Online postings can be destructive
ANGELA CUMING
EYES ONLINE: US education expert Kevin Honeycutt says parents should keep a close eye on what their children get up to on social networking sites such as Facebook.
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Digital records are a potential danger for children.
Kiwi children are potentially destroying their futures online and parents should keep tabs on them through Facebook and Google alerts to stop them tarnishing their reputations.
The call to digital arms was made by American teacher and education expert Kevin Honeycutt in his keynote address at a major education conference held in Hamilton yesterday.
More than 1300 teachers and principals attended the Learning@School conference at Claudelands Event Centre to hear talks on key issues facing New Zealand schools and classrooms.
A focus was the growth of technology and social media inside and outside the classroom.
Mr Honeycutt said children and parents must be wary about the permanent "digital records" that are built through their online activity.
"A child can destroy their whole future with one keystroke," he said. "What worries me is a lot of adults are not aware of this.
"It is like we have let our kids out into the digital social media playground but we have forgotten to put anyone on recess duty.
"Once a child has pushed that button [to post something online], it is out there forever."
Parents should take an active interest in what their child gets up to online, he said.
"Each and every parent out there should create a Google alert with their child's first name," he said. The system available through the web giant sends a message to users when a particular word or phrase – in this case their child's name – pops up online. Parents would then know what they were saying and what was being said about them.
"They need to know what their digital branding is, so to speak, what they are leaving behind online. Because once it's published on the web it is there forever."
Parents and teachers needed to get up to speed on the dangerous nature of social networking sites, but not to be afraid to let children use new technology in ways that can help them learn.
"I don't think technology is the cavalry coming over the hill but to ignore the potential of technology would be like ignoring medicine in a time of widespread illness," he said.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Ah shame... out of all the topics and proactive / positive uses of online tools / platforms which Kevin excited the delegates of Learning@School about, the author decided to focus on something which was not the focus of his talk - if you want a more balanced take on what Kevin discussed from those who were there and that matter (the teachers) check out the tweets:
https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23lats12%20%40kevinhoneycutt
:-)
@ Karen #3
Thanks Karen, we've inserted the video link you provided.
As a delegate at the conference referenced in this article, I would like to point out that this piece is hugely reductive of Kevin's keynote. While he did indeed mention Google Alerts, it was in the context of harnessing the technology to help us manage information online, to use technology purposefully. The keynote was received with great enthusiasm by the crowd in attendance [as the many, many tweets generated at the time would testify] - his message was actually focused on using technology to enhance learning, to engage students who may otherwise not tap into learning, to offer personalised pathways so all learners can achieve and feel successful and empowered. If anyone is interested in getting an accurate portrayal of Kevin Honeycutt's wholly positive message to educators, I would encourage you to check out: http://www.edtalks.org/video/kevin-honeycutt-trends-tools-and-tactics-21st-century-learning
Nah, let's take the quick-fiz route like this guy is advocating instead of educating your kids....
Although ironically, due to generational gap, usually their kids are far more Internet saavy and Internet aware than their parents.
Either way, education is a far better practice.
So I create an alert with my child's first name, and I get notified about every single posting that a child with his/her name makes around the world? Sounds sensible and realistic.
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Really! Were you at the same talk as me! How can such a positive talk about technology and learning be reviewed to make technology scary for parents! Watch the actual talk.