Sibley students learn about managing their Digital Footprint

As we interact online through our computers, tablets and smartphones each of us, teens and adults, leaves a trail of information documenting our activities, also know as a “digital footprint”. The pictures, tweets, blogs, videos and other items that are posted to the Web create a lasting and often permanent record of our digital lives—positive and sometimes negative.

Henry Sibley High School is working to educate students about their digital footprint in a new initiative this fall. Starting this September all students have been watching a video titled Managing Your Digital Footprint, which discusses Sibley’s expectations for online behavior and technology use while at school. It also covers the potential impacts of a negative digital footprint and offers ways students can repair and/or manage their online history.

The video was produced by Henry Sibley High School with the help of the Mendota Heights Police Department, the University of Minnesota, and Azul 7, a Minneapolis-based marketing firm.

“We created this video to raise awareness about online safety and Digital Citizenship," said Associate Principal Scott Karlen. "We want students to understand how their online activities can impact them as a teenager and could follow them into the future.”

Karlen emphasized that it was important to teachers and administrators that the message be delivered in a positive way.

"One of the messages for students within the video is about the benefits of building a positive digital footprint and how social media and the Internet can be platforms that display their accomplishments, academic achievements, volunteer work, etc.," Karlen said. "All of these are things that reflect well to college admissions representatives and future employers."

After watching the video in class, Henry Sibley teachers are leading a discussion with students focused on topics such as:

• Creating a positive digital footprint 
  
• Cyber bullying awareness
  
• Internet Privacy