MARYLAND TEACHER TECHNOLOGY STANDARD III:LEGAL, SOCIAL, AND ETHICAL ISSUES

Hilary LeasEDUC 318

Table of Contents

MTTS III 3 Ethical Issues 4

Ethical Issues: Teacher Recommendations 8 Digital Divide 10

Digital Divide: Teacher Recommendations 13 Legal Use of Digital Media 14

Legal Use: Teacher Recommendations 18 Conclusion 19 Resources 21

MTTS III: Legal, Social, Ethical Issues

Indicators: Identify ethical and legal issues using technology. Analyze issues related to the uses of technology

in educational settings. Establish policies and procedures that ensure

compliance with copyright law, Fair Use guidelines, security, privacy, and students-online protection.

Use classroom procedures to manage an equitable, safe, and healthy environment for students.

Ethical Issues

Ethics is the “study of mortality’s effect on conduct: the study of moral standards and how they affect conduct”

The Internet is full of wide varieties of information available for anyone. This is an “interactive” tool making it difficult for teachers to regulate what students do and access.

Technology has created wonderful educational tools but it “also created risks and raised ethical issues for students of all grades, as it has created many opportunities for illegal, inappropriate and unsafe behavior among all participants”

Ethical Issues Examples: safety and security

Social Networking: examples of social networking include Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and chat rooms These forms of network put children’s identity in jeopardy. School system should limit the usage of the Internet Computers in school are not for recreational use

Acceptable Use Policies: identifying the limits and regulations on technology usage in the school system One challenge about the Internet is that it “allows

any uses, anywhere, to post information, including materials that are inaccurate, misleading and inappropriate for children.”

Ethical Issues Examples: safety and security

Netiquette: “do’s and don'ts for online communication” The Core Rules of Netiquette ~rules of how to

properly and effectively use online resources

Cyber Bullying: “is when one or more people repeatedly harm, harass, intimidate or exclude another person using technology.” When using social networking sites, children

may attack one another. These attacks lead to one’s self destruction and effect their social lives.

This is a look of the effect cyber bullying had on a child. A True Story

Ethical Issues Examples: safety and security

Students Data: Examples of student data includes contact information, medical information, grades, and portfolios. All of these include personal data about an individual that should not be displayed publically unless given permission by a guardian.

Internet Privacy: The Internet “enables anyone to collect personal information” about a child.

Ethical Issues: Teacher Recommendations

Create lessons on “Internet safety and security” to teach the students how to “behave ethically and responsibly online”

As a teacher, you may not be able to control what goes on with internet usage at home but you can educate students about the effects of cyber bullying while in the classroom.

Lead a class discussion on cyber bullying using examples such as email, text messages, social networking sites, and other technology tools. Allow the students to understand “the depth and breadth of cyber bullying.”

Be sure to expose the positive side of the technology as well because these tools are to be fun for the students to use.

Ethical Issues: Teacher Recommendations

In the beginning of the year, or before conducting the first lesson that integrates technology, create a contract (if the school does not already have one) that explains the rules, regulations, and responsibilities that come with using the technology. Also, explain the consequences that will be enforced if the rules are disobeyed. The students and parents must sign this contract.

When informing students about technology and all the responsibilities that come along with it, it is important to discuss with the students to “never give out personal information” such as name, address, phone number, age, or anything else. You must also explain why this is important.

Digital Divide

Digital Divide is “the difference in opportunities available to people who have access to modern information technology and those who do not.”

When integrating technology into the curriculum it takes time for everyone to get comfortable with the tool. Just like when learning how to read or algebra, all students learn at different paces and you must meet their needs because they can do it!

What is digital divide?

Digital Divide: Examples

Gender: Some believe that males are better users of technology then females. Techbridge~ This webpage has resources and

hands-on activities to encourage girls to use technology

Socio Economic: Social class also affects the digital divide. Families with low incomes unfortunately may not have the privilege to access technology.

Digital Divide: Examples

Race: Research shows that minorities in the United States either do not know how to use technology and/or do not have access to it.

Resource Equity: Technology is a costly thing so many may not have the opportunity to abundant amounts of resources that are available.

Teacher Bias: This may be an unconscious act but teachers may tend to favor or give more attention to one group of students than another.

Digital Divide: Teacher Recommendations

Technology is rapidly growing in our society so to keep the students engaged in what is going on in the world, we must teach them how to use technology and make it available to them.

Modify lessons and activities that use technology so that everyone gets the most out of the lesson content.

Be aware of bias actions. It takes everyone time to get comfortable with using technology. Use the students who are comfortable using technology to assist those who are still adjusting.

Provide students with resources and guides for technology that they can use inside and outside of the classroom. Introduce students to the free resources that are

available.

Legal Use of Digital Media

Legal Use of Digital Media includes following Copyright laws, using and understanding Fair Use, and Creative Commons

When using digital media in the classroom, whether it be teacher or students use, there are a lot of things that you have to be aware of to ensure proper and appropriate use.

Legal Use of Digital Media

Copyright: “is a legal device that provides the creator of a work of art or literature, or a work that conveys information or ideas, the right to control how the work is used.” Any piece of work that is a tangible item such

as a webpage, video, or essay can be copyrighted.

There are “three fundamental requirements for something to be copyrighted” : fixation, originality, and minimal creativity.

The purpose of copyright is to protect the author. There are four main rights to copyright and they are “to make copies of the work,” “to sell or otherwise distribute copies of the work,” “to prepare new works based on the protected work,” and “to perform the protected work in public.”

Legal Use of Digital Media

Fair Use: “legally quoting somebody else’s copyrighted music, pictures words without paying or asking permission” When using works of other people you must properly cite the

material. Also, use “limited portions of published materials.” Things that should be avoided to ensure Fair Use do not “copy the

same works semester to semester” or “copy the same material for several different courses at the same or different institutions.”

There are times where it is appropriate to request for permission to not cross boundaries. Examples of this are when you “intend to use the materials for commercial purpose,” “want to use the materials repeatedly,” or “want to use a work in its entirety and it is longer than 2,500 words.”

Legal Use of Digital Media

Creative Commons: “is a nonprofit organization that increases sharing and improves collaboration.” CC provides individuals, companies, and institutions

with “easy-to-use legal tools” to “grant copyright permission to their creative work.”

Using CC gives creators to opportunity to allow others to use their ideas to build upon. The creator can have “all rights reserved” or “some rights reserved.” It is up the creator to say what can and cannot be done with their work.

Creative Commons is not an alternative option to Copyright. CC works with copyright.

Cc~ Creative Commons website

Legal Use of Digital Media: Teacher Recommendations

Be aware of Copyright and Fair Use laws and regulations when using worksheets, videos, and other material in instruction.

Keep in contact with your school/county’s Media Specialist on the newest copyright issues and how to react to them. Use the Media Specialist as a resource.

Explain to the students Copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons and the difference between the three.

Teach the students about plagiarism and how to give credit to sources when using other peoples work in papers and projects.

Conclusion Incorporating technology into the classroom environment is wonderful for the students

who have the opportunity to engage in using it. Using technology allows students to reach a discovery aspect of learning. When students are able to explore the best learning can take place. However, when allowing students to use technology it is hard to regulate and control what they do. For example, the Internet is full of information that anyone can access at any given time. People can also post anything on the Internet for anyone to see. There is a variety of content online that is inappropriate for students to be exposed to. Along with the privilege of using technology come different aspects of risks and issues.

There are several legal and ethical issues when technology is provided. Copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons are all ways for authors and creators to have rights to their work. Teachers and students need to understand all of these and how to use content without breaking anything legally. A lot of responsibility comes along with the privilege of using technology, such as the Internet. When in school, students need to understand that the right is not to be abused and what can happen when students use the Internet for recreational use. Creating a policy for students to agree to is a great way to help enforce these issues.

Unfortunately in the world, not everyone is good, therefore safety is an obligation when using Internet or any form of technology in the curriculum. Students need to be aware that anyone can have access to anything on the Internet and it is important to not expose personal information. Knowing all the information that is displayed on the Internet for students safety is important for them to understand so they know how to appropriately act when exposed to various forms of content, appropriate or not. Social networking is fun and should be a positive thing, but be aware of what you post for the whole world to see. This is a risky situation that can be avoided. Social networking is very popular and many students use it, recently the issue of cyber bullying has revealed itself.

Conclusion

This is a health and safety issue for students that needs to be addressed. When students are emotionally damaged, they become withdrawn socially and in some cases, cyber bullying leads to suicide. Discussing in your class the issue of cyber bullying and the toll it can take on an individual is a great way to address the issue. When students are aware of each others emotions and how to handle difficult situations , they are emotionally healthy.

Unfortunately, not all students will have access to technology outside of school so it is important to use it to its fullest potential. When teaching about technology and using it, not all students will understand and grasp the concepts the first time. This does not differ from teaching any other subject. Modifying the lessons and creating a support system will help all students no matter age, race, or gender to reach your expectations. Put aside teacher biases and focus on the students and their needs; treat them all the same.

When using technology in the classroom, there are so many things to think about to ensure proper use on content and that you are reaching your students need for learning. It is important to be aware of all the issues to address to them head on to ensure the safety of your classroom. Once all of these issues are conquered, then classroom environments are improved and future problems can be prevented.

Resources

Butler, K. (2010, June). Cybersafety In the Classroom. Retrieved December 15, 20120, from District Administration: http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=2428

Copyright and Fair Use in the Classroom, on the Internet, and the World Wide Web. (2010). Retrieved December 15, 2010, from University fo Maryland University College: http://www.umuc.edu/library/copy.shtml

Creative Commons. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16, 2010, from http://creativecommons.org/about/what-is-cc

Fountas, A. (2010). Committee for Children. Retrieved December 15, 2010, from Teaching Kids About Cyber Bullying: http://www.cfchildren.org/programs/hot-topics/cyberbullying/stop-bullying-from-being-a-click-away/

Maryland Teacher Technology Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2 010, from MTTS Online: http://www.mttsonline.org/standards/standard_III/

Ross, S. T. (2006). A Service of Albion. Retrieved December 15, 2010, from Netiquette: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/