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The digital scholar

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3 Difficulties with identity

Figure 7 Who are you online?

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Bonnie Stewart is an academic who works online and actively researches issues related to
equity, vulnerability and influence online. For a fuller description of her work visit her website.
In the following presentation she considers notions of academic identity on Twitter. Please note
that there is no commentary.
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Alternatively you can read this article by Stewart (2015): ‘In public: the shifting consequences
of Twitter scholarship’.
Stewart raises issues we need to be aware of as we engage with digital scholarship. As digital
scholarship becomes increasingly part of the mainstream, then there is a subsequent pressure
for everyone to engage in it. If you are an early career researcher, for instance, then developing
an online identity can be seen as an important part of establishing yourself within a field.
Similarly, we encourage students to blog and use social media.
Possible issues we need to consider are:

how much we force learners to reveal about themselves online

how we conduct ourselves in online communications that are open to everyone
whether we are exposing scholars to aggressive behaviour from others
what support is available from institutions.

The reaction to these concerns can often be to disengage, but I would argue that would do a
disservice to students and our community. However, we should be aware that creating an online
identity comes with risks and be conscious of these.

Activity 1 Developing an online identity

Allow about 30 minutes

Imagine you have a colleague who wishes to develop their online identity, but is nervous
about the potential downsides. Jot down three positives and three potential issues they
should consider. Add some detail to each point including how they might emphasise the
positives and ameliorate the possible issues.
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2 Examples of ‘openness’ 4 This week’s quiz