My Footprint on Land and Internet Sea

I was asked to reflect on my digital footprint, but I had to ask how have I impacted myself, family, friends, coworkers, students, community members and the random people who by accident come across my energy.

First, I Googled my name. Well that is limited by which name you place in.  Since I am a woman I have changed my name each time that I have married.  So any footprint I may have had 1962-1984 is limited. Little or none can be found unless it is on a social media on Throw Back Thursday postings. Once I became employed as a teacher that is where my digital steps can be followed. Each degree, each teaching certificate, each school I have taught at, and then any professional articles or videos are clearly imprinted for all to see.  
Second, is deciding if the steps people view are positive or not.  Who is to decide that, me or society.  Given I am a servent of the public education system my hope  is always to have positive posts and connections to be read.
Thirdly, what role do we play as educators to help promote students to think about their expressions on line is the next step to address.  Walking the talk of a citizen who is proactive to helping society through all actions is key.  As a teacher, show how much the internet is used to reserarch people for employment.  As a parent or tax payer, expain how you are just like your students parents and relatives and give them real life connections to latch on to so it becomes real. As a community member, show how data and information can help them become more informed and involved in helping their community. 

We are all part of the infromational ebb and flow of the internet.  Since our society has chosen to collect data in a variety of ways and areas, we can only hope to try to understand how or why this data is collected and when it can and will be used. The morals and ethics needed for any society have to be taught at a very young age.  No matter verbal or written, these ethics are real and positive.  Giving people lifevests and a safety checklist will help them navigate their foodprints throughout the waves of the internet sea.