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Social, Smart, Secure. Tips for Staying Safe Online

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take quiz to see if hackers have seen your info?

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How many times your information has been exposed to hackers

Number of pieces of your information
exposed to hackers:

Do you have a credit report? (If you've ever rented an apartment, opened a bank account or applied for a credit card or a loan, then the answer is almost certainly yes. And even if you don't think you have one, you probably do anyway.)

Have you applied for a job with or worked for the federal government since 2000?

Have you signed up for an account with these websites?

Did you have health services from these providers?

Did you use a credit or debit card with these companies?

How many times your information has been exposed to hackers

What should you do now?

Review your account statements for any fraudulent purchases, as well as your credit report. If you were the victim of more than one breach, Make sure you have different passwords for different accounts: in particular, don't use the same password for your bank accounts, email and e-commerce accounts. some security experts recommend freezing your credit. To do so, call Equifax, Experian and TransUnion and ask to have your account frozen. The credit agency will mail you a one-time PIN or password to unfreeze your account later. If you plan on applying for a new job, renting an apartment or buying insurance, you will have to thaw a freeze temporarily and pay a fee to refreeze the account.

Why does this keep happening?

The internet was built for openness and speed, not for security. As more and more services, infrastructure and personal information move online, they have all become targets for hackers, who constantly scan the internet for potential security holes and entry points. At government agencies, old, out-of-date systems and budget shortfalls have left information vulnerable. Security experts say there is no way to keep hackers out of systems with traditional defenses like firewalls and antivirus software. With breaches now the norm, organizations are finally moving toward more modern defenses, like monitoring software that can pick up unusual network activity and two-factor authentication, a system that requires employees and internet users to enter a second, one-time password when they log in from a new computer. But security experts say the only way information can be protected is to scramble it with encryption technology that makes it unreadable to hackers.

How can you protect yourself in the future?

It's pretty simple: You can't. But you can take a few steps to make things harder for criminals. Turn on two-factor authentication, whenever possible. Most banking sites and ones like Google, Apple, Twitter and Facebook offer two-factor authentication. Change your passwords frequently and do not use the same password across websites. Vigilantly monitor your bank accounts and credit report. Do not enter sensitive information into websites that do not encrypt your connection. Look for a lock symbol next to the web address whenever entering sensitive information and do not enter it if you cannot see the lock symbol.

How can you learn more about specific attacks?

Note: None of your responses are collected or retained. Not all branches of a retail store or website users were affected in every data breach. For more details about specific locations and timing of security breaches, refer to the links above.

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How Many Times Has Your Personal Information Been Exposed to Hackers?

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How many times your information has been exposed to hackers Number of pieces of your information exposed to hackers: Do you have a credit report? (If you've ever rented an apartment, opened a bank account or applied for a credit card or a loan, then the answer is almost certainly yes.

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Breve y didáctico video introductorio sobre Malware

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Internet Safety: How to Avoid Malware - Full Page

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Free Tutorial: Learn how to remove malware and how to avoid malware in this free Internet safety lesson.

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Use the App Store to update the Mac operating system and any apps you got from the App Store.

To check for Mac software updates, open the App Store app on your Mac. Click Updates in the App Store toolbar, then use the Update buttons to download and install any updates listed. Updates installed in the last 30 days appear below this list.

If you don't see an expected update for Mac:

Install any updates that are listed, then return to the Updates tab to check again. If you still don't see an expected update, use the Search field to find the app that you want to update.

Updates for Safari and Mac firmware might not appear, because you get them as part of macOS updates.

If you didn't get an app from the App Store, check with the maker of the app for updates.

If you're using OS X Snow Leopard or Lion, get OS X updates by choosing Software Update from the Apple () menu.

Learn how to upgrade to the latest macOS, which includes the latest Safari and App Store.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Risks are inherent in the use of the Internet. Contact the vendor for additional information. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Use the App Store to update the Mac operating system and any apps you got from the App Store. To check for Mac software updates, open the App Store app on your Mac. Click Updates in the App Store toolbar, then use the Update buttons to download and install any updates listed.

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Seguro que estás harto de leer que es importante (¡importantísimo!) que seguir consejos a la hora de elegir tus contraseñas. También te recordamos que las cambies a menudo, que no utilices la misma en varios servicios y que tengan poca o ninguna relación con tu persona para que sea más difícil adivinarlas (no pongas el nombre de tu perro, ya lo sabes).

Todo esto es cierto y no nos vamos a cansar de repetirlo, pero también somos conscientes del esfuerzo que os estamos pidiendo. Recordar tantas y tan complicadas claves no es sencillo. Por eso, hoy queremos compartir algunos trucos muy sencillos para generar contraseñas seguras y, al mismo tiempo, no sean imposibles de memorizar.

1. A partir de una frase

Piensa en una frase que tenga algún significado para ti y, a ser posible, para nadie más. Que no sea ni muy corta, para que sea difícil de adivinar, ni muy larga, para que la puedas recordar fácilmente. Si tienen mayúsculas y números, mejor. Si hay algún símbolo, magnífico. "En el bar de Juan ponen tapas grandes a 3 euros", por ejemplo. Ahora coge las primera letra de cada palabra y te sale "ElbdJptga3€", que es una buena contraseña. ¿A ti no se te ocurre nada? Tranquilo, el título de tu canción favorita puede ser un punto de partida.

2. Combina dos palabras

Elige dos palabras (de nuevo, mejor si significan algo solo para ti) y construye otra alternando sus letras. Si has seleccionado "Bigotes" y "Mechero", la base de tu nueva contraseña será "BMiegcohteerso". No tiene números ni símbolos, así que tendrás que utilizarla como punto de partida para reforzarla con alguno de los otros métodos que vamos a explicarte.

3. Convierte las vocales en números

Es un truco bastante popular que los ciberdelincuentes ya conocen y sortean, pero que puede funcionar muy bien para complementar alguno de los otros sistemas. Retomando el ejemplo del punto anterior, nuestra clave provisional "BMiegcohteerso" se convierte en otra un poco más segura: "BM13gc0ht33rs0". Añadiendo uno o varios símbolos podría utilizarse.

4. Sin vocales

En lugar de reemplazarlas por números como en el ejemplo anterior, podríamos eliminar las vocales por completo. Si además partimos de un término inventado, como nuestro "BMiegcohteerso", la contraseña resultante será más robusta: "BMgchtrs". Cualquier parecido con una palabra real es pura coincidencia, pero recuerda añadir números, mayúsculas y símbolos antes de emplearla.

5. El truco del teclado

De nuevo se trata de reemplazar, pero en este caso números por letras. En primer lugar, escoge una sucesión de cifras que te resulte fácil de recordar (por ejemplo, el código postal de tu casa). Pongamos que es el 28921. Ahora busca cada uno de los números en el teclado y vuelve a introducirlo seguido por las letras que tiene justo debajo: "2wsx8ik9ol2wsx1qaz". Para complicarlo un poco más, cambia alguno de los caracteres por un símbolo (el que comparta tecla con una de las cifras, sin ir más lejos) e incluye alguna mayúscula.

6. Una palabra y un número mezclados (pero no agitados)

Es fácil, pero elige palabras y números que tengan los mismos caracteres para hacerlo todavía más sencillo. Nosotros vamos a usar "Bigote" y 28921. El truco está en ir colocando las letras una a una, intercalando las cifras del número pero a la inversa. Así: "B1i2g9o8t2e". Ya sabes lo que falta, ¿no? Un símbolo y asunto zanjado.

7. Camúflate con el entorno

Usar la misma contraseña en varios servicios o herramientas es una terrible idea, pero un sencillo truco puede hacer que tu clave se vuelva todoterreno sin tener que recordar varios términos. Por ejemplo, si quieres registrarte en Facebook, ¿qué puedes hacer? Incluye las siglas "FB" al principio o al final de la clave (regular); añade una variación del nombre de la web con mayúsculas, símbolos y números (bastante mejor) o tira de imaginación y mete alguna referencia más sutil (perfecto). Si lo aplicamos a nuestra primer ejemplo, nos salen estas tres versiones:

ElbdJptga3€_FB

F4c3b00k_ElbdJptga3€

C4r4l!br0_ElbdJptga3€ (por "caralibro", traducción literal de Facebook al español)

¿Cuál dirías que tiene mejor pinta?

8. Tira un dado

Este sistema es un poco más elaborado, pero si una niña de 11 años puede hacerlo (y hasta convertirlo en un negocio), tú no vas a ser menos. El método que utiliza esta pequeña, conocido como Diceware, sirve para generar contraseñas completamente aleatorias - y, por tanto, muy robustas - a partir del lanzamiento de un dado y una lista de palabras. Dicha lista y la explicación paso a paso del procedimiento las puedes encontrar aquí.

9. Al estilo Sudoku

Te toca dibujar. Coge papel y boli y pinta una cuadrícula de 6×6, con números escritos al azar en cada una de las casillas. Ahora piensa en un patrón como el que usas para desbloquear tu móvil, un gesto con el dedo sobre esa especie de sudoku que acabas de plasmar (por cierto, te valdría uno de verdad si ya lo has resuelto). Los números por los que pasa tu trazado serán tu contraseña o, mejor dicho, su punto de partida. Ahora aplica alguno de los otros sistemas para introducir letras - minúsculas y mayúsculas - y símbolos.

Probablemente este sistema el mejor de toda la lista. ¿Por qué? Porque si cambias las cifras que has puesto en las casillas (o coges otro sudoku terminado), el mismo trazado te dará a una nueva clave. Con solo recordar el patrón, las modificaciones y guardar las poco sospechosas hojas, tendrás contraseñas infinitas.

10. Un último consejo: no sigas a la masa

Algunos atacantes no solo son muy listos, sino que dedican muchas, muchas horas a pensar en cómo averiguar tu contraseña. Conocen todos estos métodos, y su efectividad depende de lo bien que los combines entre sí y de las palabras o números que utilices como punto de partida. Échale una pizca de imaginación. Cualquier variante sobre lo convencional, sobre aquello que hace todo el mundo, puede marcar la diferencia.

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10 trucos para contraseñas seguras y fáciles de recordar

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Seguro que estás harto de leer que es importante (¡importantísimo!) que seguir consejos a la hora de elegir tus contraseñas. También te recordamos que las cambies a menudo, que no utilices la misma en varios servicios y que tengan poca o ninguna relación con tu persona para que sea más difícil adivinarlas (no pongas el nombre de tu perro, ya lo sabes).

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DinoPass - Simple password generator for kids

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Password generator for creating simple, memorable and kid-friendy passwords

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Clickjacking prevention tip

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Security advisories have become commonplace these days, with criminals going to unprecedented lengths in order to steal data and infect computers. Often, this is done through browser plugins. As security has improved in operating systems, the lower layers have become harder for malware to attack. So instead, the bad guys are looking at other avenues, and the one place that is now the most common attack vector is through a browser plugin. The reason is simple - we all use them, and most of us don't keep track of which add-ons we have installed. Worse, plenty of software out there add their own plugins and it can be difficult to get rid of them.

Add-ons come in many types. Plugins are actual software programs on our computers that interface with the browser. This includes Flash and Java, which have a browser hook so that any web page can get access to the code on your machine. And then there are extensions, things that run inside of the browser's environment, such as AdBlock and NoScript, basically anything you can get through the Mozilla extension library or the Chrome web marketplace. These extensions rarely have serious vulnerabilities in them because the attack surface is much lower. They simply do not have access to the underlying system, and even if a bug is found, the worst that can happen is something like cross-site scripting. This is still a serious issue, but it is harder to exploit and get useful data from you this way. Instead, we will focus more on the standard plugins, those that constantly seem to be getting hacked. Just recently, Twitter was suggesting that everyone disable Java in their browsers due to the unbelievable number of security holes it has had in the past years.

Internet Explorer

In order to see which plugins are installed in Internet Explorer, you can simply click on the gear icon on the toolbar and select Manage add-ons. This will bring you to the add-ons window where you can see a list of plugins. This list can be quite long and you may be surprised at some of the names that you will find. Fortunately the list is sorted by company so you can quickly see those that come from Microsoft and those made by some unknown entity. The main issue is that applications love to add plugins to your browser, which is why you need to go to this window on a regular basis. You can go through this list and see which ones you need and which you should disable. You don't necessarily have to uninstall each software program that you don't want to have access to your browser; simply disabling them works.

The problem with having such a long list of plugins is that each of those are a direct link from any website to your computer. If any of them has a bug, then it is a potential security risk. In the case of Internet Explorer, its Achilles heel has long been ActiveX, the framework that allows software to hook into various components of the OS. The issue was that Internet Explorer allowed ActiveX controls to be embedded into web pages, which gave a huge open door to malicious sites. Fortunately in recent versions, ActiveX has been sandboxed far more than before.

Firefox

In the case of Firefox, you can access the list of plugins by going to Tools, Add-ons, and then selecting Plugins on the left side of the screen. Again, you will see a long list of plugins that were installed in your Firefox browser. This one is sorted by alphabetical order, and you can often see more information about a specific plugin by clicking the More link. From here you can enable and disable them as you need. A good way to judge which plugin you should leave on is if it is something you need on a regular basis. Flash is used on many sites still, and many people like to read PDF files in their browsers so you may see the Adobe Reader, but there are often far more plugins than the ones you really need.

Mozilla also goes one step further and provides a free tool to check whether your plugins are up to date. If you click on the link that says Check to see if your plugins are up to date it will bring you to this page which checks the versions that you are running. If there is an update available, the page will tell you. This is a very nice and easy way to make sure all your updates have been done, and that you are secure.

Chrome

While the extensions are easy to get to in Chrome, the plugins are hidden unbelievably deep in the interface. To get to them, you have to click on the menu icon, then select Settings, scroll to the bottom and click on Show advanced settings, then click on Content settings under Privacy, and then click on Disable individual plugins. Fortunately, there is a shortcut which is to simply type chrome://plugins in your URL bar. The screen will then show you a list of plugins that are installed in your Chrome browser. Again, you can disable individual plugins, and I highly suggest disabling the ones you do not need. While getting to this list is harder in Chrome, it does include a lot more details than the other browsers if you click on the Details link on the right, which will even tell you the filename of the plugin on your system.

Safari

Safari is a little trickier to check than other browsers. You have to navigate to the folder that holds the plugin (/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/) and there you can delete it from the folder. See the Apple support tip for Safari 6 here for more details. However, if you specifically want to disable the Java web plugin, you can go to Safari | Preferences and click on the Security tab. There, you can uncheck the box next to Enable Java.

Teach your users to be plugin-aware

The bottom line of plugins management is that this is the number one way that security holes get exploited on the web today, and as such it is incredibly important to stay on top of what plugins are installed. Any computer that gets infected is likely to have many more plugins, often referred to as browser hijacks, attempting to spam the user, display popups, send spam or even gather personal information. But even the well known, trusted plugins like Adobe Flash or Java constantly get updated because new security holes have been found. So knowing which plugins are enabled in your browser and keeping them up to date is something that all users should be able to do.

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How to check and configure your browser plugins

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Security advisories have become commonplace these days, with criminals going to unprecedented lengths in order to steal data and infect computers. Often, this is done through browser plugins. As security has improved in operating systems, the lower layers have become harder for malware to attack.

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Toma esta breve encuesta

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Let's learn more about your digital footprint. Answer all three poll questions below to get a sense of your footprint's size and shape, and how it compares with your classmates. (Check all that apply).

If you checked the box beside any of these choices, you definitely have a digital footprint! Almost everyone visits web sites. Although it may not seem like you're leaving a footprint when you visit a site, corporations may be tracking your visit for marketing purposes.

Social networking sites are also an important part of your digital life. Facebook tends to be for social interaction, LinkedIn is related to employment, and people use Twitter for both business and social purposes. If you use your cell phone to update your social networking accounts, then you probably update frequently and on the fly! Because it is so easy to post, be sure to think carefully before you do it.

Lastly, a web site all about you is a significant project that takes time and effort. But if you do it well, your web site can become a personal portfolio to help market you to future colleges and employers!

By now, you have probably realized that your digital footprint can be influenced by others. Posting online about the fun you're having in real life is one of the best parts of social networking. Sometimes you might know when someone is posting something about you, but sometimes you may not. If you do not know all your social networking friends in real life, you should carefully consider how much information you share with those "friends."

It's also important to choose passwords your friends can't guess, and keep your passwords private. Now that you know how important and permanent a digital footprint can be, treat your friends' digital footprints with respect. The Internet is an open stage for the world, not a place to play even a friendly prank.

Now that you know all the ways that you and others are shaping your digital footprint, it's important to be vigilant about keeping your footprint in shape. Have you ever realized how closely marketers are watching you online? Does it bother you at all, and would it affect the kinds of things you might shop for online?

Searching for yourself on a search engine is a quick way to see what information is out there about you. You may find a number of people who have the same name as you--and some of them might have a digital footprint you wouldn't want for yourself. How will you make yourself stand out in the crowd of people who may seem to be you?

Using an appropriate photo of yourself in your social networking profiles is an important start. Think carefully about posting your contact information or birthday. As fun as it is to get birthday messages, you may also get targeted by marketers or even identity thieves.

We all have good days and bad days, but remember that what goes on the Internet is public and long-lasting. Do you want everyone, including your future employers, to see your personal business, including fights and breakups?

And if there are some parts of your digital footprint that you are not proud of, don't be afraid to untag a photo, ask a friend to take something of yours down, or even delete an account. These "fixes" are not absolute, but they can help to keep your private business private.

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Let's learn more about your digital footprint. Answer all three poll questions below to get a sense of your footprint's size and shape, and how it compares with your classmates. (Check all that apply). If you checked the box beside any of these choices, you definitely have a digital footprint!

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Scrolling through your photos from this past weekend and laughing at the debauchery of your Hangover-esque charades? Ranting about your current job or co-workers because you think you're just among "friends?" Think again. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, 70 percent of employers use social media to screen candidates before hiring, which is up significantly from 60 percent in 2016. So pause before you post - if you think it could be questionable or inappropriate, you should go with your gut.

So, what to flaunt vs. flop?
Social recruiting is now a "thing" when it comes to hiring candidates - 3 in 10 employers have someone dedicated to solely getting the scoop on your online persona.

Employers are searching for a few key items when researching candidates via social networking sites as good signs to hire:

Information that supports their qualifications for the job (61 percent)

If the candidate has a professional online persona at all (50 percent)

What other people are posting about the candidates (37 percent)

For any reason at all not to hire a candidate (24 percent)

And they aren't stopping there either - 69 percent are using online search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing to research candidates as well, compared to 59 percent last year.

The no-nos when using social networks
With more than half of employers (54 percent) finding content on social media that caused them not to hire a candidate, why take your chances? Pause before you post and remember these key reasons that employers were turned off by a candidate's online presence:

Candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs, videos or information: 39 percent

Candidate posted information about them drinking or using drugs: 38 percent

Candidate had discriminatory comments related to race, gender or religion: 32 percent

Candidate bad-mouthed their previous company or fellow employee: 30 percent

Candidate lied about qualifications: 27 percent

Candidate had poor communication skills: 27 percent

Candidate was linked to criminal behavior: 26 percent

Candidate shared confidential information from previous employers: 23 percent

Candidate's screen name was unprofessional: 22 percent

Candidate lied about an absence: 17 percent

Candidate posted too frequently: 17 percent

Using social media to your advantage
You don't have to look at your online persona as problem. There are things you can do on Twitter or Facebook that can actually up your chances of employment. Use it as an opportunity to stand out in a positive way and showcase your personality. In fact, more than 44 percent of employers have found content on a social networking site that caused them to hire the candidate.

Among the primary reasons employers hired a candidate based on their social networking site were: candidate's background information supported their professional qualifications (38 percent), great communication skills (37 percent), a professional image (36 percent), and creativity (35 percent). But don't avoid the stress all together by deleting or hiding your profiles. Believe it or not, this can be even more detrimental to your brand. Fifty-seven percent of employers are less likely to call someone in if the candidate is a ghost online.

The bottom line? Think before you post, because there's always someone watching. Don't put anything online that you wouldn't want your mom, grandma, dad, uncle, best friend's mom or cat to see or read.
Tweet @CareerBuilder: Do you have any other top tips to positively promote yourself on social channels? Heard of any success or horror stories to share?

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70% of employers are snooping candidates' social media profiles | CareerBuilder

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Scrolling through your photos from this past weekend and laughing at the debauchery of your Hangover-esque charades? Ranting about your current job or co-workers because you think you're just among "friends?" Think again. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, 70 percent of employers use social media to screen candidates before hiring, which is up significantly from 60 percent in 2016.

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Be Strong Online | Free Anti-Bullying Resources and Facts

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Social media is an ever-changing entity, but we're finding there are a few things about it that stay constant. This includes making an effort to maintain a positive online personal brand, especially for Generation Do-It-Yourself ( GenDIY) who grew up in and fully embrace the digital-social world as an expected part of their lives. You are out there whether you like it or not and, even more importantly, potential employers will find you. So if they Google your name, are the results what you want them to associate with who you really are?

Getting Smart dedicated a Smart Bundle to Getting Smart on Social Media, outlining how to effectively, strategically and easily reach targeted audiences in new and meaningful ways using social media channels. These strategies aren't just useful in corporate branding - there are best practices that apply to personal branding as well.

In the following blog, author Haley Osborn discusses how to not only create the best personal brand possible via social media, but how to use it to boost your career as well.
Haley Osborn
When most people think of building their personal brand, they assume it has something to do with being in the media or some sort of "in the limelight" kind of job. While this was true at the dawn of personal branding, today many people, especially Generation Do-it-Yourself, build their personal brand in order to pave a way to a career. Building a personal brand isn't about how flashy or gimmicky you can be, it's about revealing to the world who you really are and showing how seriously you take your personal calling.

Why Personal Brand Is Important?

Positive social media presence is not only your doorway to existing opportunities, but the way to create more of them in the future. A great example of building a brand to create opportunities and become a leader in the industry is Red Bull. The company claims, 'Red Bull isn't a drink, it's a way of life.' This concept was reached by aiming content and social media presence at brand recognition, as well as promoting specific philosophy, making the brand stand out and win the competition. This is the same as with personal branding.

GenDIY should not try to sell themselves and tell everyone how good they are. They should actually show it with social media activity, advertise their own philosophy and promote creative ways of thinking. Social media allows you to become a leader, not just a follower, and make your ideas heard by entrepreneurs, journalists, business owners, employers, educators and whole communities.

After deciding on your career path, you can build your professional learning network to interact with people and exchange experience. Participation in Twitter Chats is a great opportunity for collaborative thinking. It helps in building a network of confederates to solve problems and generate new ideas. Social media thus becomes a foundation of lifelong learning and establishes new ways of thinking.

Social media presence can be aimed at achieving certain goals - no matter if it is organizing the volunteering project or funding a startup. Involving the influencers and bringing attention to the issue not only helps you with achieving your current objectives, but makes your professional profile more attractive. Eventually, "What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." ( Henry David Thoreau)

Ways to Build Personal Brand

According to Jan H. Kietzmann and Kristopher Hermkens social media uses seven functional blocks: identity, conversations, sharing, presence, relationships, reputation and groups. You can consider these blocks the building material for personal brand and learn to use them for your benefit:

1. Identity. To build a personal brand you should represent your identity so that employers understand who you really are, what your goals and professional skills are, and the expertise and relevant knowledge you bring. There are several ways to introduce and promote your identity.

Website: Use a website as the central location where you want to drive traffic from your social media accounts to. Include your bio, resume, work samples and contact information. There are several free services available such as Blogger or WordPress.com.

Blog: There are several reasons why we should encourage students to blog. What's equally important is to show what you know when it comes to demonstrating understanding in a field. Post regularly, and use your blog space to explore new ideas and information as you progress on your career journey. Here's a list of 10 free blog sites.

Social Accounts: These should be polished, professional in appearance and should reflect what you are doing to pursue your personal calling.

2. Conversations. It is important to quickly respond to messages or comments on your blog to keep the conversation going. Commenting on other blog entries in your industry/field is also a way to communicate.

3. Sharing. Social media is a great tool to share anything within several clicks, and is an opportunity for you to get maximum exposure. There are different ways you can do this:

Review best practices shared by social media marketers. Many continually research the potential of each kind of social media and publish free, helpful tips for maximizing exposure.

Make sure you post relevant content with clear and well-written headlines.

Add visual content to attract the attention of the audience.

Consider the specificity of each social network and tailor your posts accordingly.

Make sure you are sharing the right content with the target audience and respond to each and every comment and suggestion you receive.

Become a group leader by creating an industry/field related group in LinkedIn or Facebook. Begin relevant conversations, discuss news, answer questions to keep the conversations active and your account will get maximum exposure within and beyond your network.

All of these activities will create a positive image in any community, garner followers and encourage them to share your messages in their network. More sharing means more exposure, more recognition and more possibilities.

Success story: When Kinsey Schofield sent out a tweet extolling the virtues of a Banjo app, she had simply wanted to spread the word about how it helped to give her social life a boost. Instead, she received an offer from the start-up and is now their social media strategist and a spokesperson for the company. That's how content shared with the right audience can work for you.

4. Presence. This is the extent of your personal activity and availability online, as well your knowledge of the presence of potential employers or industry influencers. Do your research to learn more about your industry influencers and ways to contact them.

Success story: Geoff Brownell wanted to prepare for an upcoming interview with the company Mullen, so he took some time to check out the social media feeds of the people with whom he had to speak with. He followed them, read their tweets and tried to get into their mindset. He was able to go in armed with a list of conversation starters, speaking to one manager about his favorite soccer team and another's preferred soft drink. This set him apart from the pack and landed him the job.

5. Relationships. Positive social media presence means building reputation, and that is not possible without establishing relationships. Use social media to build networks. LinkedIn is the best known platform for building professional relationships, however other social platforms can bring the desired results. Just make sure you change the conversation style according to the platform.

6. Reputation. After building relationships, it's important to grow and establish a positive online reputation. For the most part in social media, reputation is centered on trust, and comes from not only the person but the content they share. The higher the number of followers, likes, shares, favorites, view counts, ratings, etc. the more popular and trustworthy a person is considered.

7. Groups. The way you participate in different online communities also counts. It is easy to find active groups in the field of your interest - there are plenty of them on social media! Create a list of the most popular and influential communities and join them. Contribute to the conversations, ask and answer questions and leave meaningful comments so that other group participants noticed you.

Final Tip: Be Creative! No matter what you do and what media platforms you use to build your brand, don't forget that one of your main goals is to represent yourself from an original angle and stand out. So being creative should be applied to any action you take when building your brand.

Success story: Combining personal branding with a bit of humor wound up landing Chris Putnam a dream job. Putnam and some friends wrote a 'worm program' that wiggled through Facebook profiles and set them to look like MySpace. The stunt attracted plenty of attention, particularly from the Facebook team. Facebook cofounder Dustin Moskovitz contacted him and, after some back and forth, offered Putnam a job.

Building your personal brand may sound like a bit of marketing hype but it's actually the chance for you, as a Generation DIY representative, to create your image of a reliable employee and young industry expert, to show what you have to offer, and to change the job market situation to your benefit.

For more, check out:

Haley Osborne is an indie author and contributing blogger at EssayTigers.com. Follow Haley on Twitter,.

Catherine is a communication specialist. Follow her on Twitter at @C_Wedgwood.

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Build Your Brand: How A Positive Social Media Presence Can Lead To A Career

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Social media is an ever-changing entity, but we're finding there are a few things about it that stay constant. This includes making an effort to maintain a positive online personal brand, especially for Generation Do-It-Yourself ( GenDIY) who grew up in and fully embrace the digital-social world as an expected part of their lives.

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Facebook Isn't Dead. Contrary to what many people may be saying about how Facebook is dying, it is still a great tool for the right audience. It is still has the largest social media audience and why would you turn your back on that? Figure out who you are trying to reach and see if they are present on the platform and Facebook away. Teachers are a great example of who still have a large audience on Facebook.

After seeing how children with autism were being bullied while playing Minecraft, a fellow player and a parent of...

Posted by PresenceLearning on Friday, December 19, 2014

To Tweet or Not to Tweet? There really is NO question. You may notice that from a personal perspective I am not very active on Twitter. Primarily because I have spent most of my career writing and posting tweets for the companies I work for, but I have been selling myself short. Not only is it a good idea to be on Twitter, it is imperative to my career and to my company. Twitter is the KING (or Queen) PR channel! 140 characters can open a whole world. So, there really is NO question, just do it and here's how.

Why math? Math knowledge at beginning of elementary, most powerful determining factor whether a Ss would graduate http://t.co/XgxkkDPNPy

- DreamBox Learning (@DreamBox_Learn) December 9, 2014

Leverage Twitter Chats. So you're on Twitter, now what? Join a Twitter Chat. Twitter Chats are a great place to start learning who is who, what are people talking about, and how they like to be spoken to. Once you are comfortable with how a Twitter Chat is run, start your own. Check out this great resource to get started.

Instagram? Only if you have something to show. Don't just have a social media account for the sake of having one. To really make it worth it, you have to be active, consistently active. Instagram is a great example of this. Instagram is GREAT, fabulous even, if you have images to share that are relevant to your brand. So many people fall into the trap of starting an account on the "hot" new social platform without the content or audience to back it up. Review the platform and find out if it is really worth your time, if not stop and revisit it again in six months.

Content is No Longer King. The king has been dethroned and been replaced by images and video. Our brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text so it is not surprising that platforms like Instagram, Pinterest and Vine have exploded. We have even seen the Facebook newsfeed taken over by images and video. A picture is worth a thousand words and in the world of social media, much, much more.

And now, strategic communications.

Integrated, integrated, integrated. The other day I was driving down the road and was listening to an advertisement on the radio and as I heard the final tag line, I looked up and saw a billboard for the same company with the same tag line and later on Twitter. Why is this important? Because I remember this product. I am not even in the market for this product, but here I am talking about it; remembering it. When creating a marketing communications campaign, it is crucial to ensure all channels are saying the same thing. Marketing pioneer Dr. Jeffrey Lant says it takes 7 touches for someone to make the decision to act on a message, don't spend time and money on multiple messages, when one great message can do all you need.

Transparency Will Make or Break you. We are in a 24/7 news-cycle and with a large percentage of the world using some sort of social media, being truthful and open has never been more important. Ever notice a company on the nightly news when they admit fault immediately? Rarely. Be honest immediately and any crisis can be managed.

Blog about it. Gone are the days that we require media outlets to tell our story. Brand journalism has taken on a new form and it isn't content marketing, nor is it sponsored content. In fact, it's quite the opposite. It is meaningful, quality storytelling. Own your brand and tell the story you want to tell on your website through a blog. Share your blog on social media and watch your brand, followers, and/or customers grow.

Mobile and More. 60% off all internet traffic is mobile and is rapidly increasing. Smart phones and tablets have revolutionized how content is accessed and consumed. So, if you do not have a mobile site, you need one. If your mobile site doesn't have a lot of traffic, you're not doing it right. If you are finalizing your plans for 2015 budgeting, include dollars for mobile, it will make a STRONG impact.

Personalization - Not Just a Teaching Model. Consumers increasingly demand a more personalized experience both online and in person. The millennial generation is a fast-moving group who embrace change and as they take-hold as the target sales market, we must be more flexible in our outreach efforts. Reach them on their level, how they want to be and when they want to be reached. Provide a true experience, even in your storytelling. Connect with them with your messages and they will come.

Need help with your social media and/or strategic communications efforts for 2015? Getting Smart has a team equipped to reach the Edu space, unlike any other. Contact [email protected] or visit our webpage to see all the ways we can support your initiatives.
DreamBox Learning and PresenceLearning are Getting Smart Advocacy Partners.

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Social Media & Strategic Communications in 2015

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Facebook Isn't Dead. Contrary to what many people may be saying about how Facebook is dying, it is still a great tool for the right audience. It is still has the largest social media audience and why would you turn your back on that?

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Desarrolla tu Imagen profesional en Linkedin

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Desarrolla tu Imagen profesional en Linkedin

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Este tutorial te explicará paso a paso todo lo que necesitas saber sobre Twitter; desde seguir amigos, publicar tweets, hasta el significado del símbolo de gato, aprendiendo a obtener el máximo provecho de el, esto es traído a tí por medio de Al Jazeera Unplugged.

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Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

It seems the good, old-fashioned telephone call has gone by the wayside, replaced with texting, a more convenient method of communication that has increased dramatically and is practiced by all ages.

Although fast and convenient, texting brings about its own set of challenges. Words can be misinterpreted, messages can be incomplete and etiquette boundaries can be violated without your knowledge.

Here are seven texting etiquette tips to keep in mind.

1. Consider your audience.

Each text message is a concrete projection of you and it is important to present yourself in the way you want to be perceived. Although you might text one way with your friends, you should text in an entirely different fashion with your co-workers, clients or prospects. Be sure your text is appropriate for your audience.
Related: Study: Constantly Texting and Checking Social Media Makes You 'Morally Shallow'
2. Communicate clearly.

The receiver should not be confused as to what you are trying to say, and if your message is interpreted the wrong way, your miscommunication could cause conflicts and even missed business opportunities. Make sure your message is clear and review it for stand-alone clarity before hitting the "send" button.

3. Respond promptly.

When someone texts you they assume you will receive the message and immediately respond. Unless you are unavailable, make the effort to respond quickly, otherwise your lack of response might be interpreted as a lack of caring. If for some reason you cannot attend to the message quickly, offer an apology for your tardiness as soon as you can.

4. Use symbols and emojis only when necessary.

Smiley faces sometimes have their place when sending a text, which is why this feature was added to texting. However, you should be mindful as to when it is appropriate to use emojis. For example, if you are communicating on a business level, it's inappropriate to litter your message with smiley faces. Retain your emotional emojis for more personal interactions. When in doubt, leave them out.
Related: The Rules of Business Texting
5. Don't be long winded.

It may be considered inappropriate to reply to a two-word text with paragraphs upon paragraphs in your response. If you receive a two-word text from someone, you can most likely assume that the sender is in a hurry, does not have much time available, or needs a quick response. If you need to go into detail or offer an extensive explanation, pick up the phone instead or meet in person.

6. Be patient.

Treat text messaging the same way you treat an actual conversation. As it would be rude for you to dominate the conversation when you are speaking, it is also inappropriate when texting. Give the recipient the opportunity to respond before sending a multitude of messages.
Related: The Jury Is Still Out on Texting for Professional Communication
7. Know when to end the conversation.

Texting is similar to verbal or written communication. Be perceptive when the other person is ready to stop texting, and do not try to continue or badger the recipient with texts like "Are you still there?" or "Why aren't you responding?"

If you're not careful, texting gaffes can be embarrassing and can cause confusion and frustration with friends and clients alike. Keep in mind these seven tips for better communication skills.

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The 7 Things You Need to Know to Text With Good Etiquette

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Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. It seems the good, old-fashioned telephone call has gone by the wayside, replaced with texting, a more convenient method of communication that has increased dramatically and is practiced by all ages. Although fast and convenient, texting brings about its own set of challenges.

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Email Basics: Common Email Features - Full Page

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Free Tutorial: Learn common email features and functions in this free lesson, which provides an overview of using email.

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Te decimos qué es Snapchat y cómo funciona.  Como usar snapchat. La historia del  filtro de bebe.

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Abreviaturas para escribir mensajes de whatsapp, messenger, facebook, snapchat, twitter y otras redes sociales

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In this free Tech Savvy Tips & Tricks tutorial, you'll learn technology tips and tricks to use your computer as efficiently as possible.

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Understand the Facebook privacy options you have, as well as the official Facebook privacy policy, in this free lesson.

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5 Ways to Make a Positive Digital Footprint!

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Email Tips and Etiquette Guidelines for High School Students (and Teachers too!)

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by Justin Boyle

If you've scratched your head over suggestions to manage your "digital footprint," you aren't the only one.

A surprisingly large percentage of people have never even heard the phrase, let alone thought about how to manage theirs responsibly. Among students, the percentage is probably higher. We'll talk about ways you can help students understand and manage their digital footprints before they get themselves in trouble.
The Definition Of A Digital Footprint
Simply put, a digital footprint is the record or trail left by the things you do online. Your social media activity, the info on your personal website, your browsing history, your online subscriptions, any photo galleries and videos you've uploaded - essentially, anything on the Internet with your name on it. Digital natives like today's students rarely think twice about putting their names on things online, so their footprints can be pretty wide.

Luckily for us all, most of the major sources of personal information can be tweaked so we share only certain things with the general public. There are even some third-party bonus tools available to manage the parts of our digital footprints we might not know were there.

If you want to show students their digital footprint (or take a peek at your own) the personal info search engine Pipl.com is a great resource. Sometimes just seeing the breadth of info about us that exists online is enough to spur us to action.
1. Use Privacy Settings What To Tell Your Students About Monitoring Their Digital Footprints: 11 Tips
Let's talk Facebook, shall we? Chances are pretty good that your students can be counted among the 1.3 billion monthly active users of the social media giant, and there's practically no other website that contains such a breadth and depth of personal information.

Encouraging students to put all of their social media accounts, including Facebook, on a short leash might be the most important step toward helping them manage their digital footprint. Look into Facebook's proprietary privacy tips or get the works from Lifehacker.com with it's "Always Up-to-Date Guide to Managing Your Facebook Privacy," then inform students about the steps they can take. Better yet, just pass the links along.
2. Keep A List Of Accounts
Complete privacy on Twitter is simple - you just choose to protect your tweets under "security and privacy" on the account settings page - but encouraging students to do so might do more harm than good. Some teachers have gotten great results using Twitter in education, and a class full of students with protected tweets might interfere with that.
3. Don't Overshare
Then delete the ones you no longer use. That myspace page you signed up for? Don't just forget about it-find it and delete it.

Perhaps the best tip for helping students maintain privacy on Twitter is one that can be applied across the whole spectrum of social networking tools: Don't overshare. As much of an alien concept as it may be to students these days, the only sure-fire way to avoid digital footprint trouble is for them to keep quiet about anything they wouldn't want to share with everyone in town.
4. Use A Password Keeper
This includes usernames, aliases, passwords, last names, full-names-as-usernames, pictures, addresses, and other important information.
5. Google Yourself
This is more of a security thing, but the worst kind of footprint is the one you didn't make that contains all of your sensitive information. It's too much work to remember 50 different passwords, and every site has their own unique rules. Until someone solves this problem, the best solution is likely a password keeper
6. Monitor Linking Accounts
You may be surprised what you find.
7. Use A Secondary Email
When you link your facebook or twitter account to that new site (whatever site that might be), you may not realize-or care at the moment-what you're giving it access to. It's usually safest to use a secondary email address to sign-up for new sites rather than granting this kind of access.
8. You Don't Need 12 Email Addresses
Whether you're communicating with someone new, or signing up for a new social media platform, it can be useful to have a secondary email address.
9. Sending Is Like Publishing-Forever
That said, you don't need 12. Keep it manageable.
10. Understand That Searches Are Social
Every time you send a message, post, or picture, you're publishing it the same way CNN does a news story. And the internet never forgets.

There's another side to your digital footprint, too - it's not always information that you choose to make public. Remember: Privacy controls or no privacy controls, Facebook still records and uses every scrap of information it gets to better determine its users' marketing demographics.

Google pulls the same trick with search and browsing habits. If a student is logged into their Google account, the service tracks every keyword they search, every Web page they visit and every time they visit Youtube.
11. Use Digital Tools To Manage Your Footprint
There are ways, however, to control the bits of deep data that we leave strewn around. First of all, even though Google is practically an official synonym for "Web search," it isn't actually the only game in town. Less profit-motivated search engines like DuckDuckGo.com and Ixquick.com may take a little getting used to, but they do make explicit policy of protecting users' browsing privacy.
Conclusion
A host of browser extensions and app add-ons can also limit the surreptitious capture of personal information. Disconnect (Disconnect.me), DoNotTrackMe (Abine.com) and Ghostery (Ghostery.com) are examples of cross-platform extensions that block tracking cookies and give users control over site scripts.

There are also some extreme measures. Browsing from behind a virtual private network, or VPN, puts a layer of thick fog between online activity and real-world identity. If even that isn't enough for your suddenly privacy-hungry students, there's also the nuclear option.

You may have heard of Tor, the multi-layered proxy client that's a go-to for anyone looking to access the fabled Deep Web. By routing your IP address through multiple proxies, Tor protects users from anyone anywhere ever knowing who they are or what they're looking at.

Of course, full online anonymity would also require students to avoid all login-based media (including app stores like Google Play), which can be a harder task than they're ready to accept. It may also be important to remind them that while we're not browsing in a vacuum and we're very rarely actually anonymous, most of our deep data is probably pretty benign.
Justin Boyle is a writer and multimedia designer who lives and works in Austin, Texas. He contributes to several websites, including OnlineSchools.com; image attribution flickr user penbentley and kyteacher; What To Tell Your Students About Monitoring Their Digital Footprints
Just make sure to let them know that everything that they post, tweet, comment or like is going down on their permanent record. Honestly, everything. That ought to get them thinking, at least.

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11 Tips For Students To Manage Their Digital Footprints

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by Justin Boyle If you've scratched your head over suggestions to manage your "digital footprint," you aren't the only one. A surprisingly large percentage of people have never even heard the phrase, let alone thought about how to manage theirs responsibly. Among students, the percentage is probably higher.

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Whether you've cultivated it for yourself or not, you likely have at least the framework of a brand online. You can make the decision to manage it or choose to let someone else define it for you. Either way, perception of who you are typically starts online. Leveraging your online presence and shoring up your personal brand can have a critical role in your success. Communicating who you are, your values and your goals can be an effective way of establishing reputation for yourself in a broad and saturated marketplace

Like any solid strategy, attention and effort can go a long way in assuring your personal brand's success. Here's how and why:
Your Brand Is Only As Credible As Its CEO
People want to know exactly what they're buying because they want to know what they're aligning themselves with. That extends to brand executives. Understanding the identity of a brand's highest leaders can give consumers insight into what they're purchasing, and where their money is going. There's a reason why the companies like Apple, Facebook, and IMB put their CEOs on display - and why American Apparel sacked Dov Charney after he became known for scandal. They serve as human embodiments of what their brand excels at, stands for and has to offer - whether they mean to or not.
Target The Influencers
What do you want others to think about when they see your name? Most brands want to be perceived as their industry's leader, a trusted advisor and an innovator - possibly all at once. As CEO of your brand, you should work to formulate your personal brand to be complimentary to your company. A key part of this will require identifying what audiences will find you the most engaging.

No marketing strategy is complete without a target audience. The best brand marketers invest in identifying key audiences and providing solutions to their needs. Behind every one of their marketing plans is a strategy posed to engage target audiences and build brand loyalty. When you develop your personal brand, it's important that you target your brand's key audience - and those core decision makers within that key audience. If your brand sells infant clothing, for example, your brand advertising would target moms - but your personal brand should target those moms who are influencers over their market - mommy bloggers especially. Find the trendsetters in your target industry, and start talking.
Provide A Face That Customers Want To Talk To
Not only are you your brand's leader, you're its spokesperson, pitchman, and trademark. Your identity will be the crux of how others perceive you so making it authentic is key. Authenticity, after all, is what makes a personal brand so personal in the first place. As such, you should work to put your experience, interests, and values center stage.

Start by conveying a strong and empathetic narrative. Everyone has a story that can motivate others in some form of another. Contemplate the stories behind today's biggest personal brands. Their starts, interests, and narratives have all become a unified part of their own brand's stories. Examine the parts of your own story that others might want to hear and share them.
Keep Tabs On Your Online Presence
Having an understanding of your brand's personal status is crucial. To mold perception of your brand, you have to start by getting an understanding of what you're working with. A huge part of cultivating a favorable personal brand requires awareness of when it is mentioned and including yourself in the conversation when needed. Protect and shape your online identity by setting up a Google alert on your name. That means that if you haven't Googled, yourself in a while, now's the time.
Link Your Name to Other Strong Brands
Hitching your name to the right connections can be a source of strength or weakness for your brand. Leverage brands that can help you boost the perception of it, but also take into account who you're aligning yourself with.

Consider Michael Jordan's association with Nike. His long-running sponsorship with the athletic company launched in his first year of playing for the NBA. Nike was looking for a fresh young face with lots of potential to help them rebuild after a loss, and Jordan was perfect. The relationship was symbiotic, with Jordan not only securing a hefty profit for years to come, but also increasing his celebrity past just basketball fans. Anyone who appreciated sneakers and fashion now knew who Michael Jordan was - which consistently opened doors for him throughout his career. Making connections with the right people can be the boost your personal brand needs to bolster it to the top. Start by reaching out to already-made connections such as your college, company and friends.

Your personal brand is not just important to you, it's important to the success of your company as a whole. When your customers are choosing which brand to invest in - whether it's a few dollars for a small retail item or thousands for a B2B service - they'll look to you, personally, to get an idea of what your brand is. Are you an soft spoken innovative powerhouse, like Bill Gates and Microsoft? A sharply intellectual, discerning leader, like Steve Jobs and Apple? Or are you a lost soul still entertaining high school pettiness, like Mike Jeffries and Abercrombie & Fitch? If you neglect your personal brand, you abandon your company's brand.

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Personal Branding: Why It's Important, And How To Master It | Online Reputation Management

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Whether you've cultivated it for yourself or not, you likely have at least the framework of a brand online. You can make the decision to manage it or choose to let someone else define it for you. Either way, perception of who you are typically starts online.

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Digital Literacy – What is digital literacy?

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A resource guide for adult literacy volunteers.

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Free Internet Tips Tutorial at GCFLearnFree

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In this free Internet tutorial, get Internet tips to get the most out of the web, from understanding hyperlinks to using Flash player.

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Computer Literacy - Lesson Plans & Classroom Activities

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Instructional Resource: Computer Literacy for Immigrants and Refugees, Edmonds Community College This website hosts practical activities to help students learn how to learn to use the internet, email, and Microsoft office programs. Classroom activities are in Microsoft Word format, so they are easily adaptable to regional contexts.

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As a former high school administrator I know all too well the dangers of social media and adolescents. I have mediated plenty of fights, verbal confrontations, and school disruptions due to conversations conducted via social media. When my own children entered middle school I vowed that they would not become members of the social media society. We conducted role-plays around the dinner table about how to avoid conflicts and spreading rumors.

I told tales of work every night that demonstrated how social media posts could quickly get out of control. I told them how Instagram posts of "rates" and "tbh's" (picture posts asking followers - to be honest) could lead to accusations of bullying and harassment. I shared an incident when Student 1 took a picture of Student 2 and posted it on Instagram. Student 1 asked her followers to rate Student 2's picture. Student 1's followers criticized Student 2's hair, shoes, clothing, and said some very mean, hateful and cruel things. Student 2 was devastated because it was her birthday and she wanted to look pretty for school. For these reasons, I vowed that my children would not have smart phones that gave them access to the Internet and social media cravings.

As soon as my children entered middle school the requests for smart phones began. It's amusing to reflect back on how firm I thought I would be in not allowing my children to have smart phones. I did relent and allow them to have electronic devices. As soon as they were given iPods the social media frenzy began. After a year of employing certain rules and being consistent in the implementation of the rules they were given smart phones. They do have social media accounts but there are rules and stipulations to having those accounts.

So far, we have only had one major infraction with text messaging and it resulted in a device being confiscated for a month. As an parent who is also an educator, I am proud of how responsible my children have been with social media.

Here are a few of the rules that I have established for electronic device and social media usage that have worked for me.
1. Insist that you, as the parent, always know the passcode for your child's smart phone.
A passcode is important to have on a smartphone in the event the phone is stolen or if "friends" want to take your child's phone and hack the child's social media page and post something.

2. Check text messages.

Scroll through conversations to see what their friends are talking about and how your children respond. If you have questions about the conversation, talk with your child about what you are reading. It is not a secret that I check their devices. I am the parent all day every day.
3. Your child is not allowed to have a social media page unless they follow you and you follow them.
Many parents brag about not being on social media because they don't have time or they are "not into that." Parents may not be into social media but your children sure are. To protect your children you have to be knowledgeable of what they are doing and how they are doing it.
4. Have a smartphone curfew.
I take all phones every night at 9:30. I do make exceptions during the summer and on Friday nights.
5. Set restrictions on electronic device usage.
No electronic devices are allowed at the dinner table. No electronic devices are allowed during homework time. No electronic device usage is allowed between 9:30 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
6. Social media pages must be private.
Instruct your children not to post their full name, birthday, their grade in school, name of school, address, phone number or any personally identifiable information in their profiles. They should not accept follower requests or friend requests from people they do not know. It is a popularity contest to have more than 1000 friends or followers.

At this time in their lives teens and pre-teens want to fit in with their peers. Social media allows them to join in the conversations their friends are having and feel connected to the group. If they are not familiar with what is happening with their peer group, they will tend to feel like an outcast or an undesirable. Also, children have to learn responsibility. Parents cannot do everything for their children nor can we shield them from everything. In my opinion, my children need me now more than they did as infants and when they were in elementary school. They need guidance and direction at this phase of their lives because the choices they make can have long lasting or sometimes tragic consequences. I give them freedom but it is supervised freedom. Just like when they were younger, they were allowed to pick out their clothes for school. Yes they did pick them out but they selected from the outfits I had already pre-selected. This is what I mean by supervised freedom. Their choices are pre-determined. It is okay to let your children experience social media, however parents should be aware of how to seek help when they need it.

The Internet is full of helpful sites to assist parents on how to navigate the world of smart technology and social media. Do your homework. Communicate openly with your child about his or her usage of social media. Don't be afraid to assert your parental authority. Freely express your expectations of how your child should behave on social media. Help your child be safe.
This blog is part of our Janice is the mother of two middle school aged girls. She resides in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband of 18 years, Carlos. She has over 20 years experience as a special education teacher and school administrator. Follow her on Twitter @jwross1. Smart Parents Series in partnership with the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. We would love to have your voice in the Smart Parents conversations. To contribute a blog, ask a question, or for more information, email Bonnie Lathram with the subject "Smart Parents." For more information about the project see Parents, Tell Your Story: How You Empower Student Learning as well as other blogs:

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Kids, Smart Phones and Social Media: 6 Rules for Success and Safety

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As a former high school administrator I know all too well the dangers of social media and adolescents. I have mediated plenty of fights, verbal confrontations, and school disruptions due to conversations conducted via social media. When my own children entered middle school I vowed that they would not become members of the social media society.

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Schools must actively work to educate students on social media and online identity

Here in our local district, our students know a little something about birthing a global phenomenon. Earlier this year, on a snowy January day, Fairfax County Public schools stayed open while many other area schools were closed or delayed. Students took to Twitter to express their disappointment and the world took notice. At one point, the hashtag #CloseFCPS was briefly the number two trending topic worldwide.

It is clear that students understand the power of social media. But are students making good decisions about what to post online? How can we - schools, parents, and community members - help students understand not just the immediacy of their posts but also the permanence of online communications? Something that may be funny in the moment may not be so funny next week, next month, or next year when viewed by a potential employer or university admissions officer.

Each and every time we do something online, we contribute pieces of information that form our online identity. It happens automatically. Too often without a lot of forethought about how each individual post or purchase contributes to the overall picture.

Once something is posted, students are no longer in control of who sees it, shares it, copies it, or uses it. We all need to understand, discuss, teach, model, and set expectations around online behavior that will set our students up for success now and in the future.

As learning becomes more digital, educators at all levels are instrumental in building students' understanding about how their online presence impacts both their personal and future professional lives. Educators are also instrumental in helping students develop lifelong habits to create and maintain a positive online identity.
A positive identity

Schools should explore ways to help students intentionally build a positive digital identity. Student portfolios, blogs, and other online tools provide avenues to assess learning while simultaneously allowing students to develop a positive online presence. Students can use these tools to showcase their learning while also highlighting their strengths and personality. Having a positive identity that represents their authentic self will be valuable when the student applies to college or for a job.

Here in our district, students have the opportunity to use blogs, wikis, Voice Thread, and other digital tools through our learning management system. We have also implemented Google Apps for Education in our district which allows students to create and collaborate using Google Docs. These digital tools allow students to practice building their online presence in a closed campus environment. Our hope is that using these tools in a controlled "walled garden" will prepare them to build a positive digital identity out on the open internet.

Educators can look to a recent ISTE White Paper, Building and Keeping a Positive Digital Identity, to help kids be more intentional in what they post online. This paper applies ISTE standards to the idea of building and maintaining a positive online identity. It poses five questions adults can use to kick-start meaningful conversations about online behavior and identity:

1. What information am I sharing?

2. How secure is it?

3. Whom am I sharing it with?

4. What am I leaving behind?

5. What are my rights?

Close involvement of educators and parents is essential as students make choices about what they contribute online. It is essential to support students so that not only represent themselves authentically, but also to ensure that they do so safely.

Students are, for the most part, growing up in the digital world without any explicit or universally adopted rules about how to behave, and adults sometimes don't know where to turn for guidance. As our digital connections and interactions grow, the lines between our professional and personal lives become blurred.

ISTE Standards for Teachers can be used to help guide educators and other stakeholders as they consider their approach to appropriate online behavior within their personal and professional lives. The newly released ISTE White Paper, Building and Keeping a Positive Digital Identity, applies the ISTE standards to the idea of building and maintaining a positive online identity.
Tammi Sisk and Richard Stegman are instructional technology specialists at Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia.
Ed. note: This piece is part of Innovation In Action, a monthly column from the International Society of Technology in Education focused on exem plary practices in education.

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How to teach students to build a positive online identity

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Here in our local district, our students know a little something about birthing a global phenomenon. Earlier this year, on a snowy January day, Fairfax County Public schools stayed open while many other area schools were closed or delayed. Students took to Twitter to express their disappointment and the world took notice.

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Free Using the Web to Get Stuff Done Tutorial at GCFGlobal

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You can use the Internet to do just about anything these days. These free lessons will show you how to complete everyday tasks online.