The document discusses the importance of teachers' digital identities and presence online. It notes that teachers are held to a higher standard than other citizens due to their role and influence over students. The digital world is complex due to factors like anonymity, persistence of information, how content can spread and be searched. The document provides strategies for teachers to thoughtfully manage their digital identities, such as getting feedback on their online profiles, curating information appropriately, and choosing digital connections carefully.

1. Think Before You Ink
Julie Mitchell, UBC Library (on leave)
Cindy Underhill, CTLT

2. Identity
Image credit: Shannon Kringen on Flickr licensed cc:by

3. digital identity and teachers…
“As a field and society we should be willing to
openly discuss these issues with understanding,
patience, and recognition of the complexities
surrounding SNS [social networking site]
participation and social well-being.”
Excerpt from: Kimmons, R.; Veletsianos, G (in press) Teacher Professionalization in the Age of Social
Networking Sites: Identifying Major Tensions and Dilemmas.
JM

4. Session
We’ll explore 4 questions:
 Why does your digital identity matter – as
teachers?
 How might your digital practices impact your
students?
 What makes the digital world so complex?
 What are some strategies for thoughtful
decision making?
JM

5. your digital identity: a
fragment
 What did you share?
 Why did you share it?
 How did you share it?
 What did you consider
before hitting send?
5 minutes: Think, Pair, Share
Your social networks:

6. Your digital identity
JMImage licensed cc:by Maurizio Pesce on Flickr
Stats from: Mary Meeker’s Internet Trends 2015 – Report:
http://www.kpcb.com/internet-trends.
 40% of
mobile users
on
smartphones
 73% of
world’s
population
use mobile
phones.

7. Why does it matter?
 video at 4 billion views per day
(mainly FB)
 gaming growing 122% year over
year
 audio content growing 33% year
over year (10 mill in last 2 years
joined Soundcloud)
 content & stories growing 140%
year over year
Excerpt from: Audrey Watters: What Educators Need to Know About Today’s Internet – EML June 2015
Stats from Mary Meeker’s Internet Report for 2015:
http://www.kpcb.com/internet-trends
Image licensed Cc:by:sa by Martin Abbegglen on Flickr

8. Why does it matter?
 12-24 year olds generating
content – 76% use camera
to post to SM
 Snapchat and Instagram
replacing FB for social
networking
Stats from Mary Meeker’s Internet Report for 2015
http://www.kpcb.com/internet-trends
Image licensed Cc:by:sa by Martin Abbegglen on Flickr

9. Why does it matter?
The rise of the “ephemeralnet”…
“Now of age, those young digital
natives whose lives we cataloged
without their consent are rebelling.
They don’t want open social
networks, they want intimacy. They
don’t believe every action has to be
meaningful and permanent. They
imagine the web as deletable.”
Excerpt from: Techcrunch.com: The Rise of the
Ephemeralnet – June 2013.
Image from: Weheartit - Anonymous

10. Why does it matter?
“ What apps like these do is
allow us a little bit more
freedom to be ourselves, for
better or worse.”
From: Forbes – Why We Should Celebrate Snapchat and Encourage
Ephemeral Communication (May, 2013)

11. Why does it matter?
Instagram launched Snapchat
rival – Bolt – in 2014.
Until it hits Canada, your
images can be seen and
shared by anyone if your
account is public.
Just sayin…

12. Why does it matter to teachers?
“Popular SNS have embedded beliefs about identity
that are naïve and do not fully reflect the negotiated
social participation that frame educators’ evolving
Identities.”
Excerpt from: Kimmons, R.; Veletsianos, G (in press) Teacher Professionalization in the Age of Social
Networking Sites: Identifying Major Tensions and Dilemmas.

13. Considerations/negotiations
Image source: http://www.ivanecoyote.com/page/6/bio Image licensed cc:by on Flickr

14. Why does it matter to teachers?
“ The Supreme Court of Canada has determined that
educators are held to a higher standard than other
citizens due to their unique role in society.”
From:www.bcteacherregulation

15. Group Discussion – Part 1
“ The Supreme Court of Canada has determined that
educators are held to a higher standard than other
citizens due to their unique role in society.”
From:www.bcteacherregulation.ca

16. Group Discussion – Part 2
Go, no-go & shades of grey.
 Join a pair: group brainstorm. Take note of your
group’s thoughts on the following:
Go
Acceptable
activity on
social media
Shades of Grey
Not sure where
this fits
No-Go
Un-acceptable
activity on
social media

17. Go: professional network
From: Education Canada: Twitter and Canadian Educators
From: educator George Couros’ Twitter timeline

18. No-Go: criticizing students
Enough said?

19. No-Go: racism
Winnipeg teacher, on leave after controversial Facebook posts on aboriginals.
Excerpt from: CBC news Manitoba Posted: Dec 11, 2014

20. Shades of grey…
“If teachers do not clearly understand how
moral turpitude is defined in a given community,
then how can they be sure that their behavior
(online or offline) is beyond reproach?”
Excerpt from: Kimmons, R.; Veletsianos, G (in press) Teacher Professionalization in the Age of Social
Networking Sites: Identifying Major Tensions and Dilemmas.

21. Blurred Boundaries
Do guidelines
help?
VSB drafts social
media guidelines
May, 2013
From Gwyneth Anne-Bronwynn on Flickr – CCbySA 2.0

22. Blurred boundaries
 You’re on holiday in Mexico and friend posts
and tags a photo of you on the beach with a
drink and cigarette in hand.

23. Consider context
Photo source: www.dailymail.co.uk

24. Consider context
Photo source: Huffington Post

25. Blurred Boundaries
 VSB Draft Social Media Policy (p. 2)
"As role models for students and a representative of
the School District, you must ensure that your use
of social networking, even on your personal time,
does not reflect negatively on your professional
reputation or that of the School District.”
From VSB Draft Social Media Policy

26. Blurred Boundaries
 VSB Draft Social Media Policy (p. 3)
“Ask friends not to tag you in any photos
or videos without your permission and remove
anything that is not appropriate to your role
in the School District.”
From VSB Draft Social Media Policy

27. Blurred Boundaries
 You’ve had a terrible first week on your
practicum and you post the following to a
private group on FB:
“Crazy advisor, entitled students, and
mismanaged school. All in a days work.
Anyone up for a drink?”

28. Blurred Boundaries: Students
Image credit: Flickr user OldShoeWoman JM

29. Blurred Boundaries: Students
CU

30. Blurred Boundaries
 VSB Draft Social Media Policy (p. 2)
“Social networking sites and online postings are not
necessarily private. Never criticize students, other
district employees or the School District on online
sites.”
From VSB Draft Social Media Policy
CU

31. Blurred Boundaries
 You’ve finished a great first week on your
practicum and you receive a FB friend request
from one of the students in your class.

32. Blurred Boundaries
Excerpt from: The Daily Dot – Jan 9, 2015: Why Teachers Shouldn’t Be Friends With Their Students on Facebook

33. Blurred Boundaries
 VSB Draft Social Media Policy (p. 2)
“Do not request or accept any students or minor
(person under the age of 19 years) as ‘friends’ on
social networking sites or interact with students or
minors on social networking sites for purposes not
related to the delivery of the student’s educational
program.”
From VSB Draft Social Media Policy
CU

34. Your digital tattoo: by others
 Not online? Or are you?
 Own your identity
Source: http://mashable.com/2012/09/27/sikh-reddit-response/ CU

35. Complexity of Online Environment
 Dynamics that influence what we do online
– Anonymity
– Persistence
– Replicability
– Searchability
– Scalability
From: boyd, danah. 2009. "Social Media is Here to Stay... Now What?"
JM

36. The audience can be invisible
and anonymous
JM

37. Online Environment | Persistence
what you (or others) put on the internet stays there
The good
The bad
The ugly
JM

38. Online Environment |Replicability
Content can be taken out of context
JM

39. Online Environment |Scalability
Scalability: what’s intended for one reaches many JM

40. Online Environment | Searchability
JM

41. Online Environment | Searchability
JM

42. Strategies
What
employers
look for…
Excerpt from: Berkelaar, B. (2014) What Employers Want To See When They Google You. Brazencareerist.com
CU

43. Strategies
 Consider what you want out of life.
“By acting online and offline in a
way consistent with what you
value, you simplify the work of
impression management and
increase the chances of finding
a good professional match.”
Excerpt from: Berkelaar, B. (2014) What Employers Want To See When They Google You. Brazencareerist.com

44. Strategies
 Get advice and feedback.
Ask friends what three words
come to mind when they google
you or look at your public
profiles.
“Use any feedback you get to
evaluate your digital presence
against the expectations set out
for your profession.”
Excerpt from: Berkelaar, B. (2014) What Employers Want To See When They Google You. Brazencareerist.com

45. Strategies
 Curate accordingly.
“having some information online is
generally better than nothing.
Manage privacy settings, check
Google and Bing, update your
profile photos and share your
expertise in relevant online
communities.”
Excerpt from: Berkelaar, B. (2014) What Employers Want To See When They Google You. Brazencareerist.com

46. Strategies
 Choose and manage digital
relationships carefully.
“We are known by the friends we
keep online. If you haven’t done so,
use LinkedIn to develop and
maintain a network of relevant
professional connections.”
“Ask people with whom you’ve
worked or volunteered whether
they can offer you an
endorsement.”
Excerpt from: Berkelaar, B. (2014) What Employers Want To See When They Google You. Brazencareerist.com

47. Photo release policies
 Become familiar with media
release or photo release
policies of your school district
 It is important to remember
your responsibilities as a
teacher candidate include not
adding to the digital tattoo of
your students.
JM
Image credit: Flickr user OldShoeWoman

48. Facebook Guide for Educators
Facebook for Educators and Community Leaders (2013): http://bit.ly/1MoldeC

49. Soundcloud: Ask A Teacher Series
Panoply Media: Ask a Teacher Series: Episode 9: Friending Your Students

50. How did we do together?
Consider what you’ve learned…
 Why does your digital identity matter – as
teachers?
 How might your digital practices impact your
students?
 What makes the digital world so complex?
 What are some strategies for thoughtful
decision making?
JM

51. Resources
 BC College of Teachers: Standards, Questions and Case Studies
http://www.bcct.ca/Standards/QuestionsCaseStudiesContents.aspx#
 Berkelaar, B. (2014)What Employers Want To See When They Google You.
Brazencareerist.com
 boyd, danah. 2009. "Social Media is Here to Stay... Now What?" Microsoft Research Tech Fest,
Redmond, Washington, February 26. Retrieved March 10, 2009:
http://www.danah.org/papers/talks/MSRTechFest2009.html
 Digital Tattoo: digitaltattoo.ubc.ca
 Foresight Future Identities (2013) Final Project Report.The Government Office for Science,
London.
 Haberman,S. (2012) Sikh Woman Teaches Reddit a Lesson in Tolerance. Mashable.com
 Vancouver School Board (May, 2013): Draft Policy and Regulations: Acceptable Use of
Technology and Social Media Policy for Employees
 Kimmons, R.; Veletsianos, G (in press) Teacher Professionalization in the Age of Social
Networking Sites: Identifying Major Tensions and Dilemmas.
 Meeker, Mary (2015). Internet Trends 2015: http://www.kpcb.com/internet-trends
 Watters, Audrey (2015) What Educators Need to Know About Today’s Internet – EML June
2015

52. Connect with us…
digitaltattoo.ubc.ca
Twitter: DT@UBC
Slideshare: Digital Tattoo
http://www.slideshare.net/digitaltattoo/digital-
tattoo-for-teacher-candidates-at-ubc
JM