Category: Digital Citizenship
How do we create responsible, creative, essential online identities? How do we use technology effectively and responsibly–and teach that to our students? What should be the role of technology in education and society at large? These posts consider those questions.
The Password is…
Let’s be real: Should you reuse passwords? Of course not! Do you? Probably…I know I do. Should you share passwords with anyone else? Of course not, again! Do you? Well…I do. And how do you keep track of your passwords?…
House Hippos Are Back–or are they? How to spot fake news
Is fake news a real thing? And how can you tell if the information you find online is factual, accurate, and current? Media Smart’s “Break the Fake” offers humorous examples and clear guidelines and suggestions for learning to tell the difference. Go…
Phishing Explained
“Don’t click on that link–it’s phishing!” Phishing (pronounced “fishing”) is when scammers attempt to trick you into giving them pieces of your personal information. With that info, they may be able to access your online accounts. Some phishing attempts look…
Facebook’s Privacy Settings
Social media is a blessing and a curse–sometimes, simultaneously! The price we pay for staying in touch is a loss of privacy, and that is true in multiple ways, depending how philosophical a person is inclined to be. You have…
The Legal Ramifications of Educators Using Social Media
Way back when social media was new, teachers were routinely warned to not use social media at all. The NEA and the OEA came out with horror stories about teachers who lost their jobs over unwise use of MySpace and Facebook, and…
Definitions and Resources for Digital Citizens
Copyright Copyright is a legal protection insuring that the creators or owners of a creative product (writing, drawing, music, film, etc) retain the rights to using and profiting from their work. Infringing on copyright can lead to court cases, fines…
Keeping Your Passwords Secure
The article “15 Tips to Better Passwords” by Robert Siciliano, who is a McAfee Consultant and Identity Theft Expert, offers some very helpful tips for creating strong passwords and keeping them secure. Here are a few of the most helpful hints: Using…
Don’t Be A Pirate Part 2
Often, we assume that using published materials for classroom use is legal–and it is…to an extent. However, the guidelines for legal use are very specific. Stanford University’s Copyright and Fair Use website provides an overview of current copyright law as relating…
Don’t be a Pirate!
Are you an accidental pirate? Do you pillage photos, graphics, and designs from online searches, using them for “educational use” without getting permission from the owners? If so, you’re not alone! Thanks to easy access, most of us have done…