Are You "Googleable"?

Will Richardson’s article “Footprints in the Digital Age” from Educational Leadership explains the importance of having a well based knowledge of technology.  Richardson believes it is important to post information on the web in addition to reading and searching the web.  Computers are becoming a huge influence on kids’ lives, so they need to be taught how to use them.  Richardson thinks teachers should be playing a part in helping students become engaged learners in technology.  He knows that kids learn a large amount of information outside of school, but thinks we can still improve and advance our understanding of technology with the help of teachers.  The challenge that he sees though is, “figuring out how to help students create, navigate, and grow the powerful, individualized networks of learning that bloom on the Web and helping them to do this effectively, ethically, and safely.”  Kids need to be able to navigate the Web so they can become “Googleable”.  “Googleable” is a term used by Richardson that means being worthy enough that someone will want to look you up on Google. Richardson sees that if students post information like blogging and creating their own network then they will be on their way to becoming “Googleable”. 

We live in the 2.0 web world, meaning the ordinary person is creating material to put on the Web not just reading facts.  I agree that students should know how to publish their own thoughts so they can share their opinion.  A classroom would be a great place to teach this skill.  Teachers should not spend all their teaching time focused on this topic though; one class should be devoted to teaching kids about the Web.  Although the classes would have to advance to a higher level than the typical computer class in a school I am confident we could figure out a way to make it work.  Instead of the class being centered on Power Point, Microsoft, and Excel the focus should be around the internet, blogging, chatting, having conversations online and getting a jump start on creating learning networks.  This would be an important class because the way we use the internet is changing.  The internet if often used for meeting people, consequently if you don’t have any sort of account providing you access to do this task many will not consider you “Googleable”.  How important is it to be Googled though?  To some it may be a big deal, to others they couldn’t care less, and many people are not sure how much they desire to be Googled.  I am one person who is not really sure.  I do not have a Facebook page, MySpace, or a twitter account, (like Richardson suggests having to start a personal learning network) yet I am in the Google search engine.  All of my soccer teammates have a Facebook page so my name shows up often in their comments and conversations.  My old basketball club also had a website with the players’ names on it so this also shows up when my name is searched in Google.  I think it is overrated to have a Facebook page and MySpace to be ‘known’ and Goggled.  If you are involved with activities and sports, it is most likely the activity has some sort of a website, and almost every website shows up on Google.  It may be important to be known and Googled, but there are other ways to become known. A person’s focus should not be making blogs and posting random information just so their name shows up on the Google search engine.  Blogs and post should be meaningful and made for a purpose, if you are meant to be “Googleable” then you will be.