Non Satis Scire: 1.3

The next part of the unit is to look at your own online presence, commonly called an "online footprint." I watched a clip from the Ellen Show recently, and it made me squirm a bit. I'm interested to know what your reaction will be when you watch it:

Warning: Don't open this at work or in front of children.

Yes, I realize I just asked you to watch a video that includes some suggestive photos. (This is college.) The point is that Ellen, on mainstream TV, was able to look at audience members' Facebook profiles and find horribly embarrassing photos. These appear to be openly available photos that anyone can see.

What would she see if she looked at your Facebook account? What would I see if I looked at it? Or your Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat account? Social media is part of your online footprint.

Begin with the readings below, then move on to the quiz and the next assignment.

About Jo

I have been a technical writer since 1998. In 2006 I went back to school for some re-training, and I'm still here--but now I'm an instructor. I earned a master's degree in Instructional Technology, then earned a second masters in Technical Communication at Utah State University.

Vygotsky talks about learning occurring in the Zone of Proximal Development, and that's where I find myself residing. It is far outside my comfort zone, but it's where I grow best. It provides the light and nutrients needed for life -- MY life. It feeds my mind and nurtures my soul. I'm not sure why my soul needs prickly, hard-to-digest nutrients, but apparently it does.

I have always been interested in the ways people find to put theory into action. So often we learn the theory behind something, only to find that real-world constraints like budget and schedule make implementation impossible. There are people, however, who are able to find ways to use theory despite the exigencies of reality, and I love to learn from them. I admire them and hope to emulate them professionally.