Insights from a Pro

Last week, we had the opportunity to hear from guest speaker Jesse Miller about social media, media technology, and their implications in education. First off—wow. What a phenomenal speaker. I was at home sick for this class, and to be honest, I assumed I’d grasp maybe 50% of what he was saying from a sick and virtual standpoint. That changed quickly. He spoke in a way that was quick, concise, and easy to follow, continuously tying his points to present-day media and pop culture. By the end of the session, my mind was buzzing with new thoughts about social media and technology.

Jesse talked about how social media has fundamentally changed the way we share our lives, communicate, and consume information. And he’s right—social media has altered how we experience the world. I couldn’t help but think about the youth I work with as he said this…

Story time:

I work with two youth, one who is 14 and one who is 16, and they love scrolling through the photos on their phones and Instagram, showing me snapshots of their lives and reminiscing about “when they were young.” Last week, we took a deep dive into their baby pictures. They had these photos readily available—just a quick scroll away. “Here’s me when I was a week old,” “Here’s my first day of kindergarten,” along with a hundred more photos of them posed in front of their house, on the playground, with their teacher.

It blew my mind. If I wanted to find a picture of myself at a week old or on my first day of kindergarten, I’d have to call my mom, ask her to dig through a photo album (probably sitting in a dusty old trunk), take a picture of that photo, and send it to me. And even then, there would probably only be one or two pictures—one of which would have my eyes closed. There wouldn’t be a scroll of a hundred different angles, carefully curated for Instagram with a stream of comments from friends reminiscing about how cute I was.

So, when it comes to being an educator in this hyper-connected, instant world, Jesse emphasized the responsibility we have in guiding students through this digital landscape. He spoke about the importance of digital literacy and media literacy, teaching students to understand the realities of social media and how to use it safely. He also highlighted the toxic online culture that exists, which is especially concerning given how young children are when they first engage with social media. Age restrictions are practically nonexistent now, and with phones, tablets, and laptops, kids have endless access. When I was younger, we had one family desktop computer in the main living area—no privacy, always a lineup behind me, and a very visible “history” tab that my parents could (and did) check. Back then, technology was much easier to monitor. Now, the internet is accessible anywhere, on almost anything—even watches act as mini-computers.

Jesse’s talk helped me come to terms with the fact that technology isn’t going anywhere—it’s only growing. As a future educator, it’s so important to stay digitally literate and ahead of the game. Teaching students about social media and technology gives them the tools to navigate the web safely. More than that, it empowers them to engage in meaningful and ethical online interactions. The internet isn’t just a dangerous space—it can foster learning, teach new skills, and build connections.

So, now what? Jesse’s presentation made me reflect on the kind of teacher I want to be. Here are my main takeaways:

• I want to create open dialogue with my students about technology. If I end up teaching middle school, I know my students will face serious challenges on social media. I want to be the teacher who starts these conversations early, creates a space where students feel safe sharing their experiences, and helps them navigate digital literacy in a way that prepares them for the real world.

• I want to take a balanced approach to technology in the classroom. As much as I love nature and would love for my students to spend all their time outside, I know I can’t ignore technology. To be respected by my students, I need to integrate tech into my teaching while also encouraging balanced digital habits. That means fostering discussions about screen time, online safety, and the importance of doing other things—like going outside.

• I want to use AI tools thoughtfully in the classroom. Jesse talked about AI’s role in education, and I think it’s crucial to frame it within the four Cs of digital literacy: critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Instead of fearing AI, I want to teach my students how to use it responsibly and ethically.

• I want to show my students all the cool ways technology can be used beyond social media. As a kid, I went to a computer camp one summer—not because I wanted to, but because my neighbour was going, and my parents signed me up too. I dreaded it. Sitting inside at a computer while the sun was shining outside? No thanks. But then I got there, and we learned basic coding and website building. I remember coding the game “Snake” and feeling so proud. I walked away from that week of camp so excited about what I could create online. I want my students to experience that same excitement—to see technology as more than just scrolling through Instagram or Tik Tok.

Jesse’s talk was a game-changer for me. It reminded me that as educators, we can’t just ignore the digital world our students are growing up in—we need to embrace it, learn from it, and help them navigate it. If we do it right, we can turn technology into a powerful tool for learning, creativity, and connection.