"Vanity Search" continued

As I am nearing completion of this course, I have found that my "digital footprint" has begun to expand significantly due to my increased use and exploration of Web 2.0 technologies. When I began this course, I "Googled" my name and found mainly items that I had created for previous classes and a few times where my name appeared in various newspaper articles related to school or work. Overall, I could honestly say that I did not have a very extensive "digital footprint" mainly due to the fact that much of what I had done online involved mainly research or occasional class assignments and I was not someone who routinely participated in social media platforms. Now, when I "Google" my name, a great deal more information comes up. There are links to blogs that I have done for this class and other courses, as well as links to my Twitter, YouTube, and other such accounts. I can also find links to projects and posts that were done for this course. While I am sure that my "digital footprint" is larger than it previously was, I know that it will continue to grow as I explore additional resources and Web 2.0 tools. As an educator, I think that having a significant "digital footprint" can be a good thing, as long as it reflects the learning process. I think that teachers who have a significant "digital footprints" because they are exploring and learning about new technologies show that they are continuing to expand their knowledge base and increase their technology use within their classrooms. I have seen how exploring these Web 2.0 tools over the course of this class has expanded my "digital footprint". I think that it is important that when I introduce my future students to these technologies, I work to ensure that they understand how using such tools can effect their "digital footprint" or online presence in either a positive or negative way, depending upon how they choose to use them. It is my hope that they choose to use these tools in a positive way to expand their knowledge, but I know that it is important for me to educate them about how their use can effect their "digital footprint" and how their "digital footprint" can serve as an online reflection of themselves to other users.