Your Digital Footprint

    With the use of technology increasing in classrooms, it's also important to teach digital citizenship. Kids of all ages are jumping onto the internet, posting their opinions and commenting on others. This can be a great way to kickstart discussion and debate, but if not done properly, students will become bad digital citizens. By communicating with a screen, we often forget that there is an actually human being reading and taking in every word. It is going to take effort from parents and teachers to help kids become aware of their own digital footprint they are leaving.
      
    The internet is a great thing if used properly and with respect. ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) standards for teachers and students are a great guideline for basic instruction on how to be a good digital citizen. This website explains tips for students and teachers for how to create a safe digital footprint.  Creating a balance in the way technology is used in the classroom will take some time; however, if taught correctly, they internet will do great things for everyone. 

Here are 11 tips for what to tell your students about their digital footprint:
1. Use privacy settings
2. Keep a list of accounts
3. Don't overshare
4. Use a password keeper
5. Google yourself
6. Monitor linking accounts
7. Use a secondary email
8. But, you don't need 12 email addresses
9. Sending is like publishing forever
10. Understand that searches are social  
11. Use digital tools to manage your footprint

Photo credits: teachthought