As a future Educator this is definitely one of my favourite quotes.
Media Tech Parenting. (2013). Plain Citizenship?. [image]. Retrieved From http://mediatechparenting.net/2013/10/
Author: amandajordaan
Being a Digital Curator
Before the world of digital technologies, a Curator was someone in charge of a museum, art collection or library. Curators are “responsible for acquiring material for a collection, preserving these materials for future generations, helping users locate items from the collection and providing contextual information so they can better understand them” (Reside, D. 2011).
These days if we require information we turn to the internet. 90% of information is now digital, but how do we sort out the valuable information from the irrelevant? With the amount of new technologies and applications available “anyone can become a creator and a curator” (Flintoff, K., Mellow.P & Clark,K.P. 2014).
There is so much information available these days and while anyone can become a digital curator, anyone can also write an article or a blog, how do we know the information they are telling us is true, or has it been fabricated to what they want us to believe?
When the world was in print it was easier to believe the information that was written was credible. Articles and journals were written by published journalists, and any research papers were conducted by doctors and scientists in that particular field. Today anyone with a computer can write an article, say what ever they want regardless of their background and then self publish it online, so how do we know the information we are reading is correct? How do we sort out the credible from the not so credible?
This is why digital curators are essential, particularly in Education. By using the same principals as a curator in a museum or library we source information that is relevant and appropriate for the particular topic we are teaching. This can be achieved by checking the references, only using secure websites that are themselves credible, or even researching the writer or creator to see their credentials, and then, only selecting the information that we regard as relevant.
The role of educator has changed for todays generation of students, no longer is the “all-knowing, all-powerful teacher at the front of the class distilling knowledge into the empty minds of the students relevant” (Howell, J. 2012, p. 5) we now need to become digital curators. Integrating relevant digital content and digital technologies into the classroom.
As an Educator it is our role as a digital curator to “equip students to differentiate good content from bad in preparation for their future education and careers” (Johnson, L. 2013).
References
Dale, Stephen. (2014). Mastering Digital Content Curation. [image]. Retrieved From http://collabor8now.com/knowledge-management/mastering-digital-content-curation/
Flintoff, Kim., Mellow, Peter. & Clark, Kerensa. Pickett. (2014). Digital curation: Opportunities for learning, teaching, research and professional development. In Transformative, innovative and engaging. Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Teaching Learning Forum, 30-31 January 2014. Perth: The University of Western Australia. http://ctl.curtin.edu.au/professional_development/conferences/tlf/tlf2014/refereed/flintoff.html
Howell, Jennifer. (2012) Teaching with ICT: Digital Pedagogies for Collaboration and Creativity. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press
Johnson, Leanna. (2013). Why Scoop.it is becoming and indispensable learning tool. Retrieved From http://www.teachthought.com/technology/why-scoopit-is-becoming-an-indispensable-learning-tool/
Reside, Doug. (2011). What is a digital curator?. Retrieved From http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/04/04/what-digital-curator
Schiff, Jennifer.Lonoff. (2014). 7 tips for managing digital information overload. [image]. Retrieved From http://www.cio.com/article/2377560/careers-staffing/7-tips-for-managing-digital-information-overload.html
Waters, Sue. (2013). Digital Curation: Putting the pieces together. [image]. Retrieved From http://suewaters.com/2013/10/13/digital-curation/
Evaluation Matrix – 2nd Teaching Resource – Scoop.it
Below is a link to an Evaluation Matrix for my 2nd Teaching Resource using Scoop.it.
2nd Teaching Resource – Scoop.it
For my 2nd teaching resource I created a Scoop.it page for a Year 9 class learning about Biomes and Food Security in Geography.
Evaluation Matrix – 1st Teaching Resource – Pinterest
Below is a link to an Evaluation Matrix, it goes in to more detail about the teaching resource I created using Pinterest in the previous post.
1st Teaching Resource – Pinterest
Digital Identity and Digital Security
Our digital identity refers to our online presence; it is created by what we or others have posted about us online. Any information we post is there forever, even after we delete it. While we ourselves can take certain measures to protect the information we send online, how much is really private and what information that we might consider innocent could in fact be harmful?
In todays digital world, everyone is turning to social media, and not just for the average individual post, the police and even criminals are using it to their advantage. As “we live in a time of rampant oversharing” (Dickinson, B. 2011), there have been several crimes involving home robberies from posts the younger generation have been making; posting photos with their home location, and then posting their family holiday plans online.
“In 2010 three robbers in New Hampshire checked Facebook status updates and managed to get away with $200,000 worth of stolen goods after breaking into 50 homes” (Dickinson, B. 2011).
Below is a link to an infographic by ‘Credit Sesame’ created to show the alarming statistics of criminals using social media:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/infographic-80-of-robbers-check-twitter-facebook-google-street-view/
With this increasing number of crimes that are related to social media oversharing, do we need to re-evaluate how we approach online security, are we educating this younger generation for the reality of the online world.
As the age of people online is getting younger, early intervention is needed to ensure this generation are safe online. This responsibility should not fall purely on the parents, as Educators we need to have an active role in preparing this young generation to be safe and smart online. They are “a generation of young kids, with limited life experience, who are sharing every detail of their lives online at great potential risk” (Coode, C. n.d)
Should schools be implementing an online safety program into the curriculum, or create an assembly seminar, similar to the ones the Police host about drugs and alcohol. This is a serious matter, the online world while exciting can be very dangerous and this young generation deserves to have the tools before they venture into this online world.
This video outlines some statistics of what our young students are doing online. While it is based in America, the information is relevant to Australian students.
After doing extensive research on this topic I too have come to realize my own personal ignorance regarding my online safety. While there is information available regarding this topic and how to be safe online, is it enough and could we be doing more to protect our digital identity?
References
Dickinson, Boonsri. (2011). Infographic: 80% of robbers check Twitter, Facebook, Google Street View. ZDnet. Retrieved from http://www.zdnet.com/article/infographic-80-of-robbers-check-twitter-facebook-google-street-view/
Coode, Cat. (n.d). How are you defining your digital identity?. Binary Tattoo. Retrieved from http://www.binarytattoo.com/about-us/
Considerati. (2014). Seminar ‘The Value of Our Digital Identity’. [image]. Retrieved From http://www.considerati.com/blog/seminar-the-value-of-our-digital-identity/
Q-Language. (2012). How safe are you online? [image]. Retrieved From http://www.qlanguage.com.hk/how-safe-online-online-safety-tips/
Boys & Girls Clubs of America. (2012). Cyber Safe Futures Overview. Retrieved From https://youtu.be/I-0UZrV5Ktc
Marc Prensky – Digital Natives
Want to know more about digital natives? Here is a very informative short video from Marc Prensky, the man behind the term.
Lunch Box School. (2013). Marc Prensky – Digital Natives. Retrieved From. https://youtu.be/jRR76Mz9NII
What is a Digital World?
We live in what many people call ‘the digital world’, a world that is heavily reliant on digital devices throughout every day activities. They have dramatically changed the way we work, communicate, source information and entertain ourselves.
All these new technologies; smartphones, computers and many others, have all been created to make our lives easier or more convenient. But has this new ‘digital world’ changed our lives for the better or are we at risk of living in a two dimensional world.
Todays young generation have been labelled “digital natives” (Howell, J. 2012). They have grown up in a world where they are surrounded by digital technologies and are digitally fluent in all aspects of their lives. They expect and demand these new technologies to be integrated not only in their personal lives, but their schooling and future careers.
“Digital Natives are used to receiving information really fast. They like to parallel process and multi-task. They prefer their graphics before their text rather than the opposite. They function best when networked”. Prensky, M. (2001).
The world has had to adapt to keep up with this new fast paced multi-tasking generation, particularly in the Educational system. Teachers today need to be just as connected to the digital world as their students. As Jennifer Howell (2012) stated “we either up-skill and embrace digital technologies or we get left behind by our students”.
‘Digital Natives’ are always connected, it is not just a tool they use to enhance their day to day activities, it is the basis of who they are. While this reliance on technology is a concern for some experts, as a future educator I understand the importance of adapting to this ‘digital world’ and integrating technology in the classroom.
This new digital generation have shorter attention spans, they demand a different kind of learning, one that is visual, exciting and that they can be involved in.
One thing that is important to remember however, is to put down the digital devices once in a while and embrace the other things this world has to offer. “You can have a richer life, rather than one in two dimensions”. (Greenfield, S. 2014)
References
AVG Now. (2013). Protecting your digital world [image]. Retrieved from http://now.avg.com/protecting-your-digital-world/
Howell, Jennifer. (2012) Teaching with ICT: Digital Pedagogies for Collaboration and Creativity. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press
Law, James. (2014). The dark side of social media: Baroness Susan Greenfield says social media is rewiring our brains. Retrieved from http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/the-dark-side-of-social-media-baroness-susan-greenfield-says-social-media-is-rewiring-our-brains/story-fnjwnhzf-1227123736728
Pure Home and Body. (2012). Ben Franklin Quote [image]. Retrieved from http://purehomeandbody.com/pure-inspiration/11-quotes-to-celebrate-earth-day/attachment/ben-franklin-quote/
Upside Learning. (2011). 5 Myths about Digital Natives [image]. Retrieved from http://www.upsidelearning.com/blog/index.php/2011/04/07/5-myths-about-digital-natives/
Teaching in the Digital World 