Essential Question: What are the primary ethical challenges for teachers in today's world?
From my perspective, the main ethical issues with using technology faced by teachers today are technology equity, copyright issues, and attempting to provide face-to-face instruction and distance instruction with the constraints of privacy. These three issues have been magnified over the last few months since the pandemic has school looking so much different than it has in the past.
According to an article published by Northwestern Missouri State University (2018), “Many students begin playing with a device before entering elementary school. Every student's experience with using the technology and the internet differs.” So as students enter our classrooms, their technology playing field is already uneven. This inequality creates a gap in how effectively students can navigate our courses and assignments. It also causes teachers to have to spend time teaching how to use technology to those that have little experience, while trying to keep those with plenty of experience from being bored out of their minds. In addition to different levels of knowledge, students also have different access to technology at home. While our school is one-to-one, we do not provide internet access to students’ homes. This had not been a huge issue until recently when we were forced to teach and learn from home.
Copyright violations and plagiarism are another ethical issue I see often in education. There is a lot of confusion about whether or not materials used by teachers fall under the Fair Use Guidelines. In my experience, teachers are just as confused as students about what can and cannot be used for assignments. Training about copyright laws could be a very valuable use of teachers’ time so that we can pass that knowledge to our students.
According to Brendon Hyndman, “Immersion of students in digital technologies has created additional demands for teachers to protect students’ behaviours online (safety, legal risks and privacy) and in the classroom (theft and locking of devices).” Privacy and protection of our students is a must, but it can be challenging. Particularly now as we are being asked to stream students into our classes from home. The rules are changing daily and unclear.
“While young people tend to adopt new technologies more quickly than adults, many do not have the experience or knowledge to understand the potential risks. Parents, educators, and community members must encourage students to take advantage of the Internet’s benefits while reducing its risks” (Virginia Department of Education, n.d.). It is important that teachers get adequate training to be able to provide this support to our students.
Resources:
Hyndman, B. (2018, August 13). Ten reasons teachers can struggle to use technology in the classroom. Retrieved September 14, 2020, from https://theconversation.com/ten-reasons-teachers-can-struggle-to-use-technology-in-the-classroom-101114
Hyndman, B. (2018, August 13). Ten reasons teachers can struggle to use technology in the classroom. Retrieved September 14, 2020, from https://theconversation.com/ten-reasons-teachers-can-struggle-to-use-technology-in-the-classroom-101114
Northwest Missouri State University. (2018, August 20). Ethics for Technology Use in the Classroom. Retrieved September 14, 2020, from https://online.nwmissouri.edu/articles/education/ethics-technology-use-classroom.aspx
Virginia Department of Education (n.d.). Guidelines and resources for teachers. Division of Technology and Human Resources, Virginia Department of Education. Retrieved August 23, 2010 from http://www.rcps.org/RCPS/misc/InternetSafetyforTeachers.pdf.
Hello Heather, I enjoyed the real world applications of your post. As a teacher, you have highlighted how these ethical dilemmas are even more relevant than ever during Covid. In particular, I appreciated the emphasis on the inequalities that exist in a student’s technological knowledge that may have begun as early as three. This use of technology while common for some, is delayed by others. I can’t help but think of my teacher friend whom works at an outdoor charter school here in Fairbanks whose families resist technology, and are especially distraught by online learning. A lot more time is spent by teachers who are accustomed to place-based, experiential learning trying to learn technology in order to teach it. My friend, the teacher there reports that kids are having an especially challenging time converting to a new style. Two things come to mind (1) inequity in technological knowledge of teachers affects students quality of education, and (2) the irony that parents from typically better income brackets (who can afford to volunteer at school and provide their own transportation) have kids who are disadvantaged in this latest technological push.
ReplyDeleteLastly, I found your point about teachers also being uncertain of the Fair Use laws and copyright laws interesting. Thank you Heather. Hillary Weller
Good post. Your point about students coming to school already familiar with some devices that connect to the internet is important. Real ethics should start with the parents. Alas, that does not happen often enough.
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