The digital tattoo

1. the digital tattoo Counsellor Information Day December 3rd, 2007 UBC Okanagan 2 mins – intro self and topic2 mins – intro self and topic

2. Today’s Objectives To consider the concept of a digital tattoo and how this may impact your students To consider the issues connected to online social networking To explore initiatives that educate students on good online behaviour. 2 mins2 mins

3. An informal poll… How many people have students who are active users of facebook, myspace, youtube, flickr, wikipedia…? How many of YOU are also using these tools for personal or professional purposes? How many people are absolutely petrified of the whole thing and are staying as far away from it as possible? 1 minute1 minute

4. Web 2.0…what is it Any guesses? Here is a short video to help explain the concept 6 mins6 mins

5. Web 2.0 is… Social Networking (ie. Friendster, myspace, Livejournal,facebook) Second Life Wikis(pedia) RSS feeds Blogs Podcasts Rate Your Professor Photo sharing (Flickr) 1 min – applications that allow the user to create and edit content. Websites no longer controlled by a few specialists. Puts power into the hands of the people.1 min – applications that allow the user to create and edit content. Websites no longer controlled by a few specialists. Puts power into the hands of the people.

6. The realities of social networking Both staff and students use it, professionally and personally We cannot control it If we don’t “use” it, we will get left behind We cannot make good decisions about it without first understanding it 1 min1 min

7. Why we ? Web 2.0… Gives students a venue to meet each other and connect with people they might not normally have met. Pulse – can tell you what is cool, popular, mainstream, or not mainstream. Advertising events for students – VERY good response rates Creating a forum for school groups to interact and build a sense of team 2 mins2 mins

8. Why we don’t ? Web 2.0… Safety TMI: Too Much Information Cyber-stalking or identity theft Dangerous behaviours endorsed Used by external groups to screen or monitor student behaviour Impact on job prospects. What does what you post online today say about you? 2 mins2 mins

9. The digital tattoo The result of having not enough information or education about how to engage with online communities can mean you are “stuck” with a digital impression that you didn’t really intend to make. This tattoo can be permanent This tattoo is public This tattoo is hard to remove 2 mins2 mins

10. A moment to think… What does this mean for you as a counsellor? How has this impacted your students? How will it impact your work? 1 mins – what does this mean? How have you seen this change students? How will it impact your work?1 mins – what does this mean? How have you seen this change students? How will it impact your work?

11. facebook…an example In July 2006 facebook had 7.5 million users. By February 2007, the number of registered users exceeded 17 million. It now has over 40 million active users – with a minimum of 1-2 million users online at any time Growth over last year: 18-24 y/o 38%, 12-17 y/o 149%, 25-34 y/o 181%, 35+ 98% 200 000 plus new users per day 1 mins1 mins

12. UBC: 30 000 members (students, faculty, staff, alumni) 6th most popular site in US, number 1 in Canada, 1% of all internet time spent there facebook is now in the dictionary – as both a noun and a verb 1 mins1 mins

13. The BIG issues with facebook To what degree are schools responsible to… Create a welcome and inclusive climate Hold students accountable for actions that break policy Remain legally “above-board” in our duty to care To what degree are staff obligated to… Be professional and yet authentic in portrayal of self. Respond to student needs/concerns Represent the institution at all times Role model good online behaviour (and choices) for students we work with. 2 mins2 mins

14. To what degree are students held educated to… Behave ethically, safely, and responsibly while online Understand the implications of their online actions Make good decisions about their conduct online, including what is shared, posted, uploaded etc. To what degree can we leverage the tool to… Build community and connecting people to each other, to resources, to services, to programs, to ideas, to events, to….you name it! Provide service for students that are “where students are” The BIG issues cont. 2 mins2 mins

15. Some real examples to help us think about this…

16. Case in point… At a 2005 Pennsylvania State University vs. Ohio State football game, Penn U. students stormed the field after their victory, causing a riot. Police officers scanned Facebook and accessed a student group titled “I rushed the field after the OSU game (and I lived!)” to analyze photos and identify approximately 50 students involved (Read, 2006). http://youtube.com/watch?v=PtWMl0Bkbuc 1 min1 min

17. Case in point… A blogger from Utah harshly criticized her Mormon upbringing, her job and co-workers online, assuming that her technophobic parents and her boss would never find out. But they did, and “All hell broke loose,” as she put it. She alienated her parents and lost her job. “It was shocking for everyone,” she said; “I was extremely naïve.” (St. John, 2003). 1 min1 min

18. Case in point… Students at many universities can now use facebook as a tool to select their roommate. Students are encouraged to login, explore profiles and find someone they would like to live with in residence. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/08/24/roommate 1 min1 min

19. Case in point… A student adds me as a friend on facebook. The only interaction I have had with this student is through an application he submitted for a job in my office. He did not receive an interview. Am I obligated as a staff member to add him as a friend simply because he is a student at my institution? 1 min1 min

20. Case in point… I joined facebook to network with my non-work friends. But now they are tagging me in photos that I don’t think it is appropriate for students or colleagues to see. Should I remove them as a friend? Should I ask them to take the pictures down? 1 min1 min

21. Moment to think… What ideas do you have to help educate students and staff at your school about these issues? 2 mins2 mins

22. Questions to ask… Would I still post it if it was on a public bulletin board on campus? If it were published in the paper? If someone passed the info or photo on to my parents? If I knew a potential employer might see it?, my professors?, Campus Police? Would I engage an unknown person in conversation if we were two strangers sitting on the bus together? 2 mins2 mins

23. Resources LEAP http://leap.ubc.ca/get_together/online_communities/digital_tattoo/ Using facebook while maintaining privacy http://engtech.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/how-to-use-facebook-without-losing-your-job-over-it/ How University Administrators Should Approach Facebook (a blog by Fred Stutzman): http://chimprawk.blogspot.com/2006/01/how-university-administrators-should.html Dealing with your Digital Dirt http://www.abilitiesenhanced.com/digital-dirt.pdf 1 min1 min

24. Resources cont. “Cultivating Violence Through Technology? Exploring the Connections between Internet Communication Technologies (ICT) and Violence Against Women (VAW) http://www.genderit.org/upload/ad6d215b74e2a8613f0cf5416c9f3865/VAW_ICT_V1_MARCH2005.pdf University of Wisconsin: Living in Online Communities: A User’s Guide http://www.uwec.edu/sdd/onlinesafety.htm Current Research on Social Networking http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2006/08/19/research_on_soc.html

25. Questions? 5 mins5 mins

26. Thanks! I am not the expert…but feel free to contact me if you have any questions ? Tlell Elviss Student Development OfficerUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver 604-822-9196 tlell.elviss@ubc.ca