Thanks to Steve Dembo for passing along this video above. It’s a video that’s relevant to a conversation The EdJurist (Justin) and I have been having for quite some time. Before jumping into that conversation, though, I’d like to ask you to reflect on this statement by Chris Lehmann (Practical Theory Blog and taken out of context):

…the more we ban, prohibit, regulate and legislate, the less we teach. If we want students to learn how to manage their lives, we have to let them live them.

Does it apply to teachers? Why or why not?

Image adapted from http://www.endemol.co.za/UploadedImages/FEAR%20FACTOR%20SA(2).jpg

I’m starting to think of that conversation as another episode of Fear Factor. Let’s turn up the volume on that show…

But, now we learn that Facebook is not just public … it’s permanent, as in Facebook’s policy is that it has the right to “store” and “retain” any data on any page on Facebook. Meaning that those drunk college pictures of you and your friends don’t go away so easily. Even after you delete your account entirely, the data remains on Facebook servers and can be accessed in various ways, including through discovery requests, which Scott taught us so much about.

Let’s consider that contestants have to overcome their fear and…

1. Do something silly, criminal or unprofessional that gets recorded and shared online.
2. Do something online that “normal” people wouldn’t do, although that boundary is being pushed constantly by the fringe groups that post on YouTube.
3. Do something that is modelled online (e.g. flash mob behavior) in public.

Does all of this get recorded online? Well, yes, it does! Edjurist’s contention is that teachers are people, too, and that they can’t help but do something that falls into these Fear Factor-Digital Presence. My contention is that educators are teachable, as are their students, and that we can help people understand they must think before they post.

It boils down to a simple question–do you believe people can transcend their foolishness? The answer isn’t cut and dried, YES or NO. It depends on the person. Yet, since we live in a free society, shouldn’t we create environments of freedom…or persist in Fear Factor, ad nauseum (is that a legal term?)? I’m struck particularly by the resistance, no, the FEAR to embrace tools that bring us into closer contact with others. Fear is one form of engagement that is wielded in today’s classrooms, and in our legal system, but there are other approaches.

Perhaps those are exemplified by Andrew (Sentiments on Common Sense) where he shares his experiences:

Many, many educational bloggers and web-designers are quickly realizing that over time, your personal professional learning network is enhanced and thus your “Thought Leadership” is sharpened by leveraging the use of the web 2.0 tools available to us on a daily basis. This learning is not work. It is engagement. It is engagement on the deepest level, as it meets the needs of a social learning WITH access to a rich research base AND expert advice!

As an educator, I am a learner ALL the time. I am perpetually engaged, and fear plays no part in that. I’m not learning because I have to, but because I have a desperate need to learn and share with others. . .One of Andrew’s commentators on his blog post hits the nail on the head in regards to transparency. While some cower in fear of what their Facebook account may say or share about who they are, the truth is, you can never say anything but what is in your heart, no matter what the subject.

Here’s the comment…I aspire to such leadership:

It is a bold, risk-taking step to acknowledge the indistinguishable connection between one’s blogged thoughts and the perception of his/her leadership.
Source: Alicia’s Comment

Earlier today, I received an email from Jean King, managing editor for MassCUE. As I perused the web site, I stumbled upon an article she’d written about Transparency. What a great read. This particular point comes to mind as I consider Justin’s strident admonition against Facebook and other online tools that record our digital presence with increasing accuracy and longevity.

To overcome fear, Jean shares 3 elements that are pertinent to this discussion: 1) Trust; 2) Practice; and 3) Results. Jean writes:

Transparency builds trust, and a climate of trust sets the stage for teachers to feel comfortable about being transparent…”Trust is a keystone in building relationships,” Dr. Gobron said…it is this culture of that helps teachers to be willing to take risks, including the risk of transparency and sharing online.

We need to stop playing fear factor with each other as we move towards increasing transparency. It serves no one to build a culture of fear. Professionals who are unprofessional online should be treated in the exact same way if they are unprofessional in a work setting. Just because we are transparent about inappropriate behavior doesn’t make that behavior less inappropriate.

Banning Facebook and Twitter for teachers simply shows that we treat our educators as children without the ability to reason and think for themselves. It is the equivalent of the exercising the death penalty, of judging the minds of countless educators as beyond hope of learning, of transcending human imperfections by embracing them and melding them into who we can be when we accept who we are.

Maybe, we need to embrace failure…not the kind that is illegal, but sincere mistakes the human beings make.

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Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure