Category: Response Posts

This is a response to Amanda’s blog post #2

Amanda, your thoughts on digital identity are insightful! In terms of educational technology and personalized learning, I agree that understanding our digital identity is super important. I love how you mentioned googling yourself to see your digital footprint—I’ve definitely done that myself before, and it’s interesting to see what pops up, it’s not usually what we expect to see. It’s surprising how much you can learn about your own online presence that way, and how easy it is to learn about others. But then again, I have a handful of coworkers who have managed to somehow to stay off every social media/posting website (even on their friends and family’s pages!). This means that when you google them, it’s like a barren wasteland; you can barely find anything about them. Isn’t that bizarre? Some people share their whole lives online, yet others don’t have a single picture of themselves online. And even though everybody around us seems to be glued to their phones these days, there are still tons of people who have chosen to reject the notion of a personal online presence entirely.

Your approach to keeping your social media accounts private and professional is smart. Even though you don’t post much, it’s clear you’re mindful of what goes online. This is crucial because, as you said, once something is on the internet, it’s there forever. You mentioned you enjoy platforms like YouTube and TikTok but prefer to watch rather than post, and I feel like that is the case for many others as well. It’s much easier to watch videos/TikToks rather than actually make them ourselves. So I decided to do a little bit of my own research. With 170 million active users in the U.S. (had to google that one here), it’s clear that a lot of people are watching TikToks. However to my surprise, as of May 2024, 83% of U.S. TikTok users have admitted to posting a video themselves (source can be found here). Even as a viewer, you’re still part of the digital landscape, and your interactions contribute to your digital identity. When it comes to personalized learning, knowing your digital habits can help tailor educational experiences to your needs. But, as you pointed out, privacy is a big concern. Your strategy of keeping personal content private and making sure anything public is professional is a great way to manage your online presence. As new social media platforms come out, it’s smart to keep an eye on them and decide how you want to engage. Staying updated without oversharing is a solid approach. Overall, your thoughts on digital identity and how you manage it are really helpful. I enjoyed reading your blogpost!

This is my response for Anna’s Blog post #2.

Hi Anna! Your thoughts on digital identity and the differences between a personal and professional online presence are spot on. In the field of educational technology and personalized learning, digital identity is super important. Using data from our online activities can help create learning experiences that fit our individual needs. This makes learning more engaging and effective, as everything can be tailored to our unique learning approaches.

Privacy is a big deal here too, I completely agree with you on that. Balancing the use of data for personalized learning while keeping personal information safe is tricky but necessary. Educational platforms need strong privacy measures to protect our information. I have seen so many privacy leaks, off-shore data selling, and other privacy-related issues, especially regarding social media, so I definitely think this area needs improvements. It can get especially concerning when these kinds of information leaks affect passwords, credit card information, or online businesses relying on safe internet sales.

Social media plays a huge role in education. LinkedIn can help with professional networking and ensuring a “job-safe” online profile, while sites such as Twitter and Instagram can share educational content and engage with a wider audience. Keeping personal and professional identities separate, as you mentioned, is key. Professional platforms should reflect your career goals, while personal content should stay private.

Managing time between personal and professional identities can be challenging. But with good strategies, like scheduling posts and using different platforms for different purposes, it’s doable. Your plan to grow your digital identity by exploring new platforms and being more consistent is great. Staying up-to-date with social media trends can open new opportunities for connection and growth.

Overall, your approach to digital identity is thoughtful and practical. By integrating these insights into educational technology and personalized learning, you can use digital tools to boost both your personal and professional development. I really enjoyed reading your blog post, Anna, and I resonate with a lot of what you shared. Thank you!

This is a response to Atalaya’s blog post #2

Atalaya, I really enjoyed reading about your perspective on digital identity and its many layers. Understanding digital identity as a mix of personal and professional aspects is crucial, especially within the lens of educational technology and personalized learning. The video you included had a lot of great points that I found really hit the nail on the head. It gave a succinct overview of what digital identity actually is and how we can better understand it.

Your method of using different platforms for personal and professional identities is smart. It lets you keep your private life separate while using other platforms for career growth. This distinction is key, especially since educational technology uses data from our online activities to personalize learning. By keeping personal accounts private and professional accounts focused on achievements and networking, we can ensure our online presence matches our career goals. Using different names for personal and professional accounts is a clever way to manage privacy as well. It helps create a clear boundary between the two, which is essential in today’s digital world. As you mentioned, it can be tough when friends and family post about you. It can be awkward sometimes (I’ve definitely had to have these kinds of conversations before), but it’s a good idea to talk to friends/family about your privacy preferences to avoid any issues between your personal and professional identities. In terms of educational technology, your plan to regularly update privacy settings and stay informed about new tools is great. Overall, your thoughtful and strategic approach to digital identity is a solid way to navigate life in the digital age. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!