I write and talk a lot about the capacities and dispositions we seek to explicitly nurture in our learners. Recently, however, there is one particular quality I keep thinking about. This is the quality of discernment. It is the one learning capacity that has, for the moment, started to take precedence over the others. I’m not advocating any form of hierarchy amongst all learning capacities here, but I am increasingly finding that the need for the explicit development of discernment in learners is more pressing than ever. In our saturated world of information, our ability to search, sort and select appropriate, reliable and credible information is fast becoming as important to our digital learners as a compass is for sailors in stormy seas. This is equally the case when it comes to the safeguarding and nurturing of our digital footprints.
I came across this slideshare presentation from Alec Couros @courosa and found that it provided me with some pertinent questions within this topic. It reminds me of the issues we must continue to revisit both as educators and as participants, on our own behalf, in the digital landscape.
Full On Learning 
Digital discernment: important flag – not only for students, but for adults too. I am currently unpicking some of these decisions as part of my doctoral research (learnerosity.com)!
I agree, Peps. Definitely necessary for ALL of us. I was talking about this with my O/H only this evening. On reflection, I think this slideshare makes a really useful distinction between ‘digital footprint’ and ‘digital identity’. I need to think on this a little more, but it’s definitely something I can work with teachers about.Thank you for your comment and feedback – much appreciated as always.Z
digital footprint vs digital identity… think I need to lie down!
Digital footprint vs digital identity a topic that forms a central plank of the book, which is free so no about a plug. http://www.mydigitalfootprint.com. We tend to forget the what we say about ourselves is in our control until we post it. What someone else can do with your data is not up to you. But digital footprints are also about data that describes what you are doing.
Digital footprint vs digital identity a topic that forms a central plank of the book, which is free so no about a plug. http://www.mydigitalfootprint.com. We tend to forget the what we say about ourselves is in our control until we post it. What someone else can do with your data is not up to you. But digital footprints are also about data that describes what you are doing.
On a different topic, privacy is not about public vs private. http://blog.mydigitalfootprint.com/?sort=&search=privacy
Tony, thank you for your comments. I’m off to check out your links. Many thanks. Peps…relax and take deep breaths!