Privacy in Online Writing

     I am fortunate to carpool with three other MPC faculty to school most days. The four of us, sometimes joined by others, each represent distinct disciplines with varied strengths. We jokingly refer to ourselves as "The Superheroes." Among the Superheroes I have had many, many conversations about internet privacy. We seem to represent the spectrum of American views on internet privacy. One of us is wholeheartedly against any internet presence outside the walls of MPC Online (and even within it's not her favorite). Two of us are ambivalent, we have Facebook accounts, linkedIn accounts, we are loudmouths (I'm one of them), we have pictures that come up if you search for us, but we don't like the idea that we're easy to find, but want to be found by "the right people." The fourth could care less; privacy is no longer a choice and she accepts this as a reality. I think the Superheroes, to some extent, represent most Americans at the moment. We are in a time of social change about what privacy means and what we are willing to let go of or keep to ourselves to access a convenient way to connect. I think our responsibility as teachers, is to notify and engage with our students about what choices they do have in this moment as well as what kind of a world they want to live in. We are making our futures with our choices today.
     In gearing up for students to use social media, I think it's imperative that we counsel students to understand that by using these tools they are engaging in a facet of the economy and society we live in.  This class is part of their digital footprint. One way to teach students their options might take the form of the introductory "syllabus quiz." I use the feedback feature to gauge students' apprehension or lack of understanding of the risks invovled in using social media. For example I could ask the question: "How concerned are you about how someone might learn about you from your digital footprint?"
 a. not very much at all
b. a little concerned
c. very concerned
d. I want to avoid leaving behind any trace of myself online.

For each one of these responses I could provide a list of what is possible and not possible to control in the given programs we will use. I would counsel those most concerned to accept that there is no chance of a zero digital footprint with the class and those with no concern that they should have some concerns that they address by choosing their level of sharing.

I think it also might be useful to brainstorm a list of pros and cons as a class so that students can understand that the benefits of using social media in the class will most likely outweigh the concerns. I want to stress to students that we have choices. I want to use the news story about the teacher at Apalatchee High School to start the discussion. In think it is a great topic in which to begin to talk about analysis!

What do people think? Is there a spectrum or a right answer? What responsibilities do we have to warn our students about the future use of  what they publish online as part of their class? What repsonsibilities do we have as instructors to manage our online presence?