I really loved Jesse Miller’s presentation, it was probably my favorite one from the whole course. I found his presentation super engaging because he talked about things happening in our own community. It wasn’t a boring presentation about technology, he gave real examples and focused on how teachers can be safe while using technology and protect their careers. His presentation went over things like digital consent, professional boundaries, and how teachers need to be careful with what they post online, even when it seems harmless. I learned so much during this short presentation and feel more confident knowing the consequences of sharing my own information or my students’ information online.
One thing that really stuck with me was when he talked about consent when recording students. He said that filming or recording students, even just their voices, isn’t consent. I didn’t know that before. Just because their faces aren’t being shown doesn’t make it okay, or mean they have consent. Ever since he said that, I’ve looked at TikTok and Instagram differently. There are so many teachers who post day-to-day videos of their classroom activities, sometimes with kids talking or even showing their faces or names. I’ve also seen nannies do the same thing, and now I can’t stop thinking about whether they actually have permission to post those videos. It made me wonder if principals or parents even know about these videos or if there are any consequences for teachers who don’t follow the rules.
Jesse also talked about privacy and how easily our information spreads. He explained that when you use Wi-Fi in places like airports or coffee shops, your data gets collected and kept. Even when bars or clubs scan your ID, that information stays in their system. Hearing that made me feel way more aware, and honestly a bit worried, about all the places my information is stored, because I’ve never really thought about it. It made me think about all the times I hit “I Agree” without actually reading the Terms and Conditions. The other day I downloaded an app to play mobile Skip-Bo, and keeping Jesse’s presentation in mind, I read through the terms and conditions. It said all kinds of things like having access to my email and phone number and promoting ads for other games on my social media platforms. I was shocked. It tells you exactly what it’s doing, but I’m too lazy to read through what I’m actually allowing it to do.
After this presentation, I’ve been more aware of how to be safe with technology and the internet when it comes to teaching, but also my own personal security in my day-to-day life, and how much of my information spreads without me realizing.
