Digital Citizenship-Never Too Early To Begin

http://mattbgomez.com/we-should-be-doing-more-than-teaching-digital-citizenship/

Digital citizenship, in my opinion, should be taught early and often.  If I could have it my way, as young as kindergarten when we start teaching the students concepts of “stranger danger”.  Let’s be honest, these kids are on the internet whether we want to believe it or not at this young age anyways.  The concept of knowing how to act and behave online can be overlooked by many teachers or adults with the simple assumption that the children know how they should behave and act.  In my own experience, many times I have also overheard “teacher room talk” with suggestions that perhaps the parents need to look at their child and what they are doing online.  The blame can be put on all sorts of people, but that will not solve the matter at hand of how do we teach children the importance of protecting themselves through respecting themselves online?  I feel that there is a strong need for children to learn what their digital footprints implies, how it can follow them their whole life, and how to protect it.  

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3rgi6e

As far as my own digital footprint is concerned, I try to stay private about most things and avoid posting images of myself/social life.  I do have this blog of course for professional and educational purposes, and I also have a Twitter for the same purposes,l as well as to stay up-to-date on current events and news.  However, I steer clear of photo sharing sites such as Facebook and Instagram.  Don’t get me wrong, I understand how some people use these social sites to stay in touch with friends and family or for other means, but it’s just not for me.  I know that somewhere out there in “internet database world” there are images of me, but nothing that I must say I regret or would pose a threat for me.  Now I understand what people could do with these photos could pose a potential threat but that is where an individual must take a stand and be proactive about what it is they want people to know about them via the world wide web and keep a watchful eye.  

The role of a technology integration specialist....

This will be my second course here at SNHU focused toward on the field of being a technology integration specialist.  My first course here had me hooked and diving right into using technology in the classroom.  Then came the educational courses, though full of great information and strategies, did not focus on the role of technology in the classroom.  Either way, knowing that this was my passion, I was able to incorporate it as best as I could.  Using technology and technological concepts within my action research projects.   Going back to my first course, my professor was a technology integration specialist which was was a rewarding experience because I got to hear of some of her challenges and triumphs in the field.   Over time I have come to look at the role of a technology specialist as someone who collaborates with others on a daily basis in order to provide tips and strategies focused on the integration of technology in the classroom.  They are the one's doing the research behind the scenes of what is most effective and what just simply will not work for the school/district in terms of time, commitment and financial restraints.  Then, this takes away the burden of classroom teachers having to do the research all themselves, while still planning lessons, grading student work, and researching their own instructional areas.  

As far as today's students, they are rapidly exploring and using technology in more ways than most people can imagine.  Unlike some adults who may be timid to dive into technology, today's students are curious.  They are not afraid to "break" something per se, but rather they want to learn how to build it back up.  In my own experience I have found that of course there are some challenges though.  That is why it is up to technology educators to seek answers to these issues.  Elsewhere others are dealing with the some of the same issues and that is where we must research effective ways before we deem the technology ineffective or problematic.  
I think the role of today's teacher is to continue to look for and seek out new ideas to transform their classrooms.  Perhaps this is why some are so afraid to step out of their "comfort-zone" and build that wall up between adapting their lesson and sticking with what they know.