Instructional Leaders’ Ethical Use of

Technology in Schools

Guiding Questions

1. What are the Alabama Technology Standards for Instructional Leaders and Teachers?

2. What ethical issues are associated with the use of instructional technology?

3. What is ethical, acceptable, and appropriate use of technology in schools?

4. What obligations do instructional leaders and teachers have to ensure ethical, acceptable, and appropriate use of technology in schools?

5. What are some current technologies in schools?

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Alabama Technology Standards

Administrators

• Create a shared vision for integrating technology.

• Develop a technology plan.

• Facilitate the selection and use of technologies.

• Apply and model technology applications and professional practices.

• Use technology to facilitate effective assessment and evaluation.

• Assess staff knowledge, skills, and performance in using technology.

• Use technology to assess and evaluate systems.

• Assess the use of multiple methods of utilizing technology resources.

• Demonstrate responsible decision‐making.

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Alabama Technology Standards

Teachers

• Identify and evaluate technology resources.

• Assess advantages and limitations of technologies and content.

• Develop and implement a classroom management plan.

• Model safe, responsible, legal, and ethical use of technology.

• Design, implement, and assess lessons.

• Use technology tools.

• Facilitate students’ use of technologies.

• Design, manage, and facilitate learning with technology.

• Evaluate students’ technology proficiency.

• Utilize technology to enhance professional growth.

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Ethical Issues of Instructional

Technology

• Copyright

• Confidentiality

• Web accessibility

• Diversity and inequality

• Conflicts of Interest

• Professionalism

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What is Ethical Use of Technologies in Schools?

Ethical Use: In this presentation, Ethical Use

is defined as decisions made about right or

wrong. It is the responsible use of

technology. It is the choices people make

and the values behind them (moral

judgments), when decisions are made.

Ethical use does not impact negatively on

oneself, other individuals, or society.

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What is Acceptable Use of Technologies in Schools?

Acceptable Use: In this presentation, Acceptable Use is defined as correct behavior. Policies are generally set up by school districts to insure acceptable use, rules of behavior and access privileges. These policies also include penalties for violation of the policies and sanctions.

Users

are accountable for what they do

are responsible for the confidentiality of their passwords

should use the system only for its designed purposes

should refrain from illegal activities, and unethical or obscene online (internet) behavior

should not try to access system areas for which they do not have authorization

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What is Appropriate Use of Technologies in

Schools?

Appropriate Use: In this presentation, Appropriate

Use is defined as correct behavior. Uses that

interfere with the proper functioning or disabling

of the information technology or the ability of

other users to make appropriate use of the

resources are considered inappropriate.

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The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics

1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.

2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.

3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's computer files.

4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.

5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.

6. Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid.

7. Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization or proper compensation.

7. Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.

9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the system you are designing.

10. Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that insure consideration and respect for your fellow humans.

Computer Ethics Institute http://cpsr.org/issues/ethics/cei/

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Instructional Leaders’ Obligations for Use of Technologies in Schools

Instructional leaders should assure that:

1. Acceptable use policies are established.

Explain the use of the Internet and technologies in teaching and learning.

Explain individual and collective responsibilities while utilizing technologies

Explain repercussions for violation of policies.

Ensure that policies are written and are agreed to by education professionals,

students, and parents.

Enforce acceptable use for all students using the Internet and

communication/media technologies.

2. Equitable access is granted to all students.

All students must have equal access to computers regardless of gender,

race, socioeconomic status (SES), and/or special needs.

3. Copyright and “Fair Use” Laws are adhered to.

Administrators must ensure that all who use the technologies staff, teachers,

and students know and adhere to copyright and “Fair Use” laws.

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Teachers’ Obligations for Use of Technologies in the Classroom

• Provide acceptable use guidelines including specific sites that may be used for research.

• Teach students to test the reliability and authenticity of a website.

• Provide instruction as to appropriate response if inappropriate content appears on the computer screen.

• Teach and require appropriate citations to avoid plagiarism.

• Use technologies in ways that support the curriculum.

• Provide instruction, guidance, and supervision for students in the ethical, acceptable, and appropriate use of the Internet and other technologies.

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Current Technologies/Resources

for the Classroom

• Computers

• E-Readers

• Clickers

• Interactive whiteboard/tools

• Digital, Video, and Document Cameras

• LCD Projectors

• Wireless Classroom Microphones

• Class websites

• Class blogs/Wikis

• Mobile devices

• Online media

• Digital Games

• Podcasts

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Resources

Assessing websites:

• What type of domain does the URL represent? – Educational websites generally end in .edu.

– Government websites generally end in .gov or .mil.

• Who wrote the page? – Look for an organization’s name.

– Look for an author’s name.

– Look for the author’s credentials that qualify him/her.

– Look for links that provide more information. • About us/biographical information

• Mission/philosophy statements

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Alabama Impact

The purpose of the IMPACT document

to make recommendations for effective use and

integration of technology in the classroom

to provide guidelines for the creation of a unified technological infrastructure that supports 21st century learning

to foster the development and the implementation of instructional and pedagogical professional development in technological and digital learning

to enable administrators and teachers to access to information that will enable them to make data‐driven decisions and improve student learning

to promote collaborative, student‐generated, and meaningful learning

Excerpted from: IMPACT: Indicators for Measuring Progress in Advancing Classroom Technology – The Alabama K-12

Technology Plan (2007-2012), published July 2006 http://www.abpc21.org/expectations.html

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Goals of Alabama Impact

• Goal 1: All Alabama students, teachers, and administrators will effectively use technology as an integrated tool for teaching, leading, and learning to master local, state, and national standards.

• Goal 2: All Alabama students, teachers, and administrators will benefit from a broad range of educational opportunities and resources through the use of technology.

• Goal 3: All Alabama teachers and administrators benefit from high‐quality, research‐based professional development and supports necessary to achieve local, state, and national standards and courses of study.

• Goal 4: All Alabama students, teachers, and administrators will have access to the appropriate technology resources and infrastructure necessary to support teaching, leading, and learning.

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Next Steps

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