rule when online seems like a big task. A task I did not sign up for & that should not be in my job description. If it eventually works its way into the curriculum then I guess that is the future we are at. However, for now, I’m going to remind my students to be decent, kind, respectable, mature, appropriate human beings online & leave the rest up to their parents!

Though there are enormous ways how technology is bridging the gap in different social group of people, in today’s blog …

The use of technology in the classroom has grown crucial in recent years. The way we approach education is changing …

When I read the the title, I feel guilty for thinking that we could possibly live in a society that could never become equitable. Then I think about the realistic aspects of this question and how if we haven’t become equitable or ever came close to being equitable, what makes me think it will happen? It is a doubt for sure. I hope & wish for it to become a reality, but the past hasn’t quite shown us it is capable. And even though I was on the agreeing side of the debate last week, I definitely don’t think technology will be the thing that gets us there.

Last week there were some very good points and beliefs shared during our debate discussion. I appreciated hearing everyone’s thoughts on this topic, as I am still finding myself torn on this topic. In one moment I am finding myself believing that technology has helped to advance so many things, which in return I do believe has led to a more equitable society. This includes some of our topics from last night, such as assistive technology, educational opportunities, medical services, fundraising & awareness, and much more. However, in another moment, I am returned to the factor of not being able to afford technology, which can create an even larger gap in our society,

Initially I struggled to see how to many of my classmates it wasn’t immediately clear how far we’ve come as a society with options for so many people, but of course the answer is because not everyone has access to technology and/or can afford it. All of these topics truly keep coming back to that same answer of money. Laura mentioned during our debate that it truly doesn’t have anything to do with technology, it has to do with money. Who has access to it & who does not. Unfortunately that is for many things in society, which again will continue to drive us away from creating an equitable society.

I think this debate topic is one I will continue to flip flop on, especially depending on the details we are choosing to look at it. I think there are so many factors that go into this topic & so many different statements to consider. The other group shared an incredible article, Digital equity: focusing on every Canadian’s digital future. It went into great detail regarding many of these topics & I really enjoyed reading through their perspective. It states how “We know that the internet is the greatest equalizer. Once you have access to the internet, you have access to so many different things”. This statements supports the argument they made and the points that were discussed. It is a statement that holds so much depth and truth.

I guess this was the point I really needed to remember, all of these amazing advancements & opportunities from technology are great, IF you have access to it. In the picture below, I used to think of it as the fish not being able to climb the tree because of the way it was created, for example a disability. Now I see it as the fish not having proper access to help them climb that tree. I’m aware that there are options & opportunities, but if you can’t access or afford it, then it actually isn’t providing an equitable opportunity for them.

IT IS A QUESTION OF EQUITY The question of “Technology has led to a more equitable society” was a great debate topic. Both sides argued their points very well, and I enjoyed the different approaches in the opening statement videos. … Continue reading →

This debate topic was one that I was pretty certain I wouldn’t flop view points on. As much as both groups had excellent presentations & made very good points, I remained the same through-out majority of the debate. Unfortunately I do think social media is ruining childhood for many children & it is something I feel quite passionate about. I do not yet have my own children, but I am already nervous for the day that they are of age to get devices and use social media. I have a lot of fear of what social media is doing for our future generations. There is so much that they do that relies on technology.

In the “Social Media is Destroying An Entire Generation of Kids” article, there is a quote that is quite disturbing to me. It states that, “Heavy social media usage for young girls is correlated more strongly with anxiety and depression than heroin use”. The fact that this is a statement to even exist, makes my stomach hurt. What are we doing to our children & our future generations? Children need to be protected & often times don’t realize the harm or danger that something is causing. Children needs to be given their innocence back, I want them to enjoy the freedom of thinking everything is easy & simple.

I mentioned earlier that I just recently deleted all my social media. This is honestly because I believe there is more harm than good when it comes to social media, especially at the young age of children. It gives such a false representation of lives and expectations. I would see friends post about how perfect and incredible their lives are and then hear the stories of frustration or struggles in person. I’m not judging anyone for how they choose to post, but can you imagine if children only see the good & ‘bragging’ moments from social media, but struggle with understanding why their lives don’t feel ‘perfect’. Children shouldn’t be comparing, childhood should be simple!

In a blog post I made earlier this semester, I shared my sincere sentiments regarding social media use as it relates to my own children. I know the idea of hitting the blue or red button Alec mentioned in class is completely hypothetical; however, if I could choose one or the other, I would be totally fine with social media just going away by the time my daughters are at the age where they want to set up an Instagram / Snapchat / whatever-new-platform-exists-by-then account. I was — and maybe still am — of the opinion that social media is playing a large role in ruining childhood. My girls are seven and ten years old, and the idea presented in the BBC article by Sean Coughlan stating that childhood is technically over by the age of twelve — or even ten as some respondents in the article indicated — is disheartening. I want nothing more than for my kids — or anyone’s kids for that matter — to be able to enjoy as much of their childhood as possible before having to take on the stress and anxiety associated with adult life. Kids deserve more time to be kids without worrying about things like their appearance or weight. The ESPN article “Split Image” was particularly concerning and difficult to read. I worry about how young people’s mental health will be affected by constantly seeing their peer’s highlight reels on social media because even as an adult, I find this aspect of social media hard to navigate. I remember life as a teenager without social media and it was tough back then (ok…this is making me sound really old). A few of my friends had cell phones — which were used for making phone calls back then — and I did not. I was always worried about missing out and it was hard to hear about the fun people were having without me. Now, instead of just hearing about it, what you’re “missing out on” is in your face every time you open a social media account. As an adult, I find it difficult not to feel envious at times when I see people posting about their extravagant trips, new homes, and fun outings. I know this constant comparison to other people’s postable moments has a negative impact on my own mental health and I’ve taken steps to clean up my own social media accounts to prevent myself from feeling this way. I can imagine this constant exposure to other people’s highlight reels is even more challenging for young people to deal with. In my logical brain I know that what I see on social media is not the full picture; however, trying to help teenagers understand this is an important piece of learning that must be connected to their use of social media.  Going back to what stood out to me from Debate #1 is that, just like technology in the classroom, social media is here to stay so we need to figure out — and help our kids figure out — how to use it in the most positive way possible. As a parent and teacher, I know helping students understand how to be responsible digital citizens is imperative to them having more positive experiences online. I know I will have to have challenging conversations with my kids to help them navigate this world that I was not exposed to as a teenager. I appreciated Laura and Alec sharing “Gregory’s iPhone” contract with the class as I will use it when my girls finally wear me down and convince me they should get a phone. Age 20 seems like a completely reasonable age for that, right?