Digital footprints in an age of very large feet

As educators we have generally accepted a great deal of responsibility for the education of our young people in areas that have little to do directly with academia. We teach our youngest how to actually function as part of a group. It has little to do with math or reading but we accept that without our contribution to their socialization none of that would be much good anyway.

With older students we have taken a huge share of the responsibility for teaching about sex, how to use them responsibly and safely, what substances are good and bad for health and welfare, legal rights and responsibilities and, in many cases, how to drive. None of this is meant to be an exhaustive list; it's just intended to show that as a profession we have realized that it is to everyone's benefit (our students' and our society's) to help guide the young people under our care in areas that, strictly speaking, aren't academic.

Digital footprints and all they entail may be a relatively new concept but their (growing) importance is sufficient that we should both teach about it and teach it well.

To teach effectively we need to keep many things in mind, including:
1. how we present ourselves
2. who can read about us
3. how information about ourselves can be used
4. who can use that information
5. the responsibilities we have as participants in a digital society (I hate the term netizen because it somehow differentiates between being a citizen of a 'regular' world and online world. That digital world is integrated enough into society that we can think of them as one.)
6. the potential of what we can do online (making our footprint have weight and meaning)
7. what really counts online (is it how many people looked at site or what I actually have to say)

We are in the best position to teach young people about this so-called digital footprint. Technology is part of our daily lives (both individually and as teachers), we have the opportunity to engage in ongoing dialogue with our students (as the technology evolves and because this needs to be a continuing conversation). Most of us teach because we believe in a bigger picture that goes beyond just learning some skills. We want to participate in the development of people who will contribute something to society - digital tools fit in perfectly.