This week’s topic was actually one of the most interesting to me and it really got me thinking. Learning about digital citizenship, privacy, safety, and online footprints really made me think more deeply about what it means to guide students in today’s online world. Especially when they are using technology in my classroom. As a future teacher, I feel a strong responsibility to help students understand how their choices online can follow them for years. The idea of digital footprinting stood out to me the most. I thought it was genuinely cool how every click, post, and interaction leaves a trace, and how those traces can be used to build a picture of someone’s online identity. It made me realize that teaching digital citizenship is not just about telling students what not to do but I also need to be helping them understand how the internet works and how they can use it in positive, empowering ways. When students understand this they are much more likely to make thoughtful decisions. This really got me thinking about chromebook use in the classroom and a question I raise is, does school districts place restrictions on these devices? What can students access on these computers? Are they able to search anything they want or are their safety walls?

Even though I found the topic interesting, my personal opinion about my own digital footprint has not really changed. I have always been very diligent about what I share online, and I already think carefully before posting anything. I am aware of how permanent the internet can be, so I try to make choices that reflect who I am and what I value. But this learning experience reinforced how important it is for young adolescents to develop those same habits early. They are growing up in a world where their online presence can shape opportunities and even impact their safety, sometimes before they fully understand the consequences. I feel even more strongly now that part of my role as an educator is to help them build awareness and make thoughtful choices so they can protect themselves and create a digital footprint they can be proud of. Teaching them these skills is not just about avoiding harm, it is about giving them the tools to navigate the digital world as they get older. A useful example I can think of in my own practice would be if I were teaching a career class, I could implement a topic like this and then ask students questions such as how would this scenario impact them if they went into a certain career? Overall this weeks lesson really stands out to me as an important subject to cover in this class and as a future teacher I appreciate covering this topic as it is always important to think about especially when working in a profession where your digital footprint matters.