Project Description
![Picture](/uploads/6/0/8/8/6088682/2131569.jpg?317)
Image from: http://goo.gl/dHEFY
The world has changed and not only is it getting smaller through collaborative technology, cloud-based storage, faster and more creative
communication tools, but it is also becoming a place where our lives are literally
an open book. This generation of students is living out their lives on the Internet.
They are creating media, establishing an identity and cataloguing their lives on social networking sites. My students have a shallow understanding of the permanence they are creating which will affect their lives for years to come.
At the completion of this unit, I want my students to have a deeper understanding
of how their actions create a digital reputation that can either benefit or harm
them for years to come. I would like to see my students think critically about
the posts they make and be able to identify hazardous behaviors that might be troublesome when posting something to the Internet.
communication tools, but it is also becoming a place where our lives are literally
an open book. This generation of students is living out their lives on the Internet.
They are creating media, establishing an identity and cataloguing their lives on social networking sites. My students have a shallow understanding of the permanence they are creating which will affect their lives for years to come.
At the completion of this unit, I want my students to have a deeper understanding
of how their actions create a digital reputation that can either benefit or harm
them for years to come. I would like to see my students think critically about
the posts they make and be able to identify hazardous behaviors that might be troublesome when posting something to the Internet.
![Picture](/uploads/6/0/8/8/6088682/5660744.jpg?289)
This unit will encompass a few different technologies, which used in conjunction will create a real, discovery-based unit of instruction about digital reputations and their importance. I would like to begin with the creation of a private social networking page for the class using Ning. This will allow us, as a class, to not only talk about social networking, but experience it as a class. A private social networking page will also allow students to create an on-going reflection piece that we can talk about in class as well as use to reflect on as a final piece in their unit. Other benefits will come from this private class page: we will use it to collect and share information that students discover as they move through the unit; it will allow the instructor to post information for the entire class and have them comment on it; students will be able to work within the actual environment that they are being taught about and it will serve as a digital representation of what can be conceived of as a digital reputation.
![Picture](/uploads/6/0/8/8/6088682/1342845227.jpg)
Image by Keith Kingsbury
Along with a Ning class page, we will use graphical representation/simulation software to digitally map students’ true digital footprint created by students’own Facebook friend’s relationships. Students will see videos that present them with different situations and representations of how other kids their age have experienced the effects of digital reputations. Students will create a video in the form of a public service segment that will educate others about how their digital reputations can affect the rest of their lives.
This unit will utilize the aspects of backward design and reflect greater emphasis on student discovery and less on teacher guided pedagogy. I am hoping to create an environment of curiosity that will foster students' excitement and intrinsic motivation to discover more. Hopefully this will deal with two major learning problems: teacher-centered (lead) learning on my part and motivation to learn for the student.
This unit will utilize the aspects of backward design and reflect greater emphasis on student discovery and less on teacher guided pedagogy. I am hoping to create an environment of curiosity that will foster students' excitement and intrinsic motivation to discover more. Hopefully this will deal with two major learning problems: teacher-centered (lead) learning on my part and motivation to learn for the student.
![Picture](/uploads/6/0/8/8/6088682/9739593.jpg)
Image from: http://goo.gl/chxOo
Attribution: Joe Ross
This unit will also include a guest speaker from the Michigan State Police who will specifically address the legal aspects of inappropriate activities involving technology and social networking, for example posting illegal activities such as drinking or smoking and sexting.
Knowing that students are involved in such activities, I believe they need to have a greater understanding of how their digital archives are shaping their digital reputation. My goal is to increase my students’ understanding of what a digital reputation is, how it is formed, what elements contribute to their digital reputation; ultimately, they will be able to create a safe, positive digital representation for themselves that will promote them to the world in a manner that truly reflects who they are.
Knowing that students are involved in such activities, I believe they need to have a greater understanding of how their digital archives are shaping their digital reputation. My goal is to increase my students’ understanding of what a digital reputation is, how it is formed, what elements contribute to their digital reputation; ultimately, they will be able to create a safe, positive digital representation for themselves that will promote them to the world in a manner that truly reflects who they are.
![Picture](/uploads/6/0/8/8/6088682/2950287.jpg)
Image by Keith Kingsbury
Technology understanding is key. Not only do students need to know how to use technology, but they need to understand the cause and effect of technology. Students will demonstrate their improved understanding by presenting their findings in the form of a video in the form of a public service announcement segment. Students' understanding will be compared using a control group that is taught in the traditional manner (teacher-centered lessons) that does not utilize the Ning social network or other technological tools. Using pre-teaching and post-teaching surveys, I will try to ascertain the level of understanding gained in this unit. This will give me a better picture of whether this unit truly deepens student understanding of digital reputations.