For the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to explore my digital identity and presence. After much contemplation and internal struggles, I believe I have concluded that I have two online personas, a personal and professional persona. Each version has a specific purpose and mandate that I leverage to meet the needs of the current activity. When looking at the needs and goals that I must meet to be a successful graduate student, I do not believe that either of my current personas is adequate.
Developing a new persona that more closely aligns with not only my goals and views of a successful graduate student but how I want to be viewed post-graduation is needed. Using some of the questions imposed by Kelly Schryver’s blog post entitled Who Are You Online? Considering Issues of Web Identity, I started to explore my new budding digital persona.
What kinds of things do you tend to post online, and how much thought do you give to choosing or creating them? What would you not post? What mental processes do you go through in deciding what to post, when and how? Do you have a different personality, presentation or persona on different sites or services? If so, why, and how do they differ? How do you think you are perceived online? Why? (Schryver, 2013)
Using Schryver’s questions, I started to sculpt this new identity. I want to be viewed as a knowledgeable expert in the field of educational technology, focusing on the current integration of emerging technologies such as virtual or augmented reality. It seems like a daunting task, as an intimate knowledge of educational practice and research paired with the technical expertise of each tool would be required. This process would equate to hundreds to thousands of hours of readings and experimental practice.
The first step would be to engross into the field, learning as much information about integrating technology into the educational domain. To become an authority in the area, I would have to have a superior understanding of the current literature that pertains to it. I believe that if I read, analyze, and summarize a single related article each week, I would build, over time, a robust repository and intimate knowledge.
Next, a methodology would need to be developed to evaluate the effectiveness of the tools I plan to use. Athanasou (1998) proposed six questions when assessing educational technology; is it ethical, does it cover a need, what are the costs and benefits, did it achieve its goals, what are the effects, and does it meet the needs of its stakeholders. Using Athanasou’s framework as a starting point, I could refine his approach to something more suited for my goals.
Finally, I would need to set some concrete measure of success. Jenkin (2013) discusses the participatory culture and how students are using technology to explore their learning. A long term goal would be for students and teachers to use this idea of the participatory culture to create, share, and explore their ideas using tools like virtual reality. In the short-term, I would like to see the acceptance, adoption, and possible use of these tools in my professional communities.
References
Athanasou, J.A. (1998), “A framework for evaluating the effectiveness of technology‐assisted learning”, Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 30 No. 3, pp. 96-103. https://doi-org.ezproxy.royalroads.ca/10.1108/00197859810211242
Kelly Schryver. (February 5, 2013 Tuesday). Guest Post | Who Are You Online? Considering Issues of Web Identity. The New York Times Blogs (The Learning Network). Retrieved from https://advance-lexis-com.ezproxy.royalroads.ca/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:57NS-B791-DY2M-W4PJ-00000-00&context=1516831.
Jenkins, H. (2013, May 7). Henry Jenkins on Participatory Culture (Big Thinkers Series) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gPm-c1wRsQ&
Wow, I made this way harder than it should have been. I think rewrote this whole thing (from scratch) twice. It still isn’t perfect, but I think it gets the job done. Sorry it took so long.
HI Mike,
I think I re -wrote mine three times as well and I am still not sure I am no the right track lol.
Do you feel that your Digital persona has changed since starting your MALAT program, you were already on twitter? I know the past month has been crazy for everyone do you feel your use of digital technology has increased?
Thanks,
Good to hear I am not the only one. At this point, I would say my presence has not changed too much; perhaps I am more aware of it, though. I have been on Twitter since its inception if I remember correctly, but I am not the most active (on any social media).
I think the article is well written. I understood everything, and I believe that is important. It is also an appropriate and important goal in today’s latest ‘new world’. Go get it!
I know,
It’s just dad.
Haha, thanks dad! You must be pretty darn bored to read these!
You seem to be using more references than anyone else, which is great.
I have a lot to say but can’t seem to connect my thoughts with research papers.
Honestly, I am struggling with it too. The amount of content out there and finding something that fits with your thought process almost seems like adding something redundant to the world.
We will see if we get better at this as we go (only one direction to go!).
Really great read. One thing that strikes me as I read this, as well as other’s posts, is the question of merging our digital identities. I know I’ve been thinking from that aspect, as well. I do wonder, though, if that’s even necessary or, if it is, to what extent? Do we have to give all of ourselves to our digital prescence all the time? Are there aspects of ourselves to keep private or separate?
What also stood out in your writing was this sentence: “This process would equate to hundreds to thousands of hours of readings and experimental practice.”
In context it revolves around being an “expert”, and it makes me curious just what “expert” might mean to you. How much do you need to know/practice in order to be seen as an expert? And an expert in what specifically? Is there one specific aspect of this that strikes you as something to pursue?
Honestly, I’m glad that this acknowledges that it is a work-in-progress because, as nice as I think my “plan” is, I feel like there are definitely aspects that will change and adapt over time as my knowledge and understanding changes.
Great questions,
Speaking about your inquiry into digital presence, I believe that the reason for this project is to answer those exact questions. I do not believe that it is healthy to live entirely online, let alone as a single persona online. I think we should all have an equilibrium between our personal – professional and offline – online selves. For better or worse, the digital world is playing an increasingly important role in our identity, ignoring it is to leave a valuable resource.
It is funny how non-binary the world has become; it is interesting to view what an expert is in today’s world. I guess the best answer would be it depends on the context and setting. Specifically, for my circumstances, I want to be an authority figure in implementing technology in education or educational technology to the point that I have some sway in the curriculum development (or reform).
Thank you for sharing your reflection, Mike! I chuckled (and nodded head in agreement) as I read the part about needing to develop a professional and persona, online and in person.
I think I experienced a slight identity crisis for a few days upon starting this activity. The rabbit holes of “who do I want to be when I grow up” left me with more questions to ponder than answers so I keep circling back. However, I am enjoying the process of discovering.
Looking forward to reading more of your posts.