Developing a Professional Online Identity: A Course for a Growing Student Need

Undergraduate and graduate students alike are often unaware of how their online activities can impact their future. In this session a librarian/e-learning specialist and a counselor educator will share lessons learned during their three-year collaboration on an online college course addressing the need for students in today's digital culture to develop a professional online identity. The hands-on course acquaints students with online identity formation and profiles, and the ethical use of social media. Students learn how they can be empowered to positively impact not only their individual identities and careers but also the world around them. In this session a hashtag will be designated and demonstrated for active participation. Participants will be provided access to a rubric for designing an online professional identity for their discipline.

OUTCOMES:
Discover practical guidelines for teaching and interacting with students on online identity formation * Explore strategies to help students analyze their digital footprint * Acquire the ability to design a structure for ongoing collaboration between educators on privacy and ethical issues