On-line Reputation Management

Here's another good reason Web 2.0 needs to be taught to students today: on-line reputation management. As Will Richardson and others have often argued, kids need to know that what they do online leaves a permanent footprint that will follow them into their adult lives.

As teachers, we often assume that today's students are social software saavy: they all know how to Facebook and MSN, right? What they may not know, however, it just how permanent each casual LOL and WTF really are.

If we, as teachers, are to help students best prepare for their futures, then we cannot ignore student interactions with social media, or assume that they know it all and can manage it on their own. We must teach online reputation management so that todays kids have the best chance for success in tomorrow's world.