This week we were fortunate to have been virtually joined by Dr. Alex Couros, a world renowned speaker and a professor at the University of Regina. Although it was not a very interactive presentation, it was still a really good, engaging, and informative one.
One thing that really stood out to me from the presentation, aside from all of the great videos and examples that he included, (like the Blockbuster Museum, C'mon!) were all of the little quotes and stats. The digital footprint and online presence of a child is growing faster now than ever before, with thousands of pictures being posted of them before they are even 5 years old. It is quite a scary concept, but is one that if properly managed, students can learn how to make their way in the world where online and offline are blended so seamlessly. A quote from the presentation, "If we don't tell our story, someone else will. And more often than not, it will not be the one we want told," and the question posed by Alex, "How do young people develop self-worth that extends beyond the realm of likes, views, and retweets?" shows why this positive digital identity is something that needs to be taught to all students.
Another great quote from the presentation was one that Alex began with, by Alan Kay. "Technology is anything that wasn't around when you were born." It jumped out to me because it made me realize how different it is for students growing up now, in the digital age, compared to myself growing up in the '90s. I remember hearing something sometime ago about being a '90s baby, that we are more nostalgic since we have grown with the technology as it has adapted and grown. We remember how bad it was, while still realizing the potential of what it could be. So what about our students? They grow up with this untapped potential, that is common and expected to them. Many students won't even realize the implications that exist with this, both good and bad.
Speaking of bad, the concept of fake news and identity theft were brought up by Alex during the presentation. It was really shocking to see how easily it seemed to be for someone to steal a person's photos and to make a fake account that seems so believable. It is actually terrifying, but when proper considerations and actions are taken, our students and us should be able to be kept safe. It just goes to show how careful one needs to be when traversing the world wide web.
On a side note, the talk about catfishing and identity theft brought a video to mind, that I'll share to lighten the mood. Enjoy.
-B
I completely agree Brody, the stats Alex shared with us really stuck with me too. When you really stop to think about some of those statistics, the reality for our students is a scary one. It’s so important that we foster our students for their individuality and help them see that they are valuable outside of the realm of social media.
ReplyDeleteGreat work!
It was interesting to read your intake on the ‘90’s babies’ and today’s generation. It’s interesting to see how both generations treat tech. What made me think is what you said about youth toady not really knowing the great potential they have at their fingertips. I think it would be good to make our students realize just that. Food for thought I guess. Great post!
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