This is Me – digital identity and reputation
http://reading.ac.uk/thisisme
Workbooks can be freely downloaded from our Lulu store, print copies are available at cost: http://stores.lulu.com/odinlab
Type of snapshot
- central services provision e.g. library, learning development, e-learning, ICT
- ‘learner-led’ provision
What was the context for this snapshot?
This Is Me is a set of practical projects that aims to help students and others to be aware of the impact that online material particularly that on the internet, has on their identity and reputation.
We were inspired to work in the area by conversations with colleagues and students which showed a wide variety of awareness of what we call digital identity and its impact on them, their friends, family, colleagues, careers etc
Since the work started in 2008 we have received funding from EduServ and CCCM (the CETL for Career Management Skills) we are actively seeking further funding.
Most of the resources we have produced are released under a Creative Commons licence for others to re-purpose and re-use (with attribution) which has resulted in a variety of re-uses that we are aware in some UK universities but also wider afield (there is a version of one of our work books available in Arabic).
The material we produced for Destinations ® (http://www.reading.ac.uk/ccms/destinations/ccms-destinationshome.aspx) is covered by a licence and only available to subscribers.
What kind of learners were involved in accessing this provision or support?
Our materials are meant to be able to be used without the team, but while developing them we engaged with students and staff across the years and disciplines at our institution and with smaller numbers from elsewhere.
We ran a number of workshops in conjunction with our Institute of Education and their students face particular challenges in protecting their own digital reputation and in teaching in the area. While students in some other disciplines were particularly keen to develop a digital presence that would allow them to promote their work (varying from poetry to programming).
We contributed some material to the Student Stories web site, which provides examples of teaching material, and a number of audio clips of students talking about their digital identities under online identity.
What skills or literacies were particularly being addressed?
Mostly the material aims at awareness, coupled with appropriate use of ICT in these areas
- Searching
- Privacy settings
- Promotion
Who provided the support? How was support provided?
While developing material we provided the support. The material is now freely available and can (and is) used by individuals and taken up as part of more formal classes
Benefits, outcomes, and lessons learned
The decision to use a Creative Commons Licence (with attribution) has made it much easier to promote our work and to allow others to take and adapt it.