Getting Kids Googled Well

 In "Footprints in the Digital Age," Will Richardson speaks to the importance of teaching students how to ensure that they are googled well. Some of you might be wary about not only encouraging, but also guiding students in creating publicly available online content.

Here, Will Richardson, our guest EL blogger, gives advice on this topic. Here's what he has to say:

One of the barriers to making our kids "googled well" is the discomfort that many parents have with the idea of putting student work online. The more I think about this and talk with teachers about it, the more convinced I am that the best way to make this work is to start having these conversations in the earliest grades, and to include parents every step of the way.

In 1st grade, when our students create and publish podcasts under their initials, we make sure our parents know why we want our kids to do that (i.e., real work for real audiences) and what we're teaching them about online safety. Then, when they reach 7th grade and begin blogging under their first names about their projects or their passions, we make sure to include our parents in the reading and commenting that happens in the process. Then, with any luck, by the time our juniors and seniors are publishing digital stories and video histories with their full names in the credits, their parents will know that we've taught them to keep themselves safe and that the footprints they are creating online can serve as a positive portfolio for their future endeavors, not simply be a potential embarassment or hazard in their lives.

That's why preparing our kids for this much more transparent, shared, public world cannot simply be a unit that we teach in 6th grade; it must become an integral part of the way we deliver curriculum to both our students, and to those that care most about them.

Do you agree that schools should teach students how to become "googled well"? Have you encountered barriers to doing this?

Comments

[Christy Tvarok Green]

I've definitely met resistance to introducting students to any online publishing or collaboration. The blanket statement "We're concerned about student safety" is an issue each time the conversation starts in our district. I am completely behind keeping our students smart and safe online. But if we're not allowing them to use these tools, are they really learning HOW to be safe? I know my administration is concerned about liability if something like a predator/cyberbullying incident should take place. Is there any literature about protecting school districts from legal action if they are actively working to protect students online? We all need some solid literature to serve as an advocate for our cause!
Thanks for the great post!

[Ms. Mae]

I think this post really touches an important topic under the umbrella of Internet Literacy. Search engines are very efficient at retrieving information, however, at times that information does not paint a true picture. Teaching children at a young age how to be cautious about sharing information on the internet, as well as, how to identify fact and fiction are important literacy skills. I currently have parents who have googled me in the past. I can only imagine what it would be like if the internet was around when I was a child and the information one could gather. Thanks again for the great information!

[C. Harvey]

I believe as an educator one has to be very concerned when a child uses the internet posting various topics. Some children do not know the ramification that one may be addressed when making comments in print. Educator should always monitor what children are presenting online to ensure safety.

[Jeremy - RU]

In today’s age the Internet is a useful tool to get your work out their so people can see. One thing students need to learn is that when they post something on the Internet it is up for scrutiny by any person that reads what they write. This could raise some issues for younger students. One issues is we don’t want to do is discourage students from publishing their writing or their work. By doing this at a young age a student may end up having a bad experience that may cause them to not want to publish again. As students get older we can gradually work them up to online publishing. Start out with them putting their blog posts or their podcasts on a teacher controlled website so that outsiders can not access the information. This is a safer environment for younger students to express their ideas. Then as they get older have them publish on more open forums when they are mature enough to handle the criticisms of others.

[Mr. M.]

I completely agree with Jeremy. There is absolutely no need for students at a very young age to be susceptible to online predators or anything of that nature. Posting work without names under control of a teacher is plenty of exposure and serves the same purpose. The student can keep the work with him or her and release it later under their own name when they are clearly at a responsible age if they want to. It just seems irresponsible to put a child in the way of anything that has the potential to be dangerous when the benefits of it do not outweigh the negatives.

[Heather R.]

The reality is that kids are going to be on the internet. Why not teach students how to be safe on the internet and help guide them to see how ti can be used. So when they are in high school they use it for something other than facebook and myspace.

I have always had the belief that you can't shelter kids from everything. It is better to teach them and have it become natural to them. Otherwise, when they are told it is bad and dangerous, kids are curious and will venture there anyways. The internet can be such a great tool for all students!

[Brian M.]

As someone who is currently taking graduate classes online I have to say that introducing children to online posting at an early age is a wonderful idea.

In my class there are many of my fellow students (all fellow classroom teachers) that struggle with using an online format for learning. By exposing our students at an earlier age I believe we can prepare them to be successful in later life.

The example that Will Richardson in preparing students (and parents) by gradually including more information in their posts is wonderful. Having students in the earliest grades post with just their initials, middle grades using first name, and finally full name in later grades is a wonderful transition.

On a side note children love to find stuff on the internet. I am sure that being able to find your own work on the web is a great source of pride for students (and very cool to boot).

[C. Warren]

Our role as educators and as parents is to keep our children safe while at the same time, teaching them how to Be safe, whether inside the home or away. Don't we teach our children not to play with matches while also teaching the safe way to cook on the stove? We should apporoach the internet the same way. Students should be taught the safe way to access the internet beginning in the primary grades. They should learn to use the internet responsibily. The internet is still realtively young and our students will be growing up with technology as it further evolves. Teaching respect and responsibility to students at a young age will enable them to access websites that are age appropriate while ensuring their safety. We should not prohibit the use of nor be permissive with technology, but rather guide and direct students to use the internet with care.

[sheila moore]

In this age of widespread technology,parents and educators have to take the responsibility of teaching our children to be safe in cybernet. Teaching and modeling internet responsibility should be done in a collaborative manner. We have to make sure that our children are not afraid to engage in technology, but it is pertient that they understand that the internet is a useful tool and not one to take lightly

[Laura Varlas]

Will Richardson just posted on the need, above all, to have tranpsarency in school leadership--and adds that teachers and administrators need to be googled well, also.

http://weblogg-ed.com/2009/leadership-transparency/