Where Does Your Digital Footprint Lead?

Have you ever discovered a cool "new" tool, then tried to create an account only to discover that I already have an account. Well, you aren't alone. With so many web tools and options it can be challenging to say the least to keep up. As an educator with a limited if any budget, I'm always most interested in cheap and free tools. Unfortunately these tools, whether free or not, have their own set of rules for using your personal data. When you click "agree" on the acceptable use policies for these tools you could be signing up for more than you bargained for. Often they are collecting our personal data, our contacts data, or both. This is why it is important to understand the policies for any account or tool we wish to use. Make sure to review the policies, monitor and apply settings most appropriate to your account and the privacy of your personal information. It is also important to know the purposes of the creators of the apps and tools we access, on and off line. Are they selling or sharing your data with others? Is your data safe? Be in the know, make good choices.

As part of this assignment I was required to review some resources that made me think about the accounts which I use, in particular, Facebook. I was an avid Facebook user for a long time but after the scandal with Cambridge Analytica I have concerns for my privacy. Take a look at "The Great Hack" a documentary on Netflix about data privacy, the 2016 US Presidential election, and Cambridge Analytica. Data mining, like any powerful tool, when used inappropriately can result in damaging results. Be in the know, make good choices.

Using social media for professional purposes is a powerful way to communicate with your community. You can share your expertise, provide resources and contact information to gain the support of your community. That said, everything you post is a reflection of yourself. One negative bit of data can lead to professional demise. While attending a teacher conference I sat in on a panel of union attorneys about social media and educational professionals. During the panel discussion they shared several true stories about educators that lost teaching positions because of the choices they made using social media which included posts with alcohol, scantily clad outfits, and friending students. Personally, I think these educators may have been targeted but in the end it doesn't matter.  Many argued that these posts were part of their private, personal lives but in the end they lost their arguments and their positions. Take a look at this post from the NEA. As a public figure we have an image to uphold for ourselves and our students. Be in the know, make good choices.