Technology Standard III: Legal, Social and Ethical

Issues

Caitlyn Stone

Caitlyn Stone

Ethical Issues

Ethical Issues include:• Social Networking• Acceptable use policies• Netiquette• Cyber Bullying• Internet privacy

Social Networking

A social network service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, e.g., who share interests and/or activities.

Most social network services are web based and provide means for users to interact over the internet, such as e-mail and instant messaging.

Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, activities, events, and interests within their individual networks.

Social Networking Issues

Privacy-On large social networking services, there have been growing concerns about users giving out too much personal information and the threat of sexual predators. Users of these services also need to be aware of data theft or viruses.

Access to Information-To edit information on a certain social networking service account, the social networking sites require you to login or provide an access code. This prevents unauthorized user(s) from adding, changing, or removing personal information, pictures, and/or other data.

Online bullying (aka "Cyber-bullying") is a relatively common occurrence and it can often result in emotional trauma for the victim. Depending on the networking outlet, up to 39% of users admit to being cyber-bullied.

Interpersonal communication has been a growing issue as more and more people have turned to social networking as a means of communication. "Benniger (1987) describes how mass media has gradually replaced interpersonal communication as a socializing force. Further, social networking sites have become popular sites for youth culture to explore themselves, relationships, and share cultural artifacts”.

Acceptable Use Policies

Administrators, teachers, library media specialists, and students must monitor the use of technologies for grade-level and content appropriateness, ethics, and safety.

Schools and divisions are required to establish guidelines for appropriate technology use. These guidelines generally are called acceptable use policies (AUP).

By definition, an AUP is a written agreement signed by students, their parents/caregivers, and their teachers. It outlines the terms and conditions for using technology-based devices maintained by schools and personal technology-based devices used during school hours on school property.

Netiquette

1. Avoid hurting someone's feelings

2. Respect other people's online rights.

3. Avoid insulting someone unless you want to start a flame war.

4. If someone insults you, be calm.

5. Avoid "crashing" discussion groups or forums.

6. Respect the privacy of other people.

7. Be responsible online.

8. Help other people learn more about the Net.

Cyber Bullying

"Cyberbullying" is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones.

It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyberstalking is NEVER called cyberbullying.

Cyber Bullying Prevention

Educating the kids about the consequences (losing their ISP or IM accounts) helps. Teaching them to respect others and to take a stand against bullying of all kinds helps too.

When schools try and get involved by disciplining the student for cyberbullying actions that took place off-campus and outside of school hours, they are often sued for exceeding their authority and violating the student's free speech right.

Schools can be very effective brokers in working with the parents to stop and remedy cyberbullying situations.

They can also educate the students on cyberethics and the law. If schools are creative, they can sometimes avoid the claim that their actions exceeded their legal authority for off-campus cyberbullying actions.

Student Data

Confidential student data must be protected at all times.

If student data is made public some students and parents may be upset.

The school or teacher may also be held accountable for releasing private information.

Internet Privacy

In today’s technological world, millions of individuals are subject to privacy threats.

Companies are hired not only to watch what you visit online, but to infiltrate the information and send advertising based on your browsing history.

Today many people have digital cameras and post their photos online. The people depicted in these photos might not want to have them appear on the Internet.

Teacher Tips for Ethical Issues

To prevent cyber-bullying, teacher should talk openly to their students. There should be a no bullying policy in the classroom anyway and students need to know that that includes cyber-bullying outside of class.

To protect student data, teachers should password protect their computer at all times. Students could very easily bring up grade information and humiliate other students or I have seen high school students even change their own grades.

Also, acceptable use policies should be posted and students should be made ware of the consequences of misuse of the school technology.

Social Issues

Social Issues in Include: Digital Divide

Gender Race Socioeconomic status Resources equity Teacher Bias

Digital Divide

Digital Divide is the gap between people with effective access to digital and information technology and those with very limited or no access at all.

In the context of schools, which have consistently been involved in discussion of the divide, current formulations focus more on how (and whether) students use computers, rather than simply whether there are computers or Internet connections.

Public libraries and afterschool programs have also been shown to be important access and training locations for disadvantaged youth.

Digital Divide: Gender

Boys and girls use the computer for different things.

Boys are more likely to spend hours playing games.

Consequently, there is a stereotype that boys are better at using computers than girls are.

Ways to prevent this may include educating girls ad the class as a whole about gender roles and that anyone can use the computer just as well as anyone else.

Digital Divide: Race

The racial digital divide describes the difference in rates of access to computers and the Internet, at home and school, between those racial groups with high rates of access (White people and Asian and Asian-American people) and those with lower rates of access (Black people and Latina(o) people).

The digital divide among individuals with varied socioeconomic statuses is important because those families who may be struggling will not be able to afford computers or internet access.

The easy solution seems that schools should have open library hours after school where children can use the computer. However, the parents of these children may be working more than one job and may not be able to get them to school at night.

Digital Divide: Socioeconomic Status

Teacher Bias

It is crucial to bridging the gap in the digital divide that teachers maintain an unbiased opinion of all children’s capabilities.

If a teacher believes that girls are not as good at computers as boys then they will stop expecting girls to perform to their highest potential.

Teacher Tips for Social Issues

It is important for teachers to keep an unbiased opinion of the abilities of all children regardless of their gender, race, or socioeconomic status.

Just because some students to do have constant access to computers or the internet does not mean that they cannot learn and be very successful with technology.

Legal Use of Digital Media

Legal Use of Digital Media Includes: Copyright Fair Use Creative Commons

Copyright

This interactive video provides information on Copyright Laws.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QiO_H0-ok8

Fair Use

Fair use is a limitation and exception to the exclusive right granted by copyright law to the author of a creative work, is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders.

Although the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that the availability of copyright protection should not depend on the artistic quality or merit of a work, fair use analyses consider certain aspects of the work to be relevant, such as whether it is fictional or non-fictional.

Creative Commons

Creative Commons is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to making it easier for people to share and build upon the work of others, consistent with the rules of copyright.

Teacher Tips for Legal Issues

Teachers should make sure that students are well aware of the consequences of stealing Copyrighted material.

This is especially important when children are using media that includes music that is obtained or used illegally.

Resources

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/

http://www.learningpt.org/

http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading.aspx

http://www.edchange.org/publications.html

http://creativecommons.org.

http://www.youtube.com