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As part of my Internet moodle I teach students about the importance of their digital footprint. I believe it is very difficult for young students to conceptualize the notion of something lasting forever. Once content is posted or published on the Interne, it is very difficult to remove that content. We know it is actually impossible to remove all traces of what was once posted online. This is just one example of how the Internet, while being a wonderful tool, provides educators and parents alike with the enormous challenge of preparing students to safely use this powerful resource.

In //Footprints in the Digital Age// the author, Will Richardson suggests another fear; that his own children will not “google” well, meaning a college admissions officer or potential future employer will find that his child has not produced any meaningful digital content. So we must not only fear what inappropriate content students may put out there for the world to see, but also the sharing of information they do not create for that the world may benefit from.

Will Richardson shares the story of Laura Stockman, a ten year old from Buffalo, New York, who began a blog to honor the memory of her grandfather who died the year before. ( Laura's blog, "Twenty-Five Days to Make a Difference" [|http://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com] ) In her blog she tries to do one good deed each day in December leading up to Christmas. People began taking notice of her blog and her community service projects were developed which benefited people around the world. Students are making a difference in the world with the help of web2.0 tools, like blogs. Laura, at the age of ten, is building a positive web presence for herself, when college recruiters or prospective employers search for her, she will “google” well. The challenge is to prepare all students to use the Internet to its potential, while remaining safe. This cannot happen without the support of parents and educators alike. The author purports that in order for students to learn these skills the educators in their lives must embrace the tools, and model their appropriate use and potential, so that students develop a healthy and positive digital footprint.

n a blog to honor the memory of her grandfather who died the year before. ( Laura's blog, "Twenty-Five Days to Make a Difference" [|http://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com] ) In her blog she tries to do one good deed each day in December leading up to Christmas. People began taking notice of her blog and her community service projects were developed which benefited people around the world. Students are making a difference in the world with the help of web2.0 tools, like blogs. Laura, at the age of ten, is building a positive web presence for herself, when college recruiters or prospective employers search for her, she will “google” well. The challenge is to prepare all students to use the Internet to its potential, while remaining safe. This cannot happen without the support of parents and educators alike. The author purports that in order for students to learn these skills the educators in their lives must embrace the tools, and model their appropriate use and potential, so that students develop a healthy and positive digital footprint.

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