AR#3
Granted I am not a Digital Native, but I do have some experience in creating websites. About ten years ago when I was planning my wedding, I created a website using HTML. It was just a basic website that guests could use to get directions, check our registry, and other necessary information. Similarly, I see the value in getting information out to my students in much the same way. A few years ago, I started using Schoolnotes. This is just a place to type in messages and information to pass on to parents and students. If you knew some HTML, you could make it look a little fancier, for example: type in the code and place a scrolling message at the top of the page.
I still have a classroom website to help keep my parents informed (along with our district using Progress Book for grades). However, I now use WebBlender 2 to create my website and update information. I have kept it simple: no scrolling messages, just the basics.
This week I was challenged to add a profile to my blog so everyone could connect to me as a person. Admittedly, I struggled with my on-line identity. I have tried very hard to remain hidden from students on the internet. I know of an incident where a student accessed a co-worker’s address and other personal information and death threats were made (not to mention other unhappy experiences). I even still go by my maiden name at school, so I guess you could say I already have a identity problem; One for my professional life and another identity for my personal life. I completed a few google searches and nothing came up about me, so I guess I have been successful. In reading Future of Reputation by Daniel J. Solove, I read multiple stories where information was placed on the Internet unknown to the affected person. Because of these incidents, I need to control my own reputation. For now, I am happy with “Rachel’s Grad School” being part of my on-line identity.
In the situation of creating my on-line profile, I simply started by answering the questions that Google’s Blogger asked. I then went back in to add a little more information and to be more professional. I had an easy time adding in bold and italics, but the HTML code only seemed to work in the about me extended information box. I was unsuccessful in entering HTML code in any of the remaining profile boxes. It seems it only wanted to link me to other Blogs with similar interests in movies, music, and books. Finally, I have found I’m a little frustrated with myself this week. I used to be able to understand HTML and I have come to the realization that I have lost that understanding.
Rachel, it's hard to believe what some people think they know about us that is really not reality. I was shocked at the number of hits that came up for my name when I did the google search. It was a total of 12, which is a lot more than I'm comfortable with. I was able to take a look at each of these and didn't find anything incriminating.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that educators, in particular, are held to a higher standard than most in any career field, so I think our on-line identities are held to the same standard. I have seen numerous stories about teachers that are often stalked because of information that is put on-line. Students often play pranks and are harmless, but this becomes a nuisance. Funny thing is I remember looking up my science teacher's phone number in the white pages and "prank" calling his house with my friends. So my feeling is if you are or are not a digital native the threat of being exposed, harassed, and annoyed by anyone is there.
I'm happy to see there were no google hits for you and it is actually amazing to me that there are people who do not come up when searched on the web. I'm with you when keeping things very basic with the minumum amount of knowledge parents and students need. With this digital age I think that is difficult because parents expect these types of communications from us. So long as we keep parents informed and communicate frequently, I think this will make them happy.
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI don't think you have lost all of your HTML expertise. Thank you so much for all the help this Saturday giving me the html code to have links in my About Me. I will be taking your advice this week to update my profile page.
I am also interested in learning more about your classroom website. Do you have a link to it from your blog? I would like to have the chance to view this web page. I have been considering starting a web page for my students and parents at my school but would like to see what other teachers like you are doing first. There is this new social networking site called Edmodo that is set up like facebook. I am considering using this site to create my web page because it is set up so much like Facebook. Which you know as well as I do, this format is what the students are used to these days. I enjoyed reading your blog and look forward to reading it in the weeks to come.