Monday, April 13, 2015

Only What I Know: My Digital Identity, Blogging and Online Collaboration

Blogging and My Digital Identity

Before I began blogging for this class, I did not have a digital identity, none that I knew of, at least. Now I am at least aware that all the things I do or say on the internet -- including this blog post -- will probably be around forever somewhere, and that that’s my identity, good, bad or indifferent. Google now tells me I am part of the blogosphere. (I did not think to look before this class.) While looking for my impact on the internet, I even found some blog posts I wrote years ago and completely forgot about!

The overly paranoid Rob Lowe in me understands that my online activity is probably tracked and stored by someone somewhere, whether by business, government, or the illuminati. And I know that this information could even be used against me later on, particularly if it is even seemingly negative or questionable. Thinking on my digital identity has made me more careful about how I present myself on the internet. (I’m looking right at you, Facebook.) I know I must also advise my students to be careful too.

Collaborative Learning and My Digital Identity


My blogging hasn’t made a star in the blogosphere yet. I’m still hard to find. (That’s a good thing, I think.) But it is fun to see where I posted anonymously on guitar websites. Although no one knows what I wrote, it is personally gratifying to know I started conversations that may help other guitar learners a week or even years later. The folks at the guitar sites don’t know who I am but that does not prevent them from acting in a (mostly) neighborly way, sharing with me tips and tricks on learning guitar.

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