PLO 5: Ethical Practices of Technology

    

 This paper discusses and demonstrates Program Learning Outcome 5 "the importance of the use of ethical practices of technology within designing and promoting infusion of technology to enhance learning experiences in education."  As educators, it is necessary to understand the ethical issues that are faced as instructional technology becomes the focus with instructional design in classrooms today.  An explanation of the principles and theory that apply will be explained, and why they were chosen.  The discussion includes the design and implementation of challenges experienced during the redesign of a MATLT activity and how they were overcome.
     Thrusting students into the World Wide Web has created a plethora of opportunities in educational benefits, but there is a dark side to the wonders.  As the use of web-based training increases, ethical issues related to the applications of the technology and the materials utilized within the technology have also risen.  Student's safety needs to be addressed not only to educators and parents, but also to the students as they embark on their journey in the "open waters" of the Internet.  "Safety is now about responsibility, appropriateness, and common sense" (Richardson, W., 2012, p 11).  Education, to get educated, online needs to be a priority from the onset of grade school.  Educators are obligated under the code of ethics and standards adopted by the Association of Educational Communications and Technology to provide safe Internet assisted technology to students.  The AECT is a professional association of educators and others who work together to improve instruction through technology by maintaining a high level of professional conduct in their principles of ethics (para 1).  This code of ethics is a guide for educators to protect the student, the organization, and themselves to uphold the highest standards of legal and ethical behavior that serves as a defining feature of the profession which promotes current and sound professional practices in the use of technology in education. 
     As instructional designers and educators strive to create a challenging and quality online coursework, the emerging issues that are prominent fall in the categories of copyright, confidentiality, accessibility of materials and information, diversity, conflict of interest, and professionalism. (Lin, 2007). 
     The MATLT activity chosen to redesign was a classroom wiki.  Mrs. Percevecz's Classroom was created fro a 2nd grade classroom to introduce online activities and projects.  the specific activity is a "Family Homework" activity that requires parental input and oversight. 
The Classroom Wiki Workpage is a wiki that also linked students to our classroom website and other projects assigned throughout the year. 
     The issue that was not addressed in creating the original wiki was student rules and guidelines regarding Internet usage, posting personal information, and plagiarism.  At the onset of registration each school year, parents and students are required to sigh the district Student Acceptable Internet User Agreement and Student Release Agreement.  The redesign added additional information for parents on the wiki homepage to re-familiarized their children on the importance of proper Internet etiquette, possible dangers and usage.  In addition, this places parents in sharing the responsibility of monitoring their children while engaged in online activities.  A link was also provided to the district website that delves more in-depth into Internet usage and the consequences taken if Internet misuse is determined.  A video geared towards 2nd graders was also added to reinforce the importance to students. 
     Because the website will be utilized by 2nd graders, it was important to gain permission from parents in order to post pictures, work, and comments from students to our classroom website, classroom wiki, and any website deemed for educational purposes, such as any Ashford University coursework websites used for the purpose of my Master's program.  According to Akcay (2008) the Internet serves as a communication tool and the importance of Netiquette is an ethical issue.  The Student Safety video added to the classroom wiki addresses the importance of Netiquette to insure all students practice responsibility and do not write or display anything that would be offensive. 
     The challenges in redesigning this activity were to find an effective way to present this information to both parents and students.  Another challenge that occurred was whether to include a WebQuest resource containing video along with information pertinent to the projects.  It was decided to use links that were geared towards students.  These were found on a web page for young student's research aids, as well as previewing all videos linked to each Famous American. 
     With proper training and guidance, all participants can engage in effective technology laden classrooms and extend learning to homework.  A joint effort with students, teachers, and administration will provide enhanced learning experiences, supported by technology tools, utilizing the World wide Web safely. 

References 

     Akcay, B. (2008). The relationship between technology and
          ethics; from society to school. Turkish Online Distance
          Education. Retrieved from the relationship between
          technology and ethics - tojde.anadolu.edu.tr/tojde32/pdf/
          article_9.fdf  
    
     Lin, H. (2007).  The ethics of instructional technology: issues
          and copying strategies experienced by professional
          technologists in design and training situations in higher
          education.  Educational Technology Research and 
          Development, 55, 411-437. Retrieved from http://edweb.
          sdsu.edu/courses/ed690mb/ethics.pdf 

     Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other
          powerful web tools for classrooms. (3rd ed.) Thousand Oaks,
          CA; Corwin 

     What is AECT?  The Association of Educational
          Communications and Technology.  Retrieved from
          http://www.aect.org/newsite/