This week we focused on being aware of our digital footprint and net neutrality. Both adults and children access the internet regularly without considering its effect on their digital footprints. We search for information, entertainment, and shop online almost every day, and we do this because we need and want to, but without thinking about the traces we leave behind after each search. As an adult, I think about privacy and safety each time I purchase something online, I think about whether or not the website is reliable, and the risk of identity leaks also comes to mind. Most of the time, I purchase anyway, thinking it probably won’t happen to me. I think I need to be better about this. It isn’t only privacy leaks at play here; there is also the fact that companies are collecting data about me to target ads and information. I want to have an online experience where I can explore both sides of an argument; I want to draw my conclusions about different topics without worrying that I am the target of biased information. The topic of digital footprint also called to my attention how much I enjoy entering websites like YouTube and immediately finding videos that I like. This also made me think about targetted content and how the algorithm can take you down a rabbit hole where your digital footprint might not recover. Teaching students how to stay protected and aware of how their online actions affect their person is critical. What they post, what they search, watch, and play will influence the content they will encounter for the rest of their lives. 

 

Net neutrality is another factor of technology that we don’t think about but can have a tremendous effect on the digital learning of our students. We want all kids to have access to the tools and information to help them grow, learn and be productive as students and when they enter the workforce. My school is a title one school; we service a diverse community of learners from low socio-economic statuses. Learning about net neutrality made me realize the impact restricted access could have on their learning. My students are 5th graders; they are learning to distinguish between reliable sources and unreliable sources; they are learning that there are many sides and perspectives to a topic and that having the complete picture can allow them to make their conclusions. I wonder what types of databases would be accessible to them if our school had to choose a limited or restricted access. Additionally, how could we properly educate them to be good digital citizens if their access is limited? We want our students to be creative thinkers and problem-solvers, to achieve this we have to give them the proper tools that allow that to happen.

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Additional Resources:

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Long, C. (2015). What net neutrality means for students and Educators. Retrieved fromhttp://neatoday.org/2015/03/11/net-neutrality-means-students-educators/

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Reardon, M. (2015). 13 Things you need to know about the FCC’s net neutrality regulation. Retreived fromhttp://www.cnet.com/news/13-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-fccs-net-neutrality-regulation/

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Steimle, J. (2014, May 14). Am I the only technie against net neutrality? Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshsteimle/2014/05/14/am-i-the-only-techie-against-net-neutrality/